2011 Has definitely seen its share of unique aquariums, many of which were featured right here on these pages. Some were variations on an old theme, some were nice applications of the current state of the art, and a number came out of left field. From this group, here is a look at our picks for the most influential aquariums of 2011, as featured on Reef Builders.
Bon的泻湖
Let’s face it, the Zeovit system of nutrient and mineral replenishment is not for everyone. There is a certain level of diligence and effort that needs to be adhered to in order to assure success with the system. Some hobbyists that have embraced this system have arguably given the hobby some of its most unique and beautiful aquariums over the past several years.
It seems that the hobbyist who works with Zeovit has a certain attention to detail, diligence, and yes- perhaps even a slightly rebellious spirit. Or at the very least, a strong desire to approach from a different angle. When Evan Tsiang of Hong Kong set up his beautiful aquarium, he put some real effort into the fundamental, functional aspects of its design and configuration to help assure long-term success.
凭借一系列现成的高科技小工具，例如生态毒理“大炮”，38杆LED，Vortech Pumps和Neptune Systems“ Apex” Aqua Controller，Aquarium是技术人员的乐趣。您可能会说，可见的泵和硬件有点烦人，但是，以我们的拙见，它们对整体显示器只是一个小小的分散注意力。你甚至可能stretch有点并使论点为设计美学提供了一个独特的方面。
From an aquascaping standpoint, this tank embraces a clean“没有景观”philosophy, which utilizes very little live rock, instead relying on the corals themselves to provide a sort of “deconstructed reef” look. Less rock provides a more open design, and more flow throughout the aquarium, resulting in a cleaner system. The corals are thoughtfully arranged in a representation of a coral bommie, providing an overall effect that is both unique and refreshing. For taking a unique aesthetic approach, an attention to detail, and a stunning application of technology, Bon’s Lagoon belongs on this list.
海洋种植水族馆
The next spot on our list doesn’t go to just one aquarium. Rather, it goes to a团体帮助建立另一个ne的水族馆w direction in the marine aquarium hobby. You’ve heard me wax on about marine planted aquariums for years here on Reef Builders, encouraging you to play with Seagrasses and Macroalgae.
我的同事Mark Van der Walrecently fired another shot across the bow in his piece featuring some beautiful planted marine aquariums. With advances in filtration, lighting technology, water chemistry management, and better availability of the plants themselves, it’s never been a better time to jump in on the planted marine aquarium movement.
Marine planted aquariums not only provide a new aesthetic opportunity, they enable the hobbyist to study and replicate a biotope that is so important in nature — the seagrass bed. The diversity of life that comes from seagrass beds is remarkable, and includes many of the most popular and coveted fishes and invertebrates in the hobby. At a time when the hobby needs to keep flexing its creative muscle, marine planted aquariums provide a great canvas.
By applying recently-introduced aquarium technology and marrying it with with skills honed from years of reefing and freshwater plant experience, more and more hobbyists are able to contribute to the body of knowledge we have on these amazing life forms, to everyone’s benefit. This is an area of the hobby that we feel will only grow in both importance and influence on the state of the art of the hobby in years to come.
Eco Reef Zero
偶尔，一个想法就会出现似乎different, despite its resemblance to what we already know.
输入“ Eco Reef Zero”。传统的“纳米”水族馆的这种独特转折激发了这位作家的兴起thought process参与建立水族馆的是“革命性的” - 手套来了off!自任命的批评家和海洋水族馆文化的监护人称为犯规，声称这并不是什么新鲜事物。或者是的？尽管有一些角落的断言，但我们在互联网或其他地方的水族馆中没有提及，以表达的意图是提供最小的多样性，低能源，以畜牧业为中心珊瑚aquarium. Assertions that, “It’s just a frag tank,” a “quarantine tank,” etc., came streaming in, much to our amusement. Even命名the aquarium came under fire.
