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Is Yours Scummy?
2008-01-16 13:55:00
Sounds as though I’m getting too personal! I’m not, it is definitely to do with the fish only aquarium or reef aquarium. It is equally relevant to both. (...)

Don?t Ruin Your Water By Overfeeding Your Fish
2008-01-14 22:01:00
No matter what type of aquarium you keep or are hoping to keep - be this a fish only aquarium, reef tank or mixed reef tank then there is one thing which you need to ensure. Water quality. (...)
More About: Fish , Ruin

Will You Fall By The Wayside?
2008-01-12 21:35:00
A marine aquarium can be tempting in several ways. Perhaps marine aquarium life has been seen in a public aquarium. Or maybe the local pet shop sells marine life. (...)
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What Is Seawater Desalination?
2008-01-03 22:30:00
I don?t know how this question arose - as far as I know desalination has no application with regard to the marine aquarium. This process is where the salt content of the seawater is extracted. (...)
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Stress, A Potential Killer
2007-12-19 23:22:00
With a successful marine aquarium, be it a fish only or reef system, the term 'stress' seems inappropriate. Beautiful fish gliding about, corals swaying in the currents, shrimps on their eternal quest for another morsel to eat. Aquarists sit and watch the living picture with a sense just the opposite to stress. In the human world stress is well known. The so-called rat-race, people getting to work, then being overworked, then sitting in traffic jams on the way home again - and all the rest. Stress is recognised medically as a problem, and it can lead to complications if not dealt with. The marine aquarium world is not different. There is a difference in cause, but the affect on the afflicted can be no less catastrophic. On the wild reef natural stress is part of the daily routine. Fish can be chased by and perhaps escape from predators. Predators create the need to hide for security. In breeding periods there is competition. There may be brushes with disease. Life on the wild r...
More About: Killer

Download An Aquarium Screensaver
2007-12-16 21:40:00
Marine aquarists are not permanently glued to the view of their aquarium. In this day and age many spend quite a bit of time on a computer for various reasons. (...)
More About: Aquarium , Screensaver , Download

The Cleaner Shrimp
2007-12-06 21:23:00
Personally I like cleaner shrimps (Lysmata Amboinensis). I think that they are a fantastic addition to a reef tank. I have two in my aquarium and really enjoy watching them. I like the way thay they hang upside down in a cave, the way in which they will take food out of your fingers and especially when they climb up your arm looking for food when you have you arm in the aquarium doing this and that. There is one thing about them which I don't like though and that is 'they walk on the corals'
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Remember To Water Test Your Aquarium
2007-12-05 21:53:00
When you set up an aquarium, be this the display aquarium, sump, refugium or any other type of aquarium one thing you must do prior to mixing the expensive salt with the again expensive reverse osmosis water is to test that the aquarium does not leak. This is exceptionally simple to do. All you do is fill the relevant aquarium with tap water and leave it for a while. I know that this may sound like a waste of water but doing so allows you to test the seals in the aquarium. How would you feel if you filled the aquarium with reverse osmosis water, mixed in the salt only to find out that it leaked and that you would need to remove all of this water, store it somehow or even worse have to throw it away. Filling it with tap water allows you to test the seals. There is no guarantee that the aquarium will not leak. Whilst the manufacturer will make every effort to ensure that it does not they cannot guarantee it. Or if they do provide a guarantee it will be that they either repair or re...
More About: Aquarium , Water , Test

Natural Algae Control - Does It Work?
2007-12-04 23:02:00
This question is posed by many aquarists, whether their pride and joy is a reef aquarium or fish only aquarium. Algae can be a terrific addition to the system, if the aquarist wants it. Algae can be a friend to the aquarist, either in the sump or even the display aquarium, in the control of nitrates and phosphates. Caulerpa is the type normally used for this purpose. Encrusting calcareous algae is also a welcome addition, as it appears in lovely colours and enhances the display. Algae can also be a pain, in some cases causing the aquarist to nearly tear his/her hair out. The very first point when discussing algae control is that the seawater should be of high quality, with very low measurements of nitrate and phosphate. Nitrate should be below 10ppm (parts per million) particularly in a reef system, (a fish only system can go somewhat higher but levels should be minimised) and phosphate not higher than 0.03ppm. It is probably better that the levels are undetectable. Nitrate and ph...
More About: Natural , Work , Control

