Interesting Aquarium Videos

I was having a poke around on You Tube etc as I find that there are both informative/educational videos on there as well as some which are basically inspiring.

Here are some interesting ones which I found.

Enjoy.

Reef Tank D.I.Y. Sump part 1

Reef Tank D.I.Y. Sump part 2

Setting up a nano reef tank step-by-step

California Style Reef Aquarium

outside reef tank

Reef Tank – Custom Gravity Sump & Refugium _HD

My SPS reef tank

Fantastically Diverse Reef Aquarium at Greenwich Aquaria

DIY Reef Tank Sump “How To” Part 1

DIY Reef Tank Sump “HowTo” Part 2

Tank Wave WITHOUT using a wavebox!

Introducing – Aquarists Online Reviews

We are always looking for ways to expand Aquarists Online and one of the things which both myself and John have been thinking about is reviewing aquarium related products.

Initially we thought about providing reviews in the blog area however we decided that the problem with that is that we can only review items which we either physically use or have used in the past and there are a lot of items which we have never used.

So we had a think and John asked if there was any sort of way in which we could have an area on the site where anyone could leave reviews. I had a look and identified some software which was suitable for the task and after a bit of implementation and modification Aquarists Online Reviews was born.

So what is it?

It’s a really simple concept – anyone anywhere can leave reviews of products about which they have an opinion. Other people can then read these reviews when researching a potential purchase. It does not have to be one review per product though – each product can have many reviews assigned to it. Various criterias are assigned to each product and when a review is left each of these criterias can then be scored. This criteria is then converted into an average and if multiple reviews are present an average of all  is taken.

At present there is just over a thousand products loaded into the system for which reviews can be made. The software has been setup so that you need to login to leave a review. The reason for this is spam and unrelated content. If the system was configured to be a free for all then quite quickly the area would become full of useless information which would make the area useless to anyone.

Even though we have loaded various products into the system I am sure that there are quite a few that are not there. For this reason we have configured the application so that any registered user can submit an item into the area. When an item is submitted information can be input about the product, plus images, from where it can be purchased  as well as an editor review. All submitted items are then put into a moderation queue so that John and I can ensure that they are aquarium related – if not they will be deleted.

Both myself and John will be leaving reviews for items that we either use currently or have used in the past and would like to invite you to leave reviews of the products you use as well.

We believe that this area can be a useful resource for many aquarists, especially aquarists who are researching products prior to making a purchase. However, this type of area does require input from website visitors. As said, myself and John will be leaving reviews but we can only realistically leave reviews for products we have used -  otherwise it will be a false review. Therefore this is a resource for anyone to use and it is driven by the users of this site.

With this new addition we now have the following services available here at Aquarists Online:

Articles Section – This is where John and I load our most informative articles for others to read, rate and share. It is also an area where other people can submit their articles for others to enjoy.
The Blog – The area where we post our daily information which ranges from short pieces to informative articles.
The Forum – If you have a question or a desire to help others the forum is the place to do this.
Aqua Compare – A price comparison site purely for aquarium products.
Reviews Section – The section where aquarium related products can be reviewed.
Electronic Book – A downloadable book produced by John and I to assist beginners progress in the hobby.

So there we go – another addition to Aquarists Online! If you are researching products then this area is for you – you can see what other people think about the product prior to purchasing. Then when you are happy to purchase you can always pop over to Aqua Compare and compare the prices of the relevant product and save some money. Once you have purchased you can always pop back to the reviews section and leave your review on the product – the more people that leave reviews the more useful it will be.

Both John and I are quite happy with Aquarists Online and John jokingly calls it the A to Z site for marine aquarists. However, as we always say ‘if there is something you would like us to do on Aquarists Online let us know and we’ll see if it is possible’.

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Thanks For The Praise And We Don’t Mind Criticism!

This website aquaristsonline.com has been running for something over a year. In that time it has expanded and evolved considerably.

