First Aquatic Life Equipment/Frag Swap

First Aquatic Life Equipment/Frag Swap

The first Aquatic Life equipment/frag swap was a great success! We had a lot of awesome people come out from all over to trade some frags, grab a refurbished 6 lamp fixture or just to munch on a hot dog.

The day started out good with people bringing in lots of frags to trade and sell. There were some great deals to be grab! I personally grabbed a 5 polyp frag of magicians for $5 and traded for a nice favia. We ended up placing some of our extra sps that’s been growing like crazy in our R&D tanks in the trade tanks. If you didn’t get there early then you didn’t see them as they were snapped up quickly. There was no actual coral “buisness” selling frags so they event had a great backyard swap vibe to it.

There was tons of equipment to be had. Not only on all the great deals for Aquatic Life gear, but also from other hobbyists who brought things in. I saw a few calcium reactor set ups being sold for $50 or less!

There was of course a raffle for one of our new Expert Series 3 watt LEDs and the lucky winner had bought just a single ticket  for $1 while others had bought $50 worth or more!

If you didn’t get a chance to attend, don’t worry. We hope to have another event like this in 6 months. If you are local and didn’t get a chance to attend and still need a refurbished fixture, feel free to shoot an email over and see what we still have for you customersupport@aquaticlife.com

See you all at the next event!!!

Thank You!

Thank You!

Aquatic Life sponsors a number of reef clubs and events across the country. We strongly believe in the sense of community and education that occurs at reef club meetings and at reefing events in general. While we are always humbled to be able to participate in events like these through sponsorship, it’s always nice to receive a thank you. Here is an email we received this morning.

Good morning, my name is Robert and called Merlin on Carolina Fish Talk. I want to thank you for the LED light fixture, 36" expandable, 460nm, 15 watt,  you donated to ReefSMART. I happen to be the very lucky guy that won it  at the raffle. This fixture is TOO cool. I have a tank sitting dry in the garage that needs a light fixture. I'm new to the LED technology so this is my FIRST. From what I hear about LED lighting I'm going to fall in love with them and you know what they say about first love. I will be adding additional fixtures and I know which one to use, now. Thank you again for your support and donation.

Sincerely,
Robert "MERLIN"

We hope you enjoy the new fixture Robert!

Pet Business Industry Recognition Award WINNER!!!

Pet Business Industry Recognition Award WINNER!!!

Aquatic Life is pleased to announce yet another award! This time the award is the Pet Business Industry Recognition Award in the Fish Lighting Category for the Expert Series Light Fixtures. After careful consideration, Aquatic Life emerged on top and we could not be more proud. The Expert Series was developed with customer feedback in mind. You asked and we listened. If you have not had a chance to see our new 3 watt Cree fixture feel free to click the link http://www.aquaticlife.com/products/3544

The feedback from our customers has been amazing and we are happy to soon launch the larger 34 inch and 46 inch versions next month.

Community Yard Sale

Community Yard SALE

We are gearing up for our first ever used equipment and frag swap at Aquatic Life headquarters on December the 8th! It is looking to be a very exciting time.

We are opening our doors and our parking lot for local hobbyists. The plan is to rent out parking spaces for people to bring any and all used equipment they have laying around and sell them to other local hobbyists. You know you don’t need all 5 of those skimmers in your garage. So bring a few down and let someone else use them.

Selling spots are only $10 and the proceeds go to the local reef clubs. SCRK, IEMAS and SCMAS.

Of course what would a reefing get together be without swapping frags right? We will have four separate 55 gallon frag tanks set up for everyone to use. We at Aquatic Life believe in sustainability in the hobby and what better way to promote this then trading and selling home grown frags!

Another benefit of showing up is we are going to open up the warehouse and allow attendees to purchase refurbished equipment at super reduced prices. These are items that have been either lightly used or have small dents, dings or scratches. We will have electrical outlets available so that you can test out all equipment before buying. If you are wondering what kind of Aquatic Life products will be available, here is a list:

We will also have some used equipment from our R&D department as well.  

If you are in Southern California we invite you to please come and have some fun with everyone. There will be free food and drinks and we will also be raffling off one of our new 3 watt Expert Series LEDs. We look forward to seeing everyone here!

If you have any questions or want to reserve a spot please contact:

membership@scrk.org  or  customersupport@aquaticlife.com

2012 Reef-A-Palozza Show

2012 Reef-A-Palozza Show 

Reef-A-Palooza has come to a close. We had a great time meeting so many of you for the first time and hanging out with all of our old friends. We want to thank all of you who came by to get hands on with our NEW Expert series LEDs. The response to our new fixture was phenomenal!