Reverse Osmosis
2007-12-03 20:51:00
The reef aquarist in particular is always trying to maintain high quality seawater. So is the fish only aquarist, though the quality demand is not quite so vital. The aquarist test the seawater parameters as a matter of course. Most aquarists find that all is well, or can adjust to remedy an incorrect reading. There are aquarists though who use high quality salt and are particular about the maintenance. Despite this, they find that problems arise, often in the from of phosphate or nitrate. They then obtain filters to deal with these, creating more expense and more maintenance. There is nothing wrong with getting rid of undesired substances with specific filtration methods. The question is, where are those undesired substances coming from. As said, if the aquarist is doing everything correctly, including feeding, it is unlikely that it is being generated within the aquarium. So where does it come from.

What Is A Natural Reef Aquarium?
2007-12-02 21:41:00
This seems to be a bit of a nonsense. How can there be a natural reef aquarium? An aquarium is a container with seawater and captive livestock. A natural reef is a large entity out in the wild and home to millions of free life forms. There is sense in the title however. Let?s look for the sense of it. The salt water aquarium has been in existence for decades. The hobby languished in the doldrums for many, many years as it was without doubt very difficult. Only the most determined of aquarists had any measure of success, and that was often short lived. With the huge advance of saltwater aquarium technology over the last two decades, the hobby has become much easier and more open to all. Generally, set the system up correctly and do the correct maintenance and all will be well. This occurred not that many years ago when under gravel filters and canister filters were the norm. The hobby expanded immensely.
More About: Aquarium , Natural , Reef

What Is A Sulphur Denitrator
2007-12-01 21:24:00
Considering the maintenance of high quality seawater there are certain items we do not want to see at all, or at least wish to minimise them. One parameter that often rears its head is nitrate. In the fish only aquarium nitrate can be allowed to rise a little, though personally I believe efforts should be made to keep it at the same level as a reef aquarium (the fish live on the wild reefs after all). The reef aquarium should ideally have no measurable nitrate, and the maximum guideline limit is 10 parts per million (ppm). This is because the reef system contains livestock that are more susceptible to trouble with high nitrate levels. Nitrate is also a nutrient for nuisance algae.

Remember To Protect Your Reverse Osmosis Membrane
2007-11-29 14:35:00
Water quality in the aquarium is of upmost importance and the aquarist needs to do everything they can to ensure that the water qualty does not drop to below par levels. Water quality is measured in many ways with probably one of the most important being the water which is used to mix with the salt - in this instance reverse osmosis water. The majority of reverse osmosis units are made up of numerous stages. Each of these stages has a function the main one of which is the membrane. The other stages used are normally along the lines of a pre-filter (sometimes called a sediment filter), a carbon filter and a DI stage. The pre-filter and the carbon filter are normally located prior to the membrane and the DI unit located after the membrane.
More About: Membrane

Resources To Help You Make Your Own Live Rock
2007-11-28 21:45:00
Live rock is a fantastic tool to use as a method of filtration in the saltwater aquarium. Another good thing about live rock is that it looks so natural in the aquarium. There are a couple of issues however: 1. Live rock, dependant upon the amount required is not that cheap 2. You never quite get the shapes and sizes you need to create the rock structure you hoped for. For these reasons and some others which I have not mentioned there are some people in this hobby who are now looking at making their own live rock.
More About: Resources , Rock , Live , Make