We, meaning Peter and I, like to think that the information on the website is useful to all aquarists and particularly beginners. Starting out in the hobby can be confusing with all the various equipment and livestock. Questions on a forum could also be the same as responders have their own opinions which are often different. The basics of running a fish only or reef aquarium are straightforward; it is afterwards when some experience has accumulated that the aquarist could vary procedures a little.

Anyway, we have tried hard to provide an A to Z service to simplify an aquarist’s progress. Articles, Forum, Blog, Social Area – we thought they’d all help. There’s even an electronic book to download to make life even easier. There’s AquaCompare so that equipment can be checked out once a choice has been made following research. Peter uses his technical abilities and writes and I write and assist otherwise when able (but not with computer gobblygook!).

Anyway, we thought it was reasonably good – but that is what we thought. The fact is, even if we feel reasonably satisfied it isn’t our opinions that are most important. We could be too close and not see faults.

We certainly don’t mind constructive criticism and we’ve had some. For example, we were advised that it was a pain and time consuming to have to sign on every time a video, for example, was to be watched. The criticism was correct and so the requirement was removed.

We’ve had more praise than criticism, everything from a simple ‘Thank you’ to ‘This is just what I needed’ to ‘What a wonderful site. Well done’. In addition to that, there have been Emails from well known sources who have stated that the site is doing a great job for the marine hobby and we should maintain our efforts. Some of these were from advanced aquarists who, because of experience leading to depth of knowledge, are no doubt more critical.

Criticism and praise, plus ‘hits’ on the website (currently in thousands a day) are indicators that are used to help us keep on track.

This may all appear to be us simply ‘patting our own backs’. It isn’t meant to be, but a thank you to those who have contacted us in any way. A big thank you is given to those who have criticized and to those who have praised. All of these contacts enable us to judge if we are providing the needed content.

It may have been noticed that we have had guest authors writing for the Article section, and they are very welcome. Anyone who feels the urge, go ahead.

If anyone thinks the site can be improved in any way, with content or design, let us know. We’ll always listen and thank you for your time.

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Honoured To Write For The Reef Tank

A short while ago we were contacted by The Reef Tank (TRT) and asked if we would consider writing an article for the blog section of their site. This is only something that we do if the website in question is a qualtiy website which provides a lot of value to it’s visitors.

I am proud to say that The Reef Tank is one of those sites.

The Reef Tank is a very good site providing a photo gallery, a busy forum, a price comparison area as well as a blog section which is growing rapidly. The site provides a lot of value for it’s visitors and sa said we were honoured to provide an article for their use.

I would heartily recommend checking the site out – there is a load of information available.

If you would like to see the article provided then follow the link below:

http://www.thereeftank.com/blog/86-general/2882-water-circulation-and-its-importance-in-the-reef-tank.html

While you’re there why not sign up to their RSS feed as well so you don’t miss out on any updates.

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Take As Much Time As Is Needed Before Purchasing Any Animals

With the festive period now finished and a new year just beginning there will probably be a lot of people who are interested in starting a marine aquarium – and why not – it is a fantastic, educational, relaxing hobby to be a part of.

If you are new to this hobby and are thinking of starting then as the title of this post says ‘take as much time as is needed before purchasing any animals’.

You may be surprised how many people do minimal or no research at all before purchasing fish, corals etc and to me this is just cruel and the majority of aquarists ultimately regret it and in a lot of occasions actually end up giving up.

The research and planning could take a week, it could take a month, it could even take six months but it is imperative that the research and planning is done prior to purchasing any animals.

I understand that this may put some people off however whilst the care of the animals is a very large component another is both the actual understanding of the hobby and the confidence of the aquarist. It may sound like hard work but it isn’t, it is enjoyable as long as you are someone who likes to learn. If every marine aquarium was easy to setup then we would all have successful aquarium with no problems. In truth any aquarist can be a success – as long as they do research and plan.

