Featured

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Something Is Wrong!

May 4, 2013 · Leave a Comment 

So there it is, a beautiful marine aquarium. Maybe it’s a fish only system, a coral only system or a mixed reef. The latter is my system type. Soft corals swaying gently in the seawater currents, decorative algae coloured pink, deep brown and medium green. No trouble from the horrid algae types either. Just a couple of fish cruising about, sometimes arguing but mostly all is at peace. The boss is a flame angel (Centropyge loriculus) and the other a blue Fiji damsel (Chrysiptera  taupou). The fish population had... [Read the full story]

Care

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Can You Leave It Alone?

January 13, 2013 · 1 Comment 

Building a reef aquarium is very interesting and exciting. In the aquarists mind is a picture of the finished article, a beautiful enclosed world created by him/her and, holding hands with nature, all should be well. It usually is too. The information that is available today is vast and a search on the internet or a modern book on the subject usually gives an answer, particularly to a beginner. Once the reef has been constructed and the livestock introduced the end result can be seen. Corals that are so attractive and fish... [Read the full story]

Conservation

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How To Cut Your Coral

April 26, 2009 · 2 Comments 

It’s enough to make an aquarist shudder, a beautiful reef with corals that are healthy and expanded, fancy cutting one? Er, not really, no. The fact is that corals that are healthy are going to grow. Growth is of course absolutely normal and occurs with whatever the type of coral, soft or hard, and whatever species it is. A captive coral reef that is successful will need attention in time, in addition to the usual but very important routine maintenance. Growth of corals can change seawater flow, reducing it for some corals... [Read the full story]

Equipment

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A New Marine Aquarium Doesn’t Necessarily Cost A Fortune

October 23, 2012 · 4 Comments 

We all know that a ‘small fortune’ means a different amount to different people – it all depends on the size of the wallet. Nevertheless, for someone considering starting a marine aquarium for the very first time the price of the set-up can be daunting. Television doesn’t usually help. There have been programmes that have shown new aquarium installations as they proceed. These programmes, to attract any interest, have to show unusual installations and these are often huge aquariums and their relevant equipment into... [Read the full story]

Livestock

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Something Is Wrong!

May 4, 2013 · Leave a Comment 

So there it is, a beautiful marine aquarium. Maybe it’s a fish only system, a coral only system or a mixed reef. The latter is my system type. Soft corals swaying gently in the seawater currents, decorative algae coloured pink, deep brown and medium green. No trouble from the horrid algae types either. Just a couple of fish cruising about, sometimes arguing but mostly all is at peace. The boss is a flame angel (Centropyge loriculus) and the other a blue Fiji damsel (Chrysiptera  taupou). The fish population had... [Read the full story]

DIY

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Making Live Rock

August 18, 2009 · Leave a Comment 

The major bio-filtration media in use by marine aquarists, whether they keep a reef or fish only system, is probably live rock and for good reason. Premium live rock is rock that has been fairly recently harvested from around the reefs, meaning it is ‘rubble’ rather than hewed from the reef itself. This rock has growths of all sorts which could be of interest to the aquarist. Unfortunately, live rock needs to be cured after import which simply means that all the dead and dying organisms on and in the rock have to be... [Read the full story]

Problems

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I Didn’t Want Any Algae – Not The Nasty Stuff Anyway

April 22, 2012 · 1 Comment 

  The marine aquarist builds and stocks the aquarium to produce a beautiful and absorbing picture, lovely fish gliding among wonderful corals. It seems simple enough. After a while when the aquarium is well established, stable and particularly where live rock has been used algae appear. This is hopefully decorative and desirable, of various colours and shapes. The leaves themselves can be interesting, some soft and small and others large and rigid. It all adds to the overall picture. Why does algae appear that is not... [Read the full story]

Water Quality

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Is Seawater Quality Affected By Fish And Corals To The Same Extent?

Seawater quality is the number one requirement for a marine aquarium. The close number two for corals is suitable lighting. Given that both of these needs have been met where... [Read more]


Recent Articles

Aquarium Filtration

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Instead Of A Quarantine Tank I’ll Use A UV Sterilizer

This to a newcomer seems like a good idea, applying some extra protection equipment to the display aquarium and avoiding the need for a separate tank with the consequent need... [Read more]


Recent Articles