Everyone knows that the design of the original Tunze Stream pumps was flawed. The pump itself is great, silent and efficient but the electronics were it’s achilles heel. Both the transformer and driver unit were very prone to breaking, sometimes with catastrophic consequences. But that was easily dealt with because Tunze has always supported their products with complete selection of spare parts. Until now, that is. To my surprise (and shock) I learned that Tunze no longer provides spare parts for older Stream pumps. Instead, you are required to send your old Stream to Tunze and then negotiate a discount for a new model. In my case that means I could get a Tunze 6105 for 200 € instead of 245 €. Hardly a substantial discount, especially when you consider that I still have one more 6100 for which I might need spare parts later (and, by the way, for which I’ve already bought a new transformer and driver unit about a year ago). I think I’ll keep the broken 6100 for spare parts, it’s much more valuable than 45€.

The important question of course is how will this “new” Tunze handle current equipment two years from now? They will break.

Only two days after the Tunze debacle I managed to accidentally break the ceramic axle in my ATB skimmer pump Airstar 1500. I contacted ATB and all the necessary spare parts were sent to me three hours after my email with no mention about money (I assume an invoice is included). The parts were sent with fast express service to ensure I’ll get my skimmer back online as soon as possible. No negotiations and no hint of “who cares” attitude.

It is nice to deal with serious people.

Related posts:

1. Summer break is over – a quick update
2. Let it foam: Selecting a skimmer
3. It foams. I’m back.

Read all about it here.

Related posts:

1. Amino acids and reef aquariums
2. Amino acids and reef aquarium: Cysteine
3. Spongeguide.org

This was posted on coral-list today:

“The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) is giving away the remaining copies of the book ‘Soft Corals and Sea Fans: A comprehensive guide to the tropical shallow water genera of the central-west Pacific, the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea’ by Katharina Fabricius & Phil Alderslade, colour throughout, 264 pp. (2001). The book will be free of charge, but postage must be paid before delivery of the books (see instructions below). We still have a few hundred copies left to find a good new home. No second edition is planned, so please pass on this message to people who may be interested. The offer is valid until 30 June 2010.

Regards

Katharina Fabricius

SOFT CORALS AND SEA FANS

Fabricius KE & Alderslade P (2001) Soft Corals and Sea Fans: A comprehensive guide to the tropical shallow water genera of the central-west Pacific, the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville. 264 pp. ISBN: 0 642 322104

Free of charge but postage must be paid before delivery of books. Offer valid until 30 June 2010.

Postage:

Zone     1          AUD$10.50               Australia and New Zealand

Zone     2          AUD$13.50               Asia – Pacific

Zone     3          AUD$18.00               Rest of the World

PLEASE PAY BY DIRECT BANK TRANSFER  OR BY EMAILING YOUR CREDIT CARD DETAILS TO accounts@aims.gov.au

FOR SECURITY, SEND YOUR CREDIT CARD DETAILS IN TWO SEPARATE EMAILS.

BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS FOR the AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF MARINE SCIENCE

Address                          PMB No 3.  Mail Centre

TOWNSVILLE QUEENSLAND 4810

AUSTRALIA

Name of Bank                     Commonwealth Bank of Australia

Address of Bank                  Flinders Mall, Flinders Street, Townsville  Queensland  4810, AUSTRALIA

Account Details                  BSB No   064-817

Account No.          00070212

Account Name: Australian Institute of Marine Science

Swift No.                CTBAAU2S

Remittance Contact               Finance Department

Ph (07) 47534350

Fax (07) 47534338  (overseas:  +61 7 47534338)

accounts@aims.gov.au

If remitting monies directly to AIMS bank account, please EMAIL details to accounts@aims.gov.au

PLEASE PAY IN  Australian Dollars (AUD)

PLEASE ADVISE DELIVERY ADDRESS

FOR ASSISTANCE, EMAIL reception@aims.gov.au

Related posts:

1. Special Diseases of Aquatic Organisms journal issue: The Role of Environment and Microorganisms in Diseases of Corals

Related posts:

1. Summer break is over – a quick update
2. Tank update, June 2009 (Updated)
3. Tank update, July 2009

From the title page:

“This DAO Special contains papers based on presentations made at the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium (2008, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA). The contributing authors provide an update on coral disease research, including new advances in the microbiology of causative agents, epidemiological modelling studies, and the role of climate as a driver of disease. They also consider management needs in light of a rapidly changing environment of coral diseases.”

Related posts:

1. Get a free copy of “Soft Corals and Sea Fans: A comprehensive guide to the tropical shallow water genera of the central-west Pacific, the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea”
2. Advances in Coral Husbandry in Public Aquariums
3. Guidelines for some parameters from Kleypas et al