With some hobbies you can be up and running within a week, some actually within the same day but this hobby is a little different to other hobbies. There is a lot to learn, there is a lot to plan for and there are also two things that you do not want to waste – time and money.

This does not mean that you will not physically have anything – you will not spend the next 2-3 months with your head in a book, starting at a computer screen etc. You can if you want but there is no need to. You can purchase physcial items like the aquarium. equipment etc. You can even have water in there but I would not recommend purchasing any animals until you are ready. Of course the aquarium needs to be ready for the introduction of animals however you, as an aquarist also need to be ready.

The research you need to do will depend upon any previous experience you may have had in the aquarium hobby. If you have successfully kept coldwater or tropical fish before then you have a good headstart – you now need to understand the differences.

Basically when you are researching and planning you want to be looking into the following areas:

Research

The first entry and this does depend upon any previous experience is the basics – this is followed by water quality, equipment and care/maintenance. Below are some questions which you can then research the answers:

(Hint – The answers to all of the above questions and more and on this Aquarists Online!)

• What is filtration, what does it do and why is it required?
• What is nitrate and how to reduce/manage it?
• Why is detritus bad in a marine aquarium?
• What are the different types of lighting and which on is most suitable for the aquarium you hope to keep?
• What does a protein skimmer do?
• Why is calcium required in a reef tank and what can you do to maintain it?
• Why is temperature control important and how can it be performed?
• How do you feed fish and corals correctly?
• What is reverse osmosis water?
• Why is water circulation important and what are the different ways in which it can be performed?
• Which fish are compatiible with other fish and which corals are compatible with other corals?
• What is quarantine and why should you do it?
• What do you need to clean and why?
• How do you mix saltwater?

Planning

The planning stage should be performed either when the initial research has been completed or as it is coming to a close.

As with the research stage this stage can be performed by answering the following questions:

• Which type of aquarium are you going to have – glass or acrylic?
• What size will the aquarium be?
• Are you going to use a sump?
• Are you going to implement any extra nutrient export mechanisms like a refugium?
• How are you going to filter the aquarium?
• Do you need to plan/build a stand and/or canopy?
• Where will the aquarium be located?
• Do you need to draw a plan of the aquarium plumbing?
• Where will the circulation devices be located?
• Are there enough power outlets?
• Does the floor need strengthening?
• Where will the protein skimmer be located?
• Where will your reverse osmosis unit be located?
• What is the future of the aquarium?

Once the above questions in the planning stage are answered then you are now in position to be able to start purchasing items. Personally I really enjoy the planning stage – I do loads of drawing both by hand and on the computer. I make a list of all the items I am going to need to get started and then once purchased start putting it all together. As said I really enjoy this time and this is an area that should not be rushed. You should try to enjoy this part of the hobby as much as you will do when their are fish, corals etc in the aquarium.

The questions in the above two sections of course do not detail everything you need to know. The answers you gain from these questions will be enough for you to start purchasing the equipment you actually need and hopefully not waste money or waste your own time. From doing this research and planning your own confidence should increase as you will have gained more knowledge about the hobby – all you need now is experience. This will come in time however with you actually doing your research and planning your aquarium properly then you will be in a position to be able to add animals to your aquarium. Do not rush the stage between putting the equipment together and adding fish, coral etc. Your research will tell you why and ensure that you take your time when adding animals.

Some of the questions above and any associated answers may bring about other questions which you may want to look into to locate the answer. The answer may be on Aquarists Online – if it is not for some reason then you can always contact us and we will either write an article about it, provide you with the answer or you can post a question in the forum.

It does need to be noted that there is a lot more to learn however you can learn this as you go – to be honest you will always be learning as each and every aquarium is unique. There is a saying in this hobby that the research never ends and it is a very true saying, however this is what makes this hobby both informative and educational. I think so anyway and that is why I love it so much.

