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Aquarium Additives and Hard Corals
2007-08-03 07:22:00
The reef aquarium with hard corals (SPS) is the desire of many an aquarist. The sight of pictures on the internet and in books only serves to increase that desire. With modern aquaria and equipment, plus the knowledge gained over recent years, this desire can be met, and more easily than some suspect. It is taken as read that the need for high water quality is understood. High water quality means a proper and stable pH, between 8.0 and 8.4, nitrate less than 10 ppm (parts per million), phosphate preferably undetectable, but no more than 0.03 ppm, and ammonia and nitrite undetectable. Equipment should include a properly sized and efficient protein skimmer. Water movement, which I consider a part of water quality, should be vigorous and chaotic. There is also a need for strong lighting, the best of which is metal halide, supplemented by actinic T5 fluorescents. A greater number of T5 fluorescents can be used without a metal halide, as many as can be fitted into the aquarium including...
More About: Aquarium , Hard , Corals , Aqua , Oral

What Happens If You Lose Power
2007-07-31 21:41:00
This happened to me today - just as I was sitting down at the dinner table the power suddenly went off. Up I jumped quick as a flash to make sure that the aquarium was ok - my wife was more concerned over the freezer and that all the food might defrost - she obviously needs to look at her priorities! My son found it all highly amuzing watching his mummy and daddy running around the house leaving their dinners to go cold - and we didn't even ask if we could leave the table.
More About: Power

An Aquarium System In Trouble - A Slow Recovery
2007-07-27 10:22:00
Peter (being Peter) a few months ago agreed to care for a [tag-tec]saltwater aquarium[/tag-tec], as the aquarist who owned it had to move house. The aquarium is of fairly sizeable proportions and has a sump. The system arrived and was off-loaded. With quite a bit of staggering the aquarium was placed on a stand pre-prepared by Peter. The sump was placed underneath. The main aquarium had a DSB ([tag-tec]deep sand bed[/tag-tec]), I assume that was the intention, maybe it was just meant to be decorative. The sump also had a DSB. Some of the original water was placed back in. The live rock, which had travelled separately, also went in. The fish, seven in all, mainly small with one medium sized surgeon also went in. Additional water was made up, heaters turned on and also the skimmer started up. Everything went well, considering.
More About: System , Recovery , Aquarium , Slow , Aqua

Feeding Marine Fish
2007-07-25 08:55:00
Feeding the fish in the aquarium, and also shrimps if kept, is one of the most pleasurable parts of keeping a seawater aquarium. This is probably because of the direct interaction between the aquarist and fish. Some fish can become so tame that they will rise and take food from the fingers. This heart warming trick is often done by cleaner shrimps as well - in fact place a hand in the aquarium and they will often climb on the hand to see if they can find a morsel to eat. Movements outside the aquarium can cause the fish to respond and hang about the usual feeding area in the hope of food. This latter should be resisted, the fish are not starving, it is an automatic response after a while in the aquarium. This brings me on to an important point. The action of feeding is, unfortunately, one that can bring trouble, particularly with newcomers to the hobby. Overfeeding! It is easily done, and must be avoided. Overfeeding can upset the water parameters. Nitrate (NO3) and phosphate (PO4...
More About: Fish , Marine , Feeding , Mari

Review - 'Marine World' Magazine
2007-07-18 17:33:00
The opinion given of this magazine is of course my own. As the name suggests the publication is devoted to all things salty. I did wonder before I opened the covers as the name could relate to an absolutely huge range of possibilities. However, on closer inspection it is aimed at marine aquarists. A new issue of the magazine comes out every two months. The magazine measures around 8" wide by 12" tall. The outer cover is glossy, good quality and fairly stiff which bodes well for longevity. Besides the magazine’s name at the top, there is a generalised list of contents. On the copy I am looking at, there is also a picture of a yellow tang (Zebrasoma flavescens).
More About: Magazine , World , Review , Marine , Mari

Aquarium Sand - Should You Clean It?
2007-07-13 14:00:00
Aquarium sand is something that all salt water aquarists are well aware of. The question above is a simple one, but not quite as simple as it appears.
More About: Aquarium , Clean , Sand , Aqua

Sumps, Should I Use One?
2007-07-12 14:15:00
There are various ways of improving the chances of success when designing a salt water aquarium. Using modern effective methods of filtration, correct and appropriate lighting and stocking properly are some examples. Whatever the type of aquarium that is being considered, be it fish only or reef, using a sump is always an excellent move. The sump will improve the chances of success considerably more in the reef system, but will improve matters in the fish only aquarium also.