Deep Sand Bed Construction
2007-11-26 14:29:00
The construction of a deep sand bed (DSB) is very simple and straightforward with only a few requirements. Many marine aquarists undertake this job as they wish to maintain high water quality and at the same time have additional interest in the aquarium, which takes the form of the tiny, and sometimes not so tiny, life forms which hopefully will make the DSB their home. Dr Ron Shimek is a very well known aquarist who undertakes research. Following is a link which provides all the information needed - sand type, depth etc - in the making of a DSB. In addition, some of the life forms that may inhabit the sand are given. It is very well worth a visit if a DSB is being considered. http://www.ronshimek.com/Deep %20Sand %20Be ds.htm
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How To Change A Fish Only Aquarium Into A Reef Aquarium
2007-11-19 12:46:00
The aquarist running a fish only aquarium has gained a great deal of valuable knowledge about husbandry. He/she has also been able to keep fish that the reef aquarist cannot. These fish are considered as not â??reef friendly.â?? This is the first consideration before any move is made towards a reef aquarium. The aquarist will know the fish being kept - are they reef friendly? If there is any doubt then research is needed. Chances should not be taken. If the aquarist cannot bear to part with any fish then either the aspiration for a reef aquarium should go, or a reef aquarium should be set up separately. Letâ??s assume the aquarist has all reef friendly fish. There will be further consideration of these fish later.
More About: Aquarium , Fish , Change , Reef

Is A Protein Skimmer Actually Required?
2007-11-18 11:56:00
The fish only or reef aquarium has a number of devices designed to help maintain the correct parameters, hopefully ensuring healthy livestock with a long life. These are heaters, water level controllers, calcium reactors, lighting controllers etc. All of these devices service a particular area. For an obvious example, heaters maintain temperature. The action of these devices is appreciated by the aquarist as the action is usually obvious. There is one device though which sometimes causes doubt, and that is the protein skimmer.
More About: Protein , Skimmer

Good Starter Fish For The Saltwater Aquarium
2007-11-17 19:40:00
Once all the research, planning and waiting is complete and the aquarium is full of water and has finally finished cycling you will finally be ready to introduce your first fish. It is important to ensure that you make the right choice though as there are some fish which are suitable to be added at this stage and there are fish which are not.
More About: Aquarium , Fish , Good , Starter , Twater

What About Seahorses
2007-11-16 22:03:00
I don’t know about you but I have an absolute fascination for seahorses. If I was not so addicted to keeping my saltwater aquarium then I would probably keep seahorses. (...)

How To Convert A Freshwater Aquarium To A Saltwater Aquarium
2007-11-15 22:25:00
This is not an attempt to lay down railway lines for a converting aquarist to religiously follow, but hopefully a thought provoker that indicates some of what lies ahead. Quite a number of freshwater aquarists are tempted to keep marines because they see a stunning aquarium somewhere, or they realize that keeping marines is not as difficult as they first thought, or they feel they have accumulated enough experience to make the change. Not all freshwater aquarists are the same of course. There are some really beautiful decorated freshwater aquariums about, and keeping one of these is as difficult as a reef aquarium.
More About: Aquarium , Convert , Vert , Twater

Should You Drill The Aquarium Or Use An Aquarium Overflow Box
2007-11-14 21:22:00
This is a question which I get asked quite a lot. I have my own personal preference but in reality it is down to you as an aquarist to make your own decision based upon your personal preferences. I suppose really it depends upon whether the aquarium has water in it or not.
More About: Aquarium , Overflow , Drill

The Aquarists Online Forum Has Had An Update
2007-11-12 20:09:00
Here on the Aquarists Online website we have our own community saltwater aquarium forum loaded which is an area where saltwater aquarists can from all over the glove can come and ask questions, answer questions or just generally 'hang out'. Saltwater aquarists from any level can use this forum - it does not matter if you are a complete newbie or have been keeping saltwater aquariums for years - everyone is welcome.
More About: Forum , Update