When it comes to purchasing the actual equipment don’t forget to shop around and try to get the best deal. You can either purchase online where it quite often is cheaper or you can purchase at your locate retailer and try and build rapport with the owner/staff. The more you save in the purchase of equipment is money that can ultimately be spend on fish, corals etc. If you choose to purchase online then Aqua Compare is a great tool for comparing prices and this is why we created it.

Don’t forget that once your aquarium is up and running then why not take some photos of it, post them in the social area so that others can enjoy it. Alternatively why not start a blog in the social area detailing your progress – I for one would love to see any or both of these and I am sure that others would as well.

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I’ve Read It All, But…

…I need a very basic list of needs for the basic marine system.

There are a lot of individual items about setting up a marine aquarium in the blog and article areas on this website, but nevertheless flicking around locating topics for a beginner who has little idea of the basics could be confusing. So an ‘in a nutshell’ list could be of help. We’re told it will be anyway, so here goes!

Remember this is basic. At the end I’ve put article locations which could be of use.

What could be at the top of the list? I suppose the logical start is the aquarium, the glass or acrylic box that will hold the captive marine world. Personally I would always go for glass as it is less likely to scratch, but it is an individual choice. Most aquariums are purchased ready made, but there is a check to be done before this. Once the ideal size for the space available has been decided, check the running costs. Buying the biggest aquarium that will fit could end in disappointment if the running costs are prohibitive. Note the difference between running costs and setting up costs. Even if the cost of setting everything up can be met, the ongoing cost of electricity may be heavy, depending on lights, heaters etc used.

Once the aquarium has been decided, is a sump required? A sump is recommended as it increases the net gallonage of the system and gives an area for additional filtration that could be useful once the aquarist has experience, or before. Equipment such as heaters could be placed in there keeping them out of view. A sump usually sits below the aquarium, either directly or to one side. There isn’t a necessity to have a sump and it isn’t part of a basic set-up, but it is arguably better to have one from the start than fit one later. If a sump is to be used, ensure the aquarium is drilled for the overflow (usually by the retailer) before the aquarium and sump are taken home. Also, a pump to return seawater to the aquarium is required, and the pump should be able to move around three times the system net gallonage per hour.

It could be that the aquarium is supplied with a cabinet. If so, great, but make sure the sump will fit into the lower cupboard if that is the intention, and that there is sufficient room above the sump for maneuver. If a cabinet is not supplied, there are cabinets available for standard size aquariums. If the aquarist is a good DIY’er, perhaps this could be another project (remember that an aquarium full of seawater and rocks is very heavy).

So the aquarium (and sump) is decided and the cabinet style and colour have been approved. Essential basic equipment needs consideration now.

The first will be required by nearly every system, and that is the aquarium heating. The livestock that are going to be kept are most likely tropical, so a temperature of between 75 deg F and 80 deg F is required. This is easily achieved by using combined thermostat/heaters. These are generally available in various wattages. The thermostat is on the top of the tube shaped equipment and the heater at the bottom. They are submerged and when the thermostat detects the required temperature the heater is turned off. It is best to have two units, each rated at one half the wattage required to heat the whole system. This is to help guard against the danger of one heater failing, giving time for the aquarist to notice and protecting the livestock to an extent. The guideline wattage requirement is to allow 2 watts per gallon for the whole system (so it includes any sump). This is for a normally heated room – if the room is unheated and gets cold then double the wattage. So the normal wattage requirement for 50 gallons in a normally heated room will be 100 – in a cold unheated room 200. Divide the requirement by two and purchase two heaters of that wattage, that is in the example given two at 50 watts each or two at 100 watts each.