Of course what would Reef-A-Palooza be without all the great coral retailers? Vendors from all over the country came to set up and offer some of the choicest selection of LPS, SPS and softies that I have seen in a while. Luckily we were able to bring back some new additions for the Aquatic Life office tanks. Overall the show was all kinds of fun!

Aquatic Life began making fixtures in 2008 and we have listened to feedback from our customers to help shape future designs and products. This is why we love doing shows like Reef-A-Palooza so much. We get to interact with hobbyists and hear what it is you are looking for and what you would like to see coming from Aquatic Life. THANK YOU ALL so much for the constant support and we hope to continue “ Bringing the ocean to you wherever you may be”™.

Reef-A-Palooza is October 20th and 21st

Reef-A-Palooza is October 20^th and 21^st

Well it’s that special time of year once more. That’s right Reef-a-Palooza is upon us! If you happen to be in Southern California this weekend, this is an event that you can’t miss. There will be over 20,000 square feet of reefing goodness to travel through. Some of the best coral retailers from around the world will be offering up coral at amazing prices. If you are getting into the hobby and looking for things to fill your tank, then this is the place to be. If you are a serious collector and looking for a frag of Twisted Sister Chalice or some Red Dragon Acropora, then this is also the show for you.

In addition to all the coral being offered up, Aquatic Life will also be exhibiting products. Dave and I will be manning the Aquatic Life booth and showing off our new products—including the 3 watt Expert Series LED fixtures. You can have the opportunity to play around with the software, click the remote control and see firsthand the ease of use and aesthetic appeal of our new fixture. Of course it wouldn’t be Reef-a-Palooza without giveaways. The Reef-a-Palooza raffle will include one of our 3 watt Expert Series LED fixtures and several of the 48” 1 watt LED fixtures.  

So come on over, buy a frag or two, raffle tickets and say hello. We’re looking forward to meeting new friends and catching up with old ones this weekend!

Mike and James hang out with one of
the Fish House gals at Reef-a-palooza 2010

WIN an LED fixture!

WIN an LED fixture! 

I love free stuff. We all do right? Well here is your chance to win an Aquaticlife 0.5 watt Expandable LED fixture! If you want more details on the specifications of the expandable LED they can be found here  www.aquaticlife.com/products/1069.

We have partnered with our friends over www.reefland.com for the contest. Head on over to the site for all of the particulars and information on how you can get in on the contest.

While you are on the site feel free to register and say hello or even show off your tank build. Forums like www.reefland.com are a great place to exchange information, get to know other reefers or even help new hobbyists that are just getting involved. You know the old saying- “He who teaches, learns twice.”

Happy reefing and good luck!

Pet Product News International Editor’s Choice Award

Pet Product News International Editor’s Choice Award

We are pleased to announce that Aquatic Life’s 1 watt Expandable LED has been awarded the Pet Product News International Editor’s Choice Award for 2012! The hardworking folks at PPN had to wade through over 300 product submissions to find the best. They tested, poked and prodded until they were sure the preeminent product was found. When all was said and done, our newest LED fixture was victorious!  If for some reason you have been living under a rock and have not had a chance to ogle our new LED goodness, then please follow this link-  http://www.aquaticlife.com/products/1937

Many thanks to the team at Pet Product News for the perseverance and dedication it took giving each product a thorough test drive.

Choosing an LED Fixture

Choosing an LED Fixture

Choosing the proper LED lighting for your reef tank can be a very fun and rewarding process if you take the time to do it right. If you are reading this blog I am going to assume that you fall into the category of serious hobbyists who believe that patience and research pay dividends .  Our hats are off to you. Choosing  just the right light fixture can seem like a daunting task at times. There are many choices available. Luckily we have come up with a few tools to make process easier.

First go ahead and check out our LED fixture selection guide. It’s pretty straight forward and makes it easier to understand what you may need for your tanks inhabitants.

Keep in mind these are just our suggestions.  If you find more or less light works for your set up then that’s great! Each tank is unique and you will know best how to respond to it.

You also have the ability to speak directly with our technical support team by calling us at 888-548-3480. Sometimes a little personalized attention goes a long way to making sure the choice you make is the correct one and best for you and your tanks health.

