Reef Tectonics Aquarium Service

12/21/2022

Words cannot express how happy I am to have not been a part of the Aqua Dom aquarium in Berlin!

My heart goes out to all of its inhabitants.

Water from the 264,000-gallon tank spilled out into the street in freezing conditions.

11/09/2021

What a difference a day makes.

11/05/2021

Update on my new career as a fish breeder...

10/28/2021

Picked up a nice pair of discus from the Fish Store in Lincoln, NE.

06/13/2021

Not only do we service aquariums of all shapes and sizes. Reef Tectonics is also a provider of Water Feature maintenance, service and repair.

One of the taller projects I have been involved with...

The ceiling above the left section was about 28' tall.

05/11/2021

I came across this article that was shared on another site. While I certainly am a proponent of "green" energy, I am also a bit skeptical of each new source. Is an electric car operating on electrical energy generated at a coal fired power plant greener than a combustion fired CNG vehicle?

What are the total costs and benefits of all this green or blue energy? Will it increase the carrying capacity of earths human population by a factor of 2, 10, or even 100? What impact will that have on food production, individual freedom, global relationships, etc?

Boron nitride nanotube membrane creates power by controlling the flow of electrically charged ions in water

09/05/2020

Years ago, circa 1995, I recieved a strange phone call from an individual seeking Professional Aquarium advice. Reef Tectonics was in its infancy at the time. This was in the earlier days of cell phone ownership and the call came in while I was working part time as a pizza delivery driver (and while out on a delivery run). The caller gave me this long drawn out story about how his pet shark became attached to his arm or hand. He wanted me to advise how to get the shark to let go. To be totally honest with him, I had no idea. Despite the name Reef Tectonics, to date we have only worked with sharks a couple a few times.

As politely and seriously as I could be, I offered multiple suggestions. With each Idea he countered, explaining he had already tried that or he feared it may hurt his pet. At some point, after several minutes, I gave up and attempted to end the call (I was working and had a delivery schedule to keep). I remember him not acknowledging that we were done and while I remained polite, my frustration was growing as I tried to terminate the conversation.

A short time later (possibly, a few days later), my first Reef Tectonics employee, Jeremy Baumfalk, returned from a pixxa delivery run on a night we were both working. After a few minutes, Jeremy casually started working near me and started up a conversation. He asked me about work, if anything new was going on, etc. Then he went on to ask something to the effect of how one might detach a shark from their arm in tr he unfortunate event of such an injury.

Dumbfounded, I couldn't remember if I had told him about the call or if the caller somehow contacted him as well. As I started talking about the incident he started laughing and confessed to being the caller. I had no idea it was him. To this day, that was one of the funniest pranks pulled on me.

A small shark hung onto a Florida beachgoer’s arm relentlessly over the weekend, and the victim acted like it was no big deal.

04/16/2020

Summing up the Covid 19 Pandemic in three words, "it really stinks". Reef Tectonics core business is Aquarium Service. With budget cuts, temporary suspensions of service and some customers choosing to remove their aquarium completely, well, from the perspective of my business, "it really stinks".

Something else is happening though. People are spending more time at home, more time with wives, kids, and pets. Some customers have been taking care of their own aquariums during this alone time.

Reef Tectonics has designed, installed, and aquascaped numerous aquariums with incredible fish, invertebrates, plants, and hardscape. I have had many customer tanks that I was very proud of over the past 27 years.

It was my hands on experience with my own aquariums that taught me more about the complex interactions between the fish and various invertebrates, filters, chemistry and biology. Having an opportunity to get lost in the underwater world, sitting up close and just quietly observing brought me the relaxation that I rarely experience from client tanks. The economics of running a small business are not compatible with allocating time "enjoying" their tanks. And they might find it odd if I were to show up at random times to just "enjoy" their aquarium.

Perhaps the increased home time is an opportunity for a renewed interest in the Aquarium Hobby. I had aquariums on and off since I was in the 5th grade. My first aquarium was a 10 gallon tank that I found on a shelf in my Grandparents basement. My first saltwater tank was a used 45 gallon aquarium I was steered towards by Scott Michael. At the time Scott Michael was working in The Fish Store in Lincoln, NE. His patience with me (who knew nothing about Salt Water Aquariums) planted the seed that would become Reef Tectonics.

As I mentioned earlier, the Covid 19 situation "really stinks'. That said, it really stinks at time, technically speaking that could never be better. Online sales allows us access to items delivered to our doorstep. Educational resources are online, cellnphone and video chat allows us easy access to experts. And social isolation recommendations affords us the time relax and enjoy our animals.

A home aquarium does not have to be complicated or expensive. Start small. A beta in a bowl is about as easy as it can get. I have had an interest in setting up a live freshwater plant tank of my own but never seem to have the time. Maybe now I do!

If you have an aquarium and find it is a valid escape from the current craziness, share your passion with someone who has never kept fish. Contact your local aquarium store. These businesses, especially the independent stores are being hit hard as well. They have always been eager to help "newbies" get started in the hobby.

Most importantly, enjoy and stay safe.

04/09/2020

As the Covid 19 situation continues to impact all of us, a few lessons could be taught (or learned) by fish-keepers of the world. The scenario playing out in the world today is all too familiar to Reef Keepers intent on adding "just one more fish".

For years, fish keepers have been advised to quarantine new additions for several weeks, not to add too many fish to an aquarium, and definitely make sure they are compatible for the long term.

This is good advice:

Self Quarantine before co-mingling with those who remain Covid 19 free.

Minimize the number of individuals you interact with. (Gatherings of no more than 10 people).

You are going to have a great opportunity to learn just how compatible you are with your wife and kids during your Shelter in Place experience!

In closing, NO, I do not endorse using chloroquine phosphate as a treatement for the coronavirus.

Though not many use one, quarantine tanks are one of the most essential pieces of equipment an aquarist can own. Here's why quarantine tanks are so important.

03/24/2020

Scott Michael, you recently shared an article about rising demand for aquarium grade Chloroquine Phosphate as a potential coronavirus treatment.

I responded with a photo showing the chemical portioned out for treatments in aquariums which resembled drugs ready for the street. While you and I can joke back and forth about these things, it is important that people make safe choices during the confusion that is the coronavirus pandemic.

Below is an example, a Public Service Announcement of sorts as to why chemicals and drugs used in aquariums are not appropriate for human consumption.

Typically, aquarium medication dosages are calculated based on volume of water in the system. This is generally independent of the mass of the fish to be treated which is a fraction of the total system mass.

Aquarium Drugs are diluted in water, and meant to be taken up by the fish through diffusion across gilll tissue, ingested while "drinking" or kill parasites in a free swimming stage of there is life cycle. Additionally, calculations may account for chemical reactions occurring in the water and substrate and aquarium filters.

When administering drugs to individual fish, it is often done via intramuscular injection under the direction of a vet. Dosages are much smaller and calculated typically based on actual mass of the fish.

The man and his wife thought the ingredient, used to treat sick fish, could prevent the disease.

04/18/2019

https://www.thinkfish.co.uk/article/angelfish-fish-species

Featured fish: Freshwater Angelfish

While these angelfish can resemble their marine cousins, they are actually a part of the cichlid family. As such, they have similar care requirements as cichlids.

This article outlines the parameters needed to keep your angelfish happy and healthy, as well as where they might fit in a community aquarium and - if desired - tips on how to breed them.

Find out all about the Angelfish, one of the most popular aquarium fish