I admit it. I’m a Reef Geek.
A Reef Geek is someone who spends all their free time maintaining saltwater aquariums with impossible-to-keep livestock, like exotic corals and inverts from around the world. I’ve been doing this for more than 30 years. I don’t know everything about it (no one does in this hobby) but I’ve got lots of experience under my belt, so maybe I don’t screw up as much as other people.
I’m also President of the Asheville Marine Aquarium Society and run an Aquarium Controller company called MCU Research. I currently live in Asheville, North Carolina which ironically, is pretty far from any ocean.
If you’re wondering, I am not the son of Leon Jaworski nor am I the Joe Jaworski who is running for the Texas Senate. For you football fans, I bear no relation to Ron Jaworski. Damn, these guys need to stop using my name.
While this Blog is mainly about experiences keeping saltwater aquariums, don’t be surprised to see some commentary about politics, society, or government. I may be a geek and a dork, but I don’t live in a vacuum.
Joe -
saw your “Dead Aquarist” post. just FYI, here’s some recent correspondence I’ve had with Marineland re a Maxi-jet 1200. I’m pretty impressed they’re following up on it:
Jim Fuquay
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
817-390-7552
—–Original Message—–
From: Studt, Bob [mailto:Bob.Studt_at_unitedpetgroup.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 7:39 AM
To: ads_at_americanquiltretailer.com
Subject: FW: Tech help
Mr. Fuquay, The Maxi-jet pumps are one of our most popular products and
many thousands of them have been used safely for years. Having said that
I cannot guess as to what might be wrong with yours. I would like to
arrange for it to be brought to our office for evaluation. I can arrange
for a UPS call tag to bring it here at our expense if you can provide me
an address where they can pick it up during the day. I will also have it
replaced of course.
Please e-mail me your address and I will make the arrangements.
Thank you,
Bob Studt
Technical Support/QA
Aquarium Systems, Inc./Jungle Talk Int.
8141 Tyler Blvd.
Mentor, OH 44060
440-255-1997 ph
800-822-1100 toll free
440-255-8994 fax
bob.studt_at_unitedpetgroup.com
http://www.aquariumsystems.com
—–Original Message—–
From: Brubaker, Wes On Behalf Of US Marineland Consumer
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2007 5:28 PM
To: Studt, Bob
Subject: FW: Tech help
Hey Bob,
Does this sound normal?
Thanks,
Wes Brubaker
UPG Aquatics
Consumer Relations
—–Original Message—–
From: Jim Fuquay [mailto:ads_at_americanquiltretailer.com]
Sent: Saturday, September 22, 2007 5:31 PM
To: US Marineland Consumer
Subject: Tech help
Sirs -
I have what i believe could be a very serious problem with a brand
new MaxiJet 1200 that i purchased on Sept. 10 from Big Al’s Online.
The opening where the power cord enters the pump box has no epoxy or
waterproofing material surrounding the cord, as there is in the
original pump for my Aquapod 24 and as other hobbyists tell me there
should be. Holding the pump with the side up where the cord enters, I
can pour water straight into this hole. The water then runs out the
pump intake. This pump also ran noisy (I could hear it in another
room) and hot (it raised the temperature of my Aquapod 24 gallon to
85 degrees with the heater unplugged and no lights at an ambient
temperature of 77 degrees). I reinstalled my original pump within
two days because of the noise and temperature increase with the
MaxiJet. Using the original pump dropped the temperature back to 80
degrees.
I examined this pump closely only after all 3 fish in my tank died
within 72 hours of installing this pump. These fish, which had
previously been in a local dealer’s Aquapod 24 since March 2007 and
which I purchased along with the tank’s live rock, had previously
been fine in my tank for one week. After a few days I tried another
fish, which showed signs of distress within 12 hours and died within
24 hours. All standard water quality parameters (pH, ammonia,
nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, copper) tested fine at two different
local fish stores. Invertebrates (zoas, anemone, soft corals and LPS)
don’t seem to be affected.
I would very much appreciate a timely response to this concern.
Unless your pump is designed the way in which I describe it, I think
this could affect a lot of hobbyists who regard MaxiJet as a top-
notch brand.
Jim Fuquay
Arlington, Texas
817-478-6790 (home)
817-390-7552 (work)
jfuqquay3_at_aol.com
jfuquay_at_star-telegram.com
By: Jim Fuquay on September 25, 2007
at 12:27 pm
Jim,
Interesting post- Thank you. I don’t know if this is related to what I experienced but it sure sounds sounds like it.
There were many horror stories in the 90’s about RIO powerheads. These Chinese pumps did not have thermal protection and would literally melt the plastic housing right down to exposing the copper coils. Fortunately, most of them tripped the breaker but they almost always killed all the livestock.
By: joejaworski on September 25, 2007
at 6:45 pm
By: bibomedia.com on March 5, 2008
at 12:24 pm
Is the presentation on aquascaping going to be back up again?
By: Mike on February 18, 2009
at 12:43 pm
Hi,
I find your blog very informative and have link it to our facebook group (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=34281892381)
We are a newly form non-profit society registered with the Singapore government. Please feel free to provide your comments and guidance if necessary.
Regards,
Joseph Tan
By: Joseph Tan on March 8, 2009
at 10:40 pm
Joe,
Just reading your article as I was researching ground probes for my saltwater aquarium. Interestingly, I see you live in Asheville, NC and I thought this is a nice coincidence. I plan on retiring to Asheville in about 4-5 years. Anyway, I have read some articles that suggest having a ground probe could actaully make a situation worse. I recently installed two GFCI units to two outlets I use for my 100 gal. tank. Do you suggest also installing a ground probe in the tank and plug it into the GFCI?
By: Maria Kelokates on June 29, 2009
at 10:17 am
Yes! The ground probe is what “triggers” the GFCI to kill the power when their is a short circuit.
By: joejaworski on June 29, 2009
at 10:24 am
Hi,
I read with great interest your auto-top off system. I’m in the middle of designing my sump for my new 150gal reef tank. Essentially it’s mainly for hiding equipment and adding water volume, 3ft long.
1st chamber – filter sock from tank drain, and a pump and protein skimmer. Both this chamber and the output form the skimmer go into the second chamber
2nd chamber is a deep sand bed with mud underneath, eventually will house plants. Also has a 300W heater. Small pump in here drives a calcium reactor where the output goes in the 3rd chamber along with the overflow from the 2nd
3rd chamber houses the return pump only.
Main filtration is handled using a Eheim Professional Wet/Dry filter.
My question is. Given the sump chambers always have the same level when in operation, and another level when power failed etc – where can you place a top up system in the sump given these levels?
Is it purely that if the top up float valve is placed high in the sump, then the difference between the maximum and minimal level (the siphon amount from the above tank) is less? and therefore the maximum level must change in the sump?
Have I answered my own question? lol
David
By: David Harrison on July 3, 2009
at 4:52 am
David,
When power fails and the sump water level rises, the float valve will wind up being under water. This is okay- since the valve will still be pressing (even harder now) against the gasket and no freshwater will enter the system.
By: joejaworski on July 3, 2009
at 7:43 am