Where is innovation is needed in this hobby?
- Thread starter Art
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BigWave
Active Member
The plant aspect at least here in the USA utterly sux. Yes I can go to any number of websites to get plants but 8 out of 10 they are out of said plant. I do not not want be ordering from 3 or more vendors to get what I want! The InVitro plants are getting a bit better at availability but its severally lacking. Many of the species are shipped into the USA and thus have been tossed around or in shipping for any number of weeks and show damage and stress. WHY IS THERE NO AMERICAN COMPANY INVESTED IN THIS YET!!!!! On this note, about the only way to get what you want is via Social media and contacts you've made there.
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- #3
I couldn't agree more, Steve. I really would appreciate a Tropica, Dennerle, Anubias or Aquaflora to dominate the market but it hasn't happened. I think the current perception is that the market is too small and too flooded with hobby sellers.
Florida Aquatic Nursery is one or the largest plant producers in the world and they're in Florida. However, they have never really shown an interest in developing the hobby. They sell 100% of what they produce so are not incentivized to assist in growing it.
Here's hoping for a change in the next 10 years.
Florida Aquatic Nursery is one or the largest plant producers in the world and they're in Florida. However, they have never really shown an interest in developing the hobby. They sell 100% of what they produce so are not incentivized to assist in growing it.
Here's hoping for a change in the next 10 years.
Quagulator
Active Member
If you think it's bad enough in the States, try north of the border...
A few suppliers will carry more than just Tropica, but unless a store / website has dedicated hobbyests supplying them, it's a copy and paste tropica flyer with maybe a handful of other species from 1 other supplier.
Extremely frustrating, and same as above, I do not want to have to order from 3 vendors and pay $$$$ shipping on all 3 to get what I would like.
Side note - FINALLY I have access to a few very good local fish stores, after waiting 10+ years. The only problem is the best of them only carry Tropica and inflate the heck out of the price, the others at least have other suppliers and are cheaper, but quality isn't as nice.
A few suppliers will carry more than just Tropica, but unless a store / website has dedicated hobbyests supplying them, it's a copy and paste tropica flyer with maybe a handful of other species from 1 other supplier.
Extremely frustrating, and same as above, I do not want to have to order from 3 vendors and pay $$$$ shipping on all 3 to get what I would like.
Side note - FINALLY I have access to a few very good local fish stores, after waiting 10+ years. The only problem is the best of them only carry Tropica and inflate the heck out of the price, the others at least have other suppliers and are cheaper, but quality isn't as nice.
GreggZ
Moderator
LOL I've been doing my part to support international relations. Every once in a while Hendy is in town and we do a plant swap.
But yes in general we here in the states are pretty lucky with availability. Once something hits the hobby it's not long before it's spread around enough that it stays.
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- #6
This is true. It is much better than it used to be in the USA. However, IMHO, it feels that way for people that are very involved with the hobby and have a network of friends in the hobby.
If you're a newcomer, you are stuck like chuck. LFS selection is atrocious for the most part and your options are 3-5 different vendors you find via Facebook or Google.
My vision is to have a Green Aqua like LFS in every neighborhood in the US!
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- #8
I'm curious. I was expecting the plants to win this one but I wasn't expecting filtration to be in the second spot.
Any thoughts on how we think filtration needs to be innovated? What's the current issue?
I have a love hate relationship with canister filters. It's just too hard (getting easier though) to replace the mechanical filter as needed without having to take apart the filter. It's not easy to add chemical filtration for spot treatments. They are always underpowered.
On the last comment. Maybe we are not using them correctly? A filter is not a powerhead. Too many of us use filters like powerheads to create flow. I want slower flow through my filter and broad big flow from my powerhead.
Any thoughts on how we think filtration needs to be innovated? What's the current issue?
I have a love hate relationship with canister filters. It's just too hard (getting easier though) to replace the mechanical filter as needed without having to take apart the filter. It's not easy to add chemical filtration for spot treatments. They are always underpowered.
On the last comment. Maybe we are not using them correctly? A filter is not a powerhead. Too many of us use filters like powerheads to create flow. I want slower flow through my filter and broad big flow from my powerhead.