Feeding a Deep Sand Bed
2007-07-11 20:50:00
In the salt water aquarium a deep sand bed (DSB) is a very positive addition to the system. In addition to its filtration capabilities, it is interesting in its own right. Why so interesting? This is because, if the DSB is functioning properly, it will have a population of tiny life forms that have made it their home. In fact, a population of these creatures is important as this assists the DSB to function correctly.
More About: Sand , Deep , Feeding

Aquarium Water Testing And Parameters
2007-07-09 13:34:00
Maintaining good water quality in any aquarium, especially a saltwater aquarium is essential. Testing your water parameters is something which should be part of your regular maintenance schedule. However, although you test for them do you know what each one is for and why it is important - quite a few people don't and just test the water (which is a good thing) but in my opinion it is also good to understand what each one does.
More About: Aquarium , Water , Aqua , Meters

The Aquarium Refugium
2007-07-08 23:05:00
A refugium (or a fuge as they are commonly known) is a small aquarium which either sits next to, hangs upon, is below the aquarium or is above the existing aquarium. A refugium is normally a mixture of a deep sand bed or a mud bed combined with macro algae, however a refugium can also easily be made using a shallow sand bed and macro algae. If a substrate is provided that the macro algae can grow in then a refugium can be made. A refugium is similar to that of the sea grass beds which are used in nature albeit on a smaller scale.
More About: Aquarium , Aqua , The A

What does a protein skimmer do?
2007-07-04 21:54:00
Protein skimming (foam fractionation) is actually another type of filtration. Protein skimming allows for the removal of certain types of DOC’s (dissolved organic compounds) from the water. What happens is that very small bubbles of air are passed through the salt water - this occurs inside what is normally called a reaction chamber. The organic matter in the water 'sticks' to the side of the air bubble and rises up with the bubble. Once the bubble reaches the top of the chamber foam is created. Over time these organics get pushed higher and higher until eventually they rise and fall into the collection cup of the skimmer ready for emptying by the aquarist.
More About: Protein , Prot , Skimmer

Oxygen - It’s Important, It’s Essential.
2007-07-02 20:35:00
There are coral only reef aquariums. There are fish only aquariums. There are mixed reef aquariums. There is one essential item that must never be overlooked. The pet dog needs it. The aquarist needs it. The aquarium livestock need it. Oxygen . Oxygen is an essential item in the aquarium, I don’t think anyone would argue about that. Yet this is one item that many aquarists do not consider when they are at the planning stage.
More About: Import , Essential

Laminar Flow, Turbulence, Surge Flow - What’s All That Then?
2007-07-01 22:47:00
It is said that water quality in the marine aquarium, whether the aquarium is a reef or fish only, is of paramount importance. I agree with that entirely, water quality is at the top of the major needs list. Though not part of the actual water quality itself, water movement could be included as part of that requirement. If the potential water parameters are excellent, this can be degraded by poor water movement and also the wrong kind of movement.
More About: Surge , Flow , Mina , Urge , Then