There is a piece of equipment that should not be overlooked by any beginner aquarist, and is used by the majority of experienced ones. This is the protein skimmer. It removes dissolved organic matter and is of great benefit in the maintenance of high quality seawater, which is a very high requirement for a successful system. These units can be obtained as hang-on or stand alone types so one can be chosen to suit circumstances. The hang-on ones are normally placed on the side or back of the aquarium. Stand alone types could sit alongside the aquarium (not so easy sometimes) or next to or in a sump, if one is to be used. Manufacturers are better at describing their products ability nowadays and the gallonage that can be serviced is more believable. When obtaining the skimmer, ensure that it can deal with the total system gallonage. If there isn’t one to match the system gallonage purchase the next larger size (not a bad idea anyway).

The next requirement for the basic system is a bio-filter. ‘Bio’ stands for ‘biological’ and it is an absolute essential. Without an adequate bio-filter then the system will fail. The filter, or life support system, can be supplied in two ways. The best way is to use live rock, which is not only decorative but comes with pre-loaded (by Mother Nature) bacteria. However, a basic system could use a canister filter; there is a drawback concerning seawater quality (this is easily and routinely overcome and will not be gone into here). The canister filter should be capable of servicing the total net gallonage of the system, so a check needs to be made of the manufacturer’s recommendations. The canister filter media will not come with bacteria, this will need a kick start, but again is easily achieved.

The requirement next on the list is lighting. Marine system lighting is a subject in itself, but suffice it to state that two fluorescent tubes will be fine for a fish only system, and for a reef system a bank of fluorescent tubes or metal halide bulbs (often plus fluorescent tubes) will be needed, dependant on the types of corals being kept and also on the depth of the aquarium.

Seawater movement is important for the health of the livestock. Two powerheads are basically sufficient, one outlet set against the other to create chaotic or random seawater currents. The basic guidelines for the strength of the circulation are: for a fish only or soft coral reef, ten times the display aquarium (exclude any sump) gallonage per hour, and for an SPS (small poly stony) system twenty times the display aquarium gallonage (exclude any sump).

Finally, something that is quite important – salt! There is clearly a need for this and dry salt in various quantities is available. It has already been stated that high quality seawater is very important, so along with the dry salt test kits should be obtained. Basically, they should test for pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. The seawater should have a stable ‘saltiness’, so a hydrometer is also needed.

We could go on but will stop there. It is meant to be basic and the above will provide a basic system. In time additions will be made by the aquarist and also changes in procedure as experience grows.

Article Locations.

‘Beginners’ :

‘Which To Choose, A Small Or Large Aquarium.’
‘A New Seawater Aquarium – It’s Exciting But Check Running Costs!’
‘Guideline Basic Seawater Parameters For The Reef Aquarium.’

‘General’ :

‘Locating A Marine Aquarium.’

‘Aquarium Equipment’ :

‘The Aquarium Hydrometer.’
‘The Canister Filter – Any Use In The Marine Aquarium?’
‘Is A Protein Skimmer Actually Required?’
‘Sumps, Should I Use One?’
‘Which Is Better, An Acrylic Or Glass Aquarium?’

‘Lighting’ :

‘Aquarium Lighting – What Are Your Options?’

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Christmas Period Special Offer

As the Christmas period is just around the corner we thought we would join in with a bit of Christmas cheer.

As you know we have two guides which John and I created which are available in eBook format. Both of these books are aimed at the newcomers to this hobby however experienced aquarists may benefit as well – one is in relation to starting a saltwater fish only aquarium, the other is in relation to starting a saltwater reef tank.

To date a lot of these eBooks have gone out of the door and we have received some excellent feedback in relation to them. As mentioned in a previous article we are working at getting these published so that they are also available in standard book format but at the moment they are not quite ready.

Anyway we have decided to offer these books at a discount. Normally these books are available at $37.00, however for the Christmas period they have been reduced to $19.95.

This offer will only be available until the 1st January 2009 and only available at the following links :

The Aquarists Guide To Starting A Home Marine Fish Only Aquarium

The Aquarists Guide To Starting A Home Marine Mixed Reef Aquarium

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