Featured
Don’t Leave Your Glass Too Long Before You Clean It!
May 8, 2008 · Leave a Comment
With my day job I have the requirement to travel from time to time. The past week or so has been one of those occasions. I knew that I was going to be travelling but I did not know at the time exactly how long I would be travelling for. Before I left I made sure that all the maintenance was done on my aquarium, the cleaning was done and the fish were well fed. I then left my wife explicit instructions (again and again I hasten to add) on how to feed the fish - how much, how often etc. Whilst away I have had limited access... [Read the full story]
Care
Seawater Changing
April 22, 2008 · Leave a Comment
It can be a reef aquarium or fish only aquarium, large or small, but whatever it is there is a need for high water quality. When an aquarium system has been running for a time, the water quality can start to fall. Good husbandry practices can slow down the drop in the quality of the seawater. Efficient bio-filtration, protein skimmers, perhaps activated carbon, calcium reactors, reverse osmosis top-ups etc all assist. Nevertheless routine water changes are a great aid. Many of us aquarists are not particularly scientific... [Read the full story]
Conservation
Coral Transplant
May 1, 2008 · Leave a Comment
I love to just sit and look at my reef when I have the time. Its so peaceful and relaxing. I note the fish doing their thing, the corals swaying in the currents. My eyes automatically pick up any points of special note - it isn’t that I’m robotic its just that I know the aquarium intimately. One of the things I note every time is the corals growth. They never stop. I’ve taken quite a few cuttings (‘frags’ if you like) when the corals have become oversize or have overshadowed something else. Some of these cuttings... [Read the full story]
Equipment
Do You Have To Have Metal Halide Lighting For Hard Corals?
May 4, 2008 · Leave a Comment
Many reef aquarists see hard corals as the height of achievement and the closest thing to a real coral reef in captivity. This isn’t quite true of course, as parts of coral reefs are dominated by soft corals. Nevertheless, a hard coral reef can be very beautiful, and if the aquarist has selected the corals for shape and colour carefully it makes a stunning picture. The very first requirement for a successful hard coral reef is seawater quality - it must be high and consistently so. This includes the necessary levels of... [Read the full story]
Livestock
Life Span Of Tropical Marine Fish
April 28, 2008 · Leave a Comment
We look after our fish very well, don’t we. Whether it is a fish only aquarium or reef aquarium, a lot of thought goes into choice, taking into account compatibility, size and character. All in all, the fish should be healthy and happy. The marine aquarium is a stable environment (or should be) with all the parameters at their proper levels. The fish receive a varied and appropriate diet. There is little stress I would imagine, apart from the odd squabble that usually doesn’t amount to much. Predation doesn’t exist. On... [Read the full story]
DIY
Elevate Your Reef!
February 19, 2008 · 2 Comments
Aquarists aquascaping a reef aquarium, or fish only aquarium with live rock, carefully consider design options, with careful regard for efficiency and visual acceptability. A properly researched marine aquarium will run very well with just a fairly small input from the aquarist - routine water changes are an example. There are other simple actions that can be taken that will enhance the health of the reef significantly and at the same time reduce dirt accumulation in, and particularly below, the reef. The rocks of the reef,... [Read the full story]
Problems
An Aquaristic Nightmare
February 26, 2008 · 2 Comments
I intend looking at two fish problems. These two problems are probably the most feared by marine aquarists. Those who keep a fish only aquarium could sweat a little less, but the owner of a reef aquarium can have real trouble. The first is the so-called marine white spot, or ‘ich’. The cause of this problem is Cyptocaryon irritans, which is a parasite. The second is marine velvet, caused by the parasite Oodinium ocellatum. On the wild reef it is possible that a fish may run into one or other of these parasites... [Read the full story]
Social Community Area
Water Quality
Seawater Changing
It can be a reef aquarium or fish only aquarium, large or small, but whatever it is there is a need for high water quality. When an aquarium system has been running for a time,... [Read more]
Recent Articles
Aquarium Filtration
Can You Add A Deep Sand Bed To An Existing Setup?
Every week I like to pop into my local fish shop, even if it is not to purchase something just to have a look about and have a chat with the owner. Over the years we have built... [Read more]