Recently Debbie of Lancaster PA made multiple calls to us as she was unsure what was best for her. Here are parts of an email she sent to us:

Hi James,

      I made my final purchase on the Aquatic Life LED light for my tank.  I purchased the 48”, 1W, 48 W Marine light.   The way it lights up the tank is cool, but we’re still getting used to it b/c it’s so different from the fluorescent light we had for so many years.  The tank really looks like a marine tank!   ….It works so well.    The lights are not that hot, so I feel OK that they are close to the plexi-glass tank top. 

      I also wanted to say  thank you so very much for your patience and support while you helped me figure out what I needed for the tank.  I want to take pictures and send to you as soon as I complete a water change and the tank looks at its best….

I am glad we were able to help her out! Speaking of email, you can always send us an email if you prefer to customersupport@aquaticlife.com

Above all else remember to have fun making your selection. Sometimes planning everything out and putting together all the proper equipment for a reef tank is more fun than actually having the tank up and running. We hope you allow us to be a part of that process as we love to help.

Aquatic Life New Distributors

Aquatic Life New Distributors

In an effort to provide more retail stores access to superior Aquatic Life products, we are pleased to announce we have begun working with Pets Pacifica who is based in Hawaii.

For years we have had stores in Hawaii asking to purchase our products but due to shipping costs being so high to Hawaii it was difficult to make it happen. We are thrilled to welcome the team at Pets Pacifica to the Aquatic Life family.

If you are a retail store in Hawaii please contact Pets Pacifica at  808-676-3646 for information on how to get Aquatic Life products from our new authorized distributor.

Proper Maintenance of your Fixture

Proper Maintenance of your Fixture


Fixture

Aquatic Life fixtures are made with quality parts that will give you many years of usage. However a saltwater environment can be a harsh one. For this reason it’s very important to incorporate a regular schedule of some basic cleaning and maintenance of your Aquatic Life products. If you follow these maintenance regimens you should have no problems with your fixtures and other products. Here are some of the common issues I have seen over the years.

Salt Creep:

Salt is by its nature very corrosive. For this reason it’s very important to insure that pumps, power heads, skimmers etc. do not spray or mist your fixture. Over time the salt can build upon itself and “creep” into small cracks and crevices and wreak havoc on electrical components. The main culprit here would be a return pump splashing water at the top of the tank. Some hobbyists like the idea of splashing water back into the tank from the return pump and feel that it helps with gas exchange. However if you are running a skimmer in the tank you need not worry about this. All it does really is cause small bits of salt to land on your fixture and build up over time. At least once a week check to see if any salt is building up on your lens cover. If so then it’s a good indication that your pumps etc. need to be adjusted to prevent any further splashing.

Once the source of the spray has been determined and fixed make sure to wipe down the fixture itself to remove any and all salt. Just a simple wipe down will seriously increase the longevity of your fixture!

Dirt and Debris:

Have you ever looked at the fan on a computer tower after a few years? Then I am sure that you have seen the dirt and debris that cakes onto them after a while. The same holds true for the fans on a T5HO fixture. After a few months dust will accumulate on the fans. Inside of the fans are small bearings that need to stay balanced. Once debris begins to build up, it throws the fan off balance. This can cause the fan to whine or even grind upon start up. If left like this for long enough the bearings become permanently damaged and will need to be replaced.

The best way to avoid this is to use some air in a can (the kind used to clean computer keyboards)and blow inside of the fan vent holes. Or every 6 months or so feel free to open the fixture up and wipe down the top and bottom of the fans blades with a damp cloth. Fans are easily accessible and not hard to clean. If you have any specific questions about how to access your fixtures fan don’t hesitate to give me a call directly.

 

Remember to love your gear as much as you love the tanks inhabitants. If you have any questions call me at 888-548-3480 or send an email tocustomersupport@aquaticlife.com

Supporting C.O.A.S.T.

Supporting C.O.A.S.T.

Aquatic Life is proud to support the California Organization of Aquatic Show Tropicals with our 24"FreshwaterExpandable LED Fixture and tee shirts. As always we encourage our friends and customers to become involved with your own local club. You can read more about COAST below:

COAST

California's Organization of Aquatic Show Tropicals club was formed in 1991 by aquarium hobbyists for the purpose of advancing the understanding of aquatic life, promoting the keeping and preservation of diverse species, and getting together to have fun with people who share in the fascination with things which live in water.

COAST, providing Education and Camaraderie to People Who Are Interested in KeepingTropical, Temperate and Other Aquatic Life

California's Organization of Aquatic Show Tropicals (COAST) is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(7) not-for-profit association registered with the state of California.


