ShareHere’s a great resource that shows a large selection of aquarium types back to back for easy comparison. It can be found on NorthSide Aquatics website. There is also a site for commonly available stands – here. The site also lists aquarium and stand dimensions, so you can easily match a tank and stand, or [...]
ShareElemental Analysis of Skimmate: What Does a Protein Skimmer Actually Remove from Aquarium Water? by Ken S. Feldman, Advanced Aquarist Recent efforts primarily by Hatcher and colleagues (Mopper, 2007; De la Rosa, 2008) using sophisticated mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy techniques have revealed that authentic ocean TOC is comprised of tens of thousands [...]
ShareSaltwater Chemistry Basics pH – ideal level 8.3-8.4 (Multitest pH and Alkalinity Test kit) Scale of 0-14 – Low numbers are acidic, high numbers are basic pH is determined by the number of hydronium ions (H3O+) Hydronium (H3O+) is formed by the dissociation of standard water molecules H2O. In the process of dissociation, a hydrogen [...]
ShareDomino Damsel (Dascyllus trimaculatus): The domino damsel is one of the most popular saltwater fish. It is an extremely hardy, inexpensive fish that grows to about 3.5″. It does best in water that is 72-78 degrees F with a pH of 8.1-8.4. When choosing a domino damsel, you should be sure that its tankmates are [...]
ShareCaribbean Arrow Crab, Stenorhynchus seticornis: The Arrow Crab is most commonly known for its taste for bristleworms and fireworms. Arrow Crabs are omnivores, meaning that they will eat both plant and animal based food sources. They are often observed picking through detritus (waste). If they run out of food, your smaller fish and invertebrates such [...]
ShareRaccoon Butterfly Fish, Chaetodon lunula, (Crescent-masked butterflyfish or lunule butterflyfish): Probably best known for its appetite for the pest aiptasia and majano anemones, the Raccoon Butterfly Fish is a relatively peaceful aquarium inhabitant, but does not do well with other butterfly fish. Once they have eliminated your aiptasia, if you have soft corals, you should [...]
ShareSo you want a shark tank Keeping sharks in captivity is challenging and expensive. There are only a few species that are considered acceptable, and they have very specific requirements. Unless you are able to meet every one of these requirements, you should not attempt to keep a shark as a pet. Rule #1: Have [...]
ShareAquariums for Kids: More Than Just Garage Sale Items As we head into the holiday season, many people begin considering getting a pet for their children as a gift. Usually what comes to mind is a cuddly puppy or kitten. Less often thought about are fish, but perhaps they deserve a bit more notice. People [...]
ShareSaltwater Aquarium Filtration What kind of filter do I need for a saltwater aquarium? There are two primary methods for filtering a saltwater system. Method 1: Used for reef tanks, but also very effective with saltwater fish tanks Live rock for microbial filtration (home for nitrifying bacteria) and a skimmer to remove excess protein. Often [...]
ShareEverything you need to know about Salinity in a saltwater aquarium What is the recommended specific gravity / salinity for a saltwater fish or reef tank? Reef tanks should be kept between 1.023 and 1.027 to keep coral and inverts happy. However, if you have a fish only saltwater system (with no invertebrates) you may [...]