Let’s Keep A Notebook!
2007-06-29 13:56:00
Eh! What on earth is this all about? Well, it is relevant to the marine aquarist. Do you keep a fish only aquarium? Or is it a reef aquarium? Do you keep soft corals? Or do you keep hard corals? What lighting mix do you have? Or do you have one particular type? What has all that got to do with keeping a notebook?
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What Is A Hydrometer?
2007-06-28 11:08:00
Aquarists use all sorts of equipment to maintain the water quality of their aquariums, and very important water quality is! One piece of equipment every aquarist should have without exception is a hydrometer. The word hydrometer conjures up a vision of a highly sophisticated, scientific and technical item. Well, it isn't. There are hydrometer types that are suited to the vast majority of aquarists, and more advanced and very accurate types that would be suitable to the super keen, super dedicated and "nothing is too good" aquarist. We'll look at the common hydrometers.
More About: Meter

The Plenum - A Viable Aquarium Filter
2007-06-27 13:46:00
A plenum is similar in nature to that of a deep sand bed but the design and creation is somewhat different. So I guess the question is - what is a plenum? Well a plenum is a space which is located under the substrate which separates the substrate from the bottom of the aquarium. This space is full of both water and organic waste as the water is diffused into it. A plenum system is also sometimes referred to as the Jaubert system. It is often referred to as this because it was discovered by a man called Dr Jean Jaubert.
More About: Aquarium , Filter , Aqua , ENUM

The Deep Sand Bed - One Of The Most Effective Filtration Methods.
2007-06-23 20:38:00
A deep sand bed is probably one of the most common additions to live rock filtration utilised within the marine aquarist world at the moment. The other is called a plenum which I will cover in a future post. A lot has been discovered over the years in relation to sand beds perhaps the biggest of which is the importance of the sand particle size and the depth of the bed. Let's concentrate on the sand particle size first of all.
More About: Sand , Deep , Methods , Effective , The D

Why Do You Do Water Changes?
2007-06-21 22:56:00
Whether the aquarist runs a reef aquarium or a fish only aquarium, one of the major parts of the set-up is the seawater. The net amount of gallons in an aquarium can vary enormously. The set-up could be a nano aquarium, then anything up to an enormous 1000+ gallons. The size makes no difference in one respect, and that is attention must be given to water quality. In any marine aquarium, seawater quality is the number one concern on the list. To maintain seawater quality the aquarist measures various parameters. For example, the fish only aquarist may measure pH, ammonia and nitrate levels. The aquarist keeping a reef goes further than that, in addition measuring calcium, alkalinity, magnesium etc. So if the measurements are correct, that's fine, yes? Well, logically the answer should be yes.
More About: Water , Changes , Chang , Chan

Man made aquarium filtration
2007-06-19 11:05:00
Made made aquarium filtration is a term I use when describing filtration devices which are not naturally occurring. This is equipment which is used to grow or culture the bacteria required to provide an efficient aquarium filter. Good examples of man made filtration are but not limited to : 1 External Canister Filters 2 Internal Filters 3 Fluidised Filters. The majority of man made filters effectively follow the same principal and the majority of them utilise both mechanical filtration and biological filtration.
More About: Aquarium , Made , Aqua

Marine aquarium filtration - why must you
2007-06-14 14:21:00
During my hours lunch break at work I decided to pop to my local fish shop to have a look around and have a cup of coffee with the owner and have a break from the pressures of work - it's amazing how looking at salt water aquariums can take all the stress and pressure away. Anyway whilst I was there chatting to the owner I overheard a couple of people talking - one of them was obviously thinking about starting a reef tank and they were chatting about marine aquarium filtration.
More About: Aquarium , Marine , Must , Aqua , Mari

Setting up a nano reef tank
2007-06-13 21:18:00
Poking around on You Tube (what a great site that is) I found a video which I believe will be useful for people thinking about starting a nano reef aquarium (sometimes also know as a mini reef tank or a micro reef aquarium). This is a video which has been created by Practical FIshkeeping which is an aquarium magazine from the UK and actually is quite good.
More About: Tank , Reef , Nano

Water flow in the seawater aquarium
2007-06-13 14:38:00
Whether the aquarist owns a salt water fish only or reef aquarium, water movement is of very great importance. Seawater quality is measured by test kits, such as Ph, alkalinity, nitrate etc. It could be argued that another part of seawater quality is its movement. Sluggish movement, or movement of the incorrect type, can have very detrimental consequences.
More About: Aquarium , Water , Aqua , Flow