Below is the letter of thanks from COAST

CDC Warns Against Fish Pedicures

CDC Warns Against Fish Pedicures

The CDC has decided that fish eating humans is a terrible thing and must be stopped at all costs. If you are not familiar with them, Garra rufa, an inch-long toothless carp also known as “doctor fish”, have been used in spas increasingly as a method of removing dead cells from ones feet. What’s better than having a bunch of fish munch on your gross bunions?

In April 2011, a bacterial outbreak among 6,000 doctor fish brought from Indonesia to British beauty venues revealed colonies of Streptococcus agalactiae, a group of bacteria that can lead to sepsis, meningitis, or pneumonia. As a result the CDC started an investigation into the safety of fish-toe munching.

“Our study identified some of the species of bacteria associated with this fish species, including some that can cause infections in both fish and humans,” lead researcher David Verner-Jeffreys told a wire service.

Water, he added, is a fertile breeding ground -- and when partnered with bacteria thriving on fish scales or waste, even the tiniest cut could allow infection to happen readily.

I guess I will have to find a new way to keep my feet silky smooth…

IEMAS Frags for Food event a success!

IEMAS Frags for Food event a success!

Recently we told you about the efforts of the Inland Empire Marine Aquarium Society ( IEMAS) to gather canned food for the local food bank in the area.  

They had approximately 72 people participate in the main food drive throughout the day this year were able to raise approximately 1,120 cans worth of food! Next year they hope to have more donations, frags, food, and raffle items to give away- If you would like more information on the club or if you live in Southern California check out the website for more information. http://www.iereefs.com/

The marine aquarium hobby is a wonderful way for us to bring our families and friends together. This event was a successful way to tie our amazing hobby into the local community. IEMAS president Cylix reports that  it is a great feeling to have made such a big difference in the lives of others that are less fortunate. Hopefully we can continue to feed people one frag at a time....

Below is the letter of thanks from the food bank. 

More Research and Development Tanks Coming

More Research and Development tanks coming.

At Aquatic Life we have plenty of tanks up and running so that we can test new products, see how coral react to different types of lighting or just for showing off some nice coral the we have grown out from small frags. It keeps me busy at work as there is always something to tinker with on one of the tanks and that is why I love my job so much.  Well I am sure you have heard the reefers motto before : “Bigger is better!” I agree.

The time has come where we need to add on some more frag tanks. We are looking to add on about 300 gallons of additional salt water goodness in our testing area. Half the fun is planning what type of equipment to get and how to plumb them all together. What calcium reactor do we want to use? What new skimmer do we want to try? Do we want gfo? Carbon? How should we set up the sump? What about the flow? What will my coral budget be once the tanks are running???? These are the questions that make the whole process so much fun.

Lets keep our fingers crossed and hope we can get them finished and running in the next few weeks.

Aquatic Life Lifetime Repair Policy

Aquatic Life Lifetime Repair Policy


What Is the Limited Lifetime Repair Policy?

This Policy applies to any light fixtures manufactured by Aquatic Life for consumer use. This Policy applies even if you purchased the light fixture used.

How Long Does the Coverage Last?

This Policy is in addition to Aquatic Life’s standard 12 Month Limited Warranty and lasts for the lifetime of your light fixture, provided your light fixture is not beyond repair. A light fixture will be considered beyond repair if the cost of replacement parts exceeds the cost of replacing the light fixture.

What Will Aquatic Life Do?

Aquatic Life will perform all labor to repair your light fixture FREE OF CHARGE. You must pay all charges for parts and shipping.

How Do I Get Service?

If something goes wrong with your light fixture, submit a Service Request to Aquatic Life on our website.

After submitting a service request, we will require you to provide a Visa or MasterCard number which will be used to pay the shipping charges. Aquatic Life will supply all shipping materials (including mailing labels) and instructions for safely shipping your light fixture to us. Upon receipt of your light fixture, our Service Department will give it a complete inspection and evaluate the problem(s) specified in your Service Request. Prior to performing any work on your light fixture, Aquatic Life will contact you with a cost quotation for the parts required to fix your light fixture. If you decline to have the light fixture fixed, Aquatic Life will send the light fixture back to you, and we will only charge your credit card for the shipping charges. If you authorize us to perform the repair, we will charge you for parts and shipping as identified in our cost quotation, and we will perform the repairs FREE OF CHARGE, which means you do not pay for any labor charges. If we are unable to complete the repairs, you will not be charged for any parts or labor, your light fixture will be returned to you, and you will only pay for shipping. Once repaired, we will ship the light fixture back to you. Usual repair times are 5-7 business days plus shipping transit times.