BigWave
Active Member
@Art have you seen this? Its a video demonstration of Oliver Knott's stream tank powered by Panta Rhei pumps. Anyway it flows like rivers do with the Lamanar Flow pattern thereby picking up all the deturious and gunk from the bottom. So far this is the only Filtration I've seen that does this. Bet it is a game changer....
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- #10
I have seen it and thought it was very cool. Very authentic biotope style but probably not very practical for a home aquarium though.
The laminar flow pattern can be created by a powerhead that creates a gyre effect. This travels like a sheet of water, hits the opposing walls, dives down and comes back the other way across the bottom and then back up to the powerhead positions near the water surface. Same sort of effect as a spray bar but with a lot more power. Commonly used in the salty side.
My thinking on flow continues to evolve. As I've said, I'm not a fan of using filters for flow. I want to separate the two functions so that a powerhead is the main flow component rather than the filters. This allows me much more control over it.
The question that still has me thinking is the flow pattern to choose. Unlike Oliver's stream (and natural streams), I don't like the one side flow because all of your plants will lay down to one side. I much prefer a back and forth motion, just seems more natural to me.
Anyway, interesting topic for more experimentation and discussion.
The laminar flow pattern can be created by a powerhead that creates a gyre effect. This travels like a sheet of water, hits the opposing walls, dives down and comes back the other way across the bottom and then back up to the powerhead positions near the water surface. Same sort of effect as a spray bar but with a lot more power. Commonly used in the salty side.
My thinking on flow continues to evolve. As I've said, I'm not a fan of using filters for flow. I want to separate the two functions so that a powerhead is the main flow component rather than the filters. This allows me much more control over it.
The question that still has me thinking is the flow pattern to choose. Unlike Oliver's stream (and natural streams), I don't like the one side flow because all of your plants will lay down to one side. I much prefer a back and forth motion, just seems more natural to me.
Anyway, interesting topic for more experimentation and discussion.
I voted for CO2 tech. The last time I had a planted tank was from 2010-2012. The CO2 technology is literally exactly the same lol.
There is only so much one could do, but something as simple as building a controller into the solenoid or something along those lines would work wonders.
There also really haven't been advancements in the reactor category. They're literally the exact same designs as a decade ago.
I think in all the other categories there has been a steady advancement in tech, or just availability and ease of use. Oase seems to have beaten everyone because their canister design is definitely way out ahead of anyone else. The pre filter is amazing, and the ability to include a heater just gets more junk out of your tank. The only issue I have is that they really used a terribly weak motor and even the largest of their canisters is horribly underpowered for its size.
There is only so much one could do, but something as simple as building a controller into the solenoid or something along those lines would work wonders.
There also really haven't been advancements in the reactor category. They're literally the exact same designs as a decade ago.
I think in all the other categories there has been a steady advancement in tech, or just availability and ease of use. Oase seems to have beaten everyone because their canister design is definitely way out ahead of anyone else. The pre filter is amazing, and the ability to include a heater just gets more junk out of your tank. The only issue I have is that they really used a terribly weak motor and even the largest of their canisters is horribly underpowered for its size.
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- #13
Thanks, Dom. I couldn't agree with you more.
I especially like the CO2 reactor comment. Rex Griggs posted his DIY CO2 reactor back in 2004. The Cerges Reactor (Serge's reactor) was posted back in 2010. Since then, not much has changed or evolved.
Dupla had their reactor back in the 1990s.
I would love to see someone come up with a smaller, sleeker looking CO2 diffusion mechanism that did not involve in-tank glass diffusers or living with a stream of bubbles entering the tank.
I realize many will say "don't fix it if it ain't broken", I get it. It ain't broken, but maybe it can be improved.
I especially like the CO2 reactor comment. Rex Griggs posted his DIY CO2 reactor back in 2004. The Cerges Reactor (Serge's reactor) was posted back in 2010. Since then, not much has changed or evolved.
Dupla had their reactor back in the 1990s.
I would love to see someone come up with a smaller, sleeker looking CO2 diffusion mechanism that did not involve in-tank glass diffusers or living with a stream of bubbles entering the tank.
I realize many will say "don't fix it if it ain't broken", I get it. It ain't broken, but maybe it can be improved.