How to 'plumb' in your aquarium
2007-06-12 21:24:00
If you have an aquarium where it is all self contained ie. all the equipment is installed in the main display aquarium then you wont have to worry about any plumbing – with the exception of course of external protein skimmers, canister filters, denitrators etc. If, however you have decided or are in the process of deciding whether to have an external sump, refugium etc then you are going to need to get the water down and back up again – this is where plumbing comes in.
More About: Aquarium , Aqua , Plum

Sumps - what are they and should you use one
2007-06-11 21:02:00
A lot of aquarists nowadays use a sump on their aquariums. I know I do - every single salt water aquarium I have ever run has had a sump attached with the exception of one which even to this day I wish I had done so. So what is a sump and how can you benefit from having one. A sump is basically another aquarium (or something else which is saltwater safe) which is housed underneath or near to the main display aquarium. The sump is a location where you can install various pieces of equipment such as but not limited to protein skimmers, heaters, auto water top up device, calcium reactors etc.

Watching The Aquarium Is Important
2007-06-11 11:27:00
Aquarists have all sorts of sizes of salt water aquariums. Square ones, rectangular ones, triangular ones and other shapes, sometimes a custom built aquarium. Supporting these aquariums are various devices, such as skimmers, power heads, pumps, calcium reactors etc. The cost of many of these is pretty high.
More About: Aquarium , Watching , Aqua , The A , Import

Aquarium advice - so what's wrong with that?
2007-06-10 12:09:00
Not long ago I was hanging about in an aquarium shop having a good look at what was on offer - aquariums, fish, corals etc. The equipment to go with the aquariums was interesting too (I can never quite get my head around the very high price tags on some of it). Anyway, to continue.
More About: Advice , Aquarium , That , Wrong , Vice

My Aquarium's Too Warm!
2007-06-09 23:54:00
In some areas of the world, including mine, it isn't often that the words "isn't it warm" can be heard. Often it is the pitter-patter of rain, or in the winter the howl of winds and the formation of snow drifts. There are places in the world where it is always or mostly warm (coral reef areas are an obvious example). In the summer the weather can be warm and very pleasant where I live. Well, no problem with that says I! It can be a problem, though, if you keep a salt water aquarium.
More About: Aqua

Performing a water change
2007-06-08 19:31:00
Looking around on You Tube I found a video about performing a water change. It's quite a well done video, very well put together. There are a few things that I think should have been included in it fro example he just pours water into a bucket and does not heat it up to temperature first. Of course you can perform a water change with cold water if you have an aquarium large enough but if your tank is smaller then I would not recommend it.
More About: Change , Water , Form , Ming , Chang

Heating a salt water aquarium - how safe is yours?
2007-06-08 13:26:00
We marine aquarists are very keen (or certainly should be) to ensure that the environment in which we keep our reefs and/or fish is as good as it can be. As well as maintaining high quality water etc, part of our concern should be the safety of the support equipment. We need to ensure that the equipment maintaining the environment does just that, and doesn't endanger it. So let's look at heating. This is very simple nowadays, as there are various power (W) heater/thermostats available, and it is these items that are mostly used. All that is needed is to look up on the internet or in a book the power (W) requirement according to the net seawater content of our aquarium. Obtain a heater/thermostat in accordance with these recommendations and the job is done. However, is it really safe?
More About: Aquarium , Water , Salt , Safe , Aqua

In this hobby you're going to need an aquarium
2007-06-07 21:48:00
Of course if you want to keep salt water life then you are going to need something to keep them in - something for them to call home. There are things, however which you need to consider - don't just rush out and purchase the first one you see. The first thing to consider is cost and the second is size. As I said in a previous post there is a belief that this hobby is expensive, it can be - if you let it. I spent an absolute fortune on my first aquarium, purchasing everything I thought I needed then finding out later as I learnt more that I actually did not need them.
More About: Aquarium , Hobby , Aqua , Going , Goin