If needed, Aquatic Life will provide you with a temporary replacement light fixture at no cost while Aquatic Life is repairing your fixture. A credit card deposit will be required to secure the temporary replacement in addition to paying the other charges incurred in connection with this Policy. The same box used to send the temporary fixture can be used to safely return your fixture to Aquatic Life.

What If You Live in the Los Angeles Area?

If you live in the Los Angeles area, you can drop your light fixture off at Aquatic Life’s service and repair facility after calling us at 1-818-768-6943 to make arrangements for the drop-off.

Send us your Pictures!

Send us your Pictures!

We love pictures at Aquatic Life. So what better way to satisfy our craving for them than to ask for more? We  want to see the pictures you have taken of your piece of the ocean using Aquatic Life products. Feel free to submit them on our Facebook page. If you have not done so feel free to click the like button while there.

I will pick three random picture submissions at the end April to send one of our snazzy T-shirts to.

Here is a recent photo sent in by Hector Arroyo of the reflection of his T5HO four lamp fixture. I love this shot.

James Korner

Aquatic Life New Distributors

Aquatic Life New Distributors

We are pleased to announce the addition of two new distributors to the Aquatic Life family!

Quality Pets in Oklahoma City

Aquaria Sea Life in Mexico

Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for stores to have the products they need on hand. We believe these new distributors will do a great job with providing customers the high quality Aquatic Life products that they need as well as great the customer service that is associated with the Aquatic Life name.

Should you need any assistance with getting in contact with our new distributors, feel free to check in with our own Diane at 888-548-3480 or emailing dealersupport@aquaticlife.com

Aquatic Life Outlet is Open!

Aquatic Life Outlet is Open!

http://www.aquaticlife.com/outlet


Take advantage of some great deals on reconditioned and clearance products.


All reconditioned products and accessories are restored and tested by Aquatic Life. Inventory is updated frequently. Product is subject to limited quantities and availability.


Where Do Reconditioned Products Come From?


Most Aquatic Life reconditioned products come from products damaged in shipping. Many damages can be repaired by our factory technicians and made to look almost new. Factory reconditioned products may have blemishes or scratches that do not impact performance.


Aquatic Life Inspects, Repairs, Tests and Repackages


Aquatic Life trained technicians thoroughly inspect each product and make the necessary repairs. Genuine factory replacement parts are installed if required and each product is tested to ensure it operates properly. The products are repackaged and new operating manuals are added. Reconditioned products get more individual attention than new products.


Aquatic Life Warranty


Aquatic Life Light Fixtures that pass inspection are awarded the same Limited Warranty as new Aquatic Life fixtures, plus come with an additional six months of factory-direct warranty. This is how Aquatic Life stands behind factory reconditioned fixtures. Specific reconditioned product warranties are stated with the available product in the Outlet.


Aquatic Life Clearance Items


We have created a unique opportunity for you to save money on remaining inventory of last year’s models and on cancelled orders we may have in stock. Each item is new, meets the highest quality standards and includes the standard Aquatic Life Limited Warranty.


Go to the Aquatic Life website to access the great deals-  http://www.aquaticlife.com/outlet

Accidental Frags

As you may or may not know, we have a gorgeous 225 gallon tank next to my desk here at Aquatic Life. It is my pleasure and my job to take care of the tank. ( I know I get paid to do things I want to do!) Anyways I was looking at the tank yesterday and decided I needed to do a water change and also re-arrange a few pieces of coral etc. inside.

So I change out 30 gallons of water and then I decide to change out the GFO inside of the media reactor as well. Then I move on to reposition a garf bonsai frag I recently acquired. I carefully place some tongs into the tank and gently lift the frag up. And then it happened. The clumsy doofus inside of me reared its ugly head. My elbow smashes into a giant colony of some digitata! My mind raced and I began to panic. I reached down to grab the fist sized piece I had just broken off. As I reached down the same offending elbow bashed the same colony again and broke off another softball sized piece!

I moved all of the new “ accidental frags” to the frag tank.

Initially I was very upset as I was really digging the aquascape in the tank. But the more I look at it the more relieved I am. I think the colony had become much to large anyways. I like the look with a new smaller hand sized colony of the digitata. That’s what is so great about this hobby. The tank is alive and constantly changing and developing. Just when you think everything inside is perfect it grows out or something changes. I will never get tired of having a piece of the ocean and making it my own.


Here is what the colony looks like now. I can’t wait to see the form it takes on!

James Korner