Should You Use Natural Seawater In Your Aquarium
2007-11-11 22:36:00
It seems very reasonable doesn?t it. We keep seawater aquariums and so why not put natural seawater in them. It saves money too, no more buying those expensive buckets of dry salt mix. The first consideration is availability. Seawater is heavy, around 10lbs per gallon. If the aquarium is fairly large the amount required will be many gallons, much more if it is an initial fill. Lots of large containers, all suitably safe for seawater, plus a vehicle that can safely transport the bulk and weight. Most aquarists live away from the sea, and the dry salt mix is the obvious way to go.
More About: Aquarium , Natural , Ural

Boss Fish
2007-11-10 22:19:00
An aquarium full of fish, or one with a captive reef and fish. They are both potentially beautiful. The aquarist has acted absolutely correctly, allowing the aquarium to mature and adapt to the increasing bio-load by introducing fish very slowly. The research showed that more timid fish should be introduced first, and thus those fish can settle in and feel secure before more boisterous fish arrive. There aren?t any particularly belligerent fish, and certainly no fish predators, in the final fish mix. None are oversized for the physical size of the tank or the net gallonage.
More About: Fish , Boss

What Is A Reef Ready Aquarium
2007-10-31 12:27:00
The aquarist setting up a reef aquarium system by individually purchasing all the various hardware devices has a lot to do, particularly if it is a first system. There are so many questions to be answered, and so much research to be done. The danger with a system put together by the aquarist is that one or more of the devices to be used may be below par. If the research is inadequate in any way, or if the aquarist has been surprised by the cost of some devices, equipment may not be up to the job or corners may have been cut to save money. Any actions such as these are likely to lead to problems.
More About: Aquarium , Reef , Ready

Loads Of Micro Bubbles In My Sump
2007-10-30 21:47:00
I have a sump on my saltwater aquarium which is fed by four overflows from the main display aquarium. This sump contains a deep sand bed, a refugium and all the equipment which can be hidden (heaters, return pump, protein skimmer, calcium reactor and auto top up) For some reason and I don?t know why I have suddenly started getting loads of micro bubbles in my sump.
More About: Micro , Bubbles

Why Does Coralline Algae Sometimes Turn White
2007-10-29 21:19:00
Coralline algae, in my opinion make the rock within a saltwater aquarium look more natural as well as adding a differing type of colour to the aquarium. The colour of coralline algae is normally a deep red/purple however there are various colour variations which may occur. So what can make coralline algae sometimes turn white?
More About: White , Turn , Some

How To Increase The Amount Of Coralline Algae In The Saltwater Aquarium
2007-10-22 13:49:00
When you start a saltwater aquarium and have purchased your live rock or whatever decorations you are going to use then there will probably not be that much coralline algae in the system (especially if you have chosen not to use live rock!) If you are using live rock then dependant upon the quality of the live rock you should have some coralline algae of some type or other. So how do you increase the amount of coralline algae in the aquarium or in some cases add coralline algae.
More About: Aquarium , Mount , Twater

Remember To Harvest The Algae In The Algae Bed
2007-10-21 17:22:00
In a saltwater aquarium it is preferential to have both nitrates and phosphate as well as various other nutrients at the lowest possible level you can achieve. Growing algae in the sump or in the refugium is an excellent way to remove nutrients from the water column, good examples which are nitrate and phosphate. Once established the algae in the sump/refugium can reduce the nutrients to a very low level.
More About: Harvest

The Lighting Cycle - What Is It
2007-10-20 21:14:00
Our everyday lives are controlled by time. We may not like it but that is how it is. On the wild reef things are much the same. I know, reef life doesn?t have a lunch hour! What they do have is dawn, day, sunset and night. Life on the reef is controlled by these changes in light intensity. Daylight fish prepare to disappear into their secure holes when sunset arrives. Night life prepares to emerge. At dawn it reverses.
More About: Lighting , Cycle