让我们面对现实吧 - 从理论上讲，上下文，范围和实践，如果没有别的，Eco Reef Zero代表了一个基本模式转变from what we’ve been doing for decades. A testbed for outside-the-box thinking and a call for revisiting what we already know, and daring to apply it in different ways to take us to a different destination. The idea of distilling coral care to it’s most simple elements in a focused environment was irresistible to us, and apparently to many others who have told us they were interested playing with the idea. For these reasons, Eco Reef Zero makes the cut.
Steve Hurlock’s Rocky Mountain Reef
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sncfi4hgnM0[/youtube]
At 1200 gallons, this amazing aquarium sets some benchmarks for design philosophy, and aesthetics. Two years into its existence, the aquarium continues to provide visitors with an eye-popping experience and a visual feast every time they see it.
Not only does the aquarium contain an array of some of the healthiest, most fully-developed corals we’ve ever seen in captivity, it hosts a variety of beautiful fishes, living together as in nature. We’ve even witnessed some amazing, never-before-recorded-in-captivity spawning events in this aquarium, featured on these very pages. With 25 feet of viewing area and natural, open aquascaping, it’s not only an eye-popping wonder aesthetically; the aquarium has been a very healthy home to the animals that it hosts.
This aquarium doesn’t just make the cut because of its sheer size. It belongs here because it has been a shining example of the use of progressive technology and philosophy, applied regularly to provide the best possible environment for its inhabitants. Sure, not many home aquariums give you the chance to apply a 10-foot gyre, yet this aquarium seems to effortlessly meld a natural approach with technology, and does it in a most pleasing aesthetic way.
谁能忘记首次亮相Vortech MP60being put through its paces here? The system has also featured some state of the art lighting applications over the past couple of years. Its owner, Steve Hurlock, has been quick to embrace any changes that provide his animals with a better environment and has been all to happy to share the results on his stunning aquarium. For so many reasons, the Rocky Mountain Reef earns a solid spot on our roster this year.
FuriousFish Reduced Ecology Reef
[YouTube] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd6hvqdcwkm [/YouTube]
As the new decade unfolds, we’re seeing more and more aquarists trying different ways to keep corals and fishes. Although we are lovers of everything reef, it’s no secret that we have been big proponents of reduced ecology reefing, in which great attention is paid to corals and/or fishes, rather than live rock, sand, cleanup crews, etc. One of the nicest examples that we’ve featured here on RB this year was from a Spanish Aquarist who goes by the name “FuriousFish.”
His aquarium is a stunning example of what we affectionately call a “no scape” — a system that contains scant rock and no sand — while featuring a thriving and diverse population of stony corals and fishes. Arranged into two distinct “bommies”, the aquascape gives the impression of an uninterrupted field of coral, and is as attractive as any “reef aquarium” that we’ve seen. Rather minimal technical augmentation (protein skimmer, calcium reactor, metal halide lighting and ozone injection) keeps the system in top condition, without drawing focus away from the livestock.
在这个备受赞助的评论家的眼中，关于“无景观”哲学的最好的事情之一是珊瑚在做水上的工作。它们的生长和形态至少部分地对Aquascape的形状产生了重大影响。这与以“传统”为主的Aquascape有很大的不同，其中岩石为“礁石结构”树立了字面的基础。这一切都很有趣，并且具有避免过去几十年来礁石水族馆如此普遍的“岩石之墙”的额外好处。Furious Fish的水族馆是人才和新思想的合并的一个辉煌例子。
To the future…
Yes, 2011 was a watershed year for reef aquariums. What I like to refer to as the “postmodern” reef era has arrived. With a few exceptions, minds are open to new ideas. The furious pace of technology has provided a wonderful backdrop for creative expression in the hobby. Inspiration comes from many sources, and takes many forms. A new generation of hobbyists, striving for their own identity in the reef world, has forged some bold new directions, continuously pushing the envelope as the hobby continues its relentless march to the future. What will 2012 bring for the hobby? No one can say for sure, but you will definitely see it here.
Scott Fellman
