What are Aiptasia Anemones?
Aiptasia Anemones are also referred to as Tube, Rock, and Glass Anemones due to their semi see through appearance, shape, and hiding methods. These anemones typically grow to about an inch and a half in length and multiply very quickly. They are mostly photosynthetic, but will eat...
If you are in the reef keeping hobby, then you have most surely heard about aquarium metal halide lighting. This type of lighting is the most intense type of light you can buy that is currently available to aquarium hobbyists. Aquarium metal halide lighting works for all types of light loving corals and has...
An aquarium float switch is something that will have a few very crucial benefits for an aquarium. The first is for an automatic top off system. An automatic top off system for an aquarium is a setup that does exactly what it sounds like – top off the water in your aquarium automatically so you...
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...
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...
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...
What is an Algae Scrubber?
Algae Scrubber...
Hello all.
As many of you may know, I have not been diligent with my updates the last couple months. This is due to the fact that my tank has been completely over run by algae and it looks more like a kelp forest than the reef tank that I wanted when I started my tank in December 2008. There are many reasons...
Maintenance on a Reef fish tank is the determining factor in whether or not you will have a thriving aquarium, or an algae infested swamp. If you do not keep up with certain basic things, your aquarium will fail.
To start, one of the most important things you can can do to keep your reef and it inhabitants...
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...
Here is a step by step on a proper water change
It should be noted that the greater (higher percent) the water change, the more control needs to be made. A 15% water change or less doesn’t have that great of an impact on the whole system, so some areas (noted below) don’t have to have such strict...
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...
What makes a reef aquarium stand apart from a standard saltwater fish tank is the live coral. Nothing can compare to the natural movement colors and beauty that live coral can bring to an aquarium. While there have been recent advances in the reef aquarium hobby that make keeping corals alive easier not all...
Simply put; No reef tank is complete without invertebrates. Invertebrates provide numerous benefits to the marine aquarium, the same way they do in nature. Algae and fish waste removal are two of the main benefits, however there are countless others. In this article we will discuss some specific groups of...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Check this video out: David Saxby's Reef Aquarium 2008 (High Definition version)
Aquariums by Sissy Reef aquarium #1 11/30/07
Pictures of my aquarium 1/13/2010
Hi-res pic update of the 37 gallon reef