Saltwater Refugium benefits, setup, and pictures

What is a Saltwater Refugium? Refugium (fishkeeping), an appendage to a marine, brackish, or freshwater fish tank that shares the same water supply.? a region that has remained unaltered by a climatic change affecting surrounding regions and that therefore forms a haven for relict fauna and flora Above...

Mangrove growth 3/23/2010

Continuation of the post: Mangrove’s in the Reef Aquarium Just a couple pictures showing the size of the mangroves since the last post where we looked at growth rates from December 3rd 2009 to February 17th 2010. These are the most recent pictures taken on 3/23/2010. In the time since the last post, the...

Refugium Biological filtration

Because so many fish and corals require pristine water conditions, filtration of our reefs water is a very important and very expansive aspect of the marine reef keeping hobby. All the types of filtration can be broken down into mechanical and biological. Mechanical filtration are going to be your canister...

Mangrove’s in the Reef Aquarium

Mangroves are becoming a very popular addition to home reef aquariums. They are great for reducing nitrate and phospate in the aquarium, but because of their slow growth rates, many people believe they are not as effective as the other types of macro algae, such as chaeto or culpera. In my own aquarium, I...

What is a quarantine tank?

A quarantine tank is a separate, smaller fish tank that is used to segregate brand new or sick fish. Many people claim that a quarantine tank is a MUST have for any aquarium, and the reality is, you do. No one wins in the long run without having a quarantine tank, some just have better luck for longer than...

Chemical Parameters Optimal for a Reef Aquarium

Click here for an all in one solution to your nitrate and phosphate problems – Algae Scrubber This is a common question for new reefers and something that is essential to know to keep a successful reef system. This is what I use to set the parameters in my tank, but others may recommend something...

Why Algae May Be Growing In Your Aquarium

Having an algae free aquarium is a top priority for anyone who keeps a marine aquarium in their home.However saltwater aquarium algae often rears its ugly head in many saltwater fish tanks no matter how hard the owner tries to keep it away. This often lead s to frustration and often times people end up...

Types of Algae and how to take care of it

Nuisance algae is caused by excess nutrient in the marine aquarium. Figure out why your nutrient levels are high and you will solve your nuisance algae problems Bubble algae Bubble algae is very common in saltwater tanks and reef aquariums that use live rock. The most common and effective predator for this...

Filtration and Cycling

Cycling your tank Unlike a freshwater tank, it takes time for a saltwater tank to be ready for a new fish or other creatures. Once your tank has been set up, youve added your sand, filled it with saltwater, turned on the heater, started the filters, now you can add your live rock. What your tank needs is...

Aqurium Water

Type of aquarium water To avoid nuisance algae’s growing in your tank, it is recommended to get Reverse Osmosis De-Ionized aquarium water. You can often times buy this kind of aquarium water at the fish store where you found your saltaquarium water pet. You can also buy RO aquarium water at your...

Basics of Fish/Coral Keeping

Food Many marine fish will eat Flake food, which you’ll be able to find at the fish store. Tetra is popular. You can also purchase frozen foods at the fish store to feed your fish. Remember, Tangs are herbivores, so they will not want meaty foods, but rather algae based foods. Frozen Spirulina Enriched...

Items Required for a new tank

For someone new to the marine aquarist hobby, I’d recommend no less than: Aquarium Stand or place to put the aquarium Cover Light Heater Thermometer Hydrometer (or preferably a refractometer) Mechanical filter Skimmer Equipment to make up fresh saltwater from mix Quarantine tank and appropriate...

Cycling your New Fish Tank

There are so many misunderstanding about establishing a new reef system. In part because there are so many ways to setup a reef system. Most of this will be based on the most common tank setups; sand beds with live rock and skimming. Will not get into sulfur systems or scrubbers or anything like that, only...

Float Acclimation

The Float Method Before you open the container in which your new animals have arrived in be sure to turn off the lights in your quarantine tank or aquarium and dim the lights in the room to reduce stress. Once you have the lights dimmed open the container to check that all of your new animals have arrived in...

The Drip Method of Fish, Invert, and Coral Acclimation

The Drip Method Before you open the container in which your new animals have arrived in be sure to turn off the lights in your quarantine tank or aquarium and dim the lights in the room. Once you have the lights dimmed open the container to check that all of your new animals have arrived in good health and...

What you need to know!

Basic items needed to set up a new reef tank Basics of fish and coral keeping Basics of filtration Cycling a new tank Basics of water Parameters of chemical levels Reef Maintenance How to do a reef water...