Salt water and reef aquarium fish articles

Salt water
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Peristedion pothumalava (Marine)

SETTING UP A REEF TANK - PART 6 by Marty Ziegler
Summary: "Zoanthids, or button polyps, are very hardy, inexpensive, require only moderate lighting, do not require manual feeding, and grow and reproduce easily in a properly maintained reef aquarium."

SETTING UP A REEF TANK - PART 7 by Marty Ziegler
Summary: "Being a hardy, fast growing, inexpensive, easy to maintain soft coral, the leather corals are ideal for both the beginner and advanced reef aquarist."

MY FIRST REEF AQUARIUM by Andrew Blumhagen
Summary: How to set up, stock, and maintain a mini reef aquarium (in an Eclipse System Six) "for less than two hundred dollars and one hour of maintenance per month." A well written, authoritative and detailed article which surely will "inspire a few folks to venture into the wonderful world of marine reef keeping."

new 180 GALLON REEF BUILD - DIARY OF A SET-UP by Giancarlo Podi
Summary: Giancarlo walks the reader through the steps required to set up a large reef tank. The article is well photographed and easy to follow.

SETTING UP A NEW REEF AQUARIUM - HOW I DID IT! by Jason Kim
Summary:Advantages of a small (26 gal.) tank. Inexpensive lighting and other economies. Managing heat. Water circulation. Acropora corals.

WHAT DO I NEED FOR A SUCCESSFUL REEF TANK? by Robert M. Metelsky.
Summary: For anyone considering starting a reef tank, Robert emphasises the importance of planning, and lists recommended equipment and livestock, with their actual cost.

MARINE AQUARIUM DO'S AND DON'TS FOR BEGINNERS by Doug Kamp
Summary: "Over the years I have come across a number of helpful do's and don'ts for marine aquarium keeping that would have saved me a lot of time, money and disappointments. If only I had them all together in a list from the start!"

MICHELLE'S MARINE DIARY by Michelle Stuart
Summary: Michelle had kept freshwater fish before, but decided to set up a marine tank. She narrates in detail, and in an easy to read way, her problems and triumphs in buying the equipment, dealing with water chemistry, cycling, adding livestock, and a problem fish.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO CYCLE A REEF TANK? by Robert M. Metelsky
Summary: Robert recommends starting with live rock; then add inverts, corals, and finally fish. Test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.

THE AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT, PARTS I, II, III by Jason Kim
Summary: A three part article about natural coral reefs and how they relate to the aquarium. Description of reefs, water quality, nutrients, type of light, stocking levels. Conservation of reefs.

MOVING AN ESTABLISHED REEF TANK, PART 1: MOVING OUT
by Marty Ziegler
Summary: Planning ahead. Getting ready on the day of the move. These two thoughtful and well-written articles provide detailed step-by-step instructions on how to deal with this perennial problem.

TREATING TAP/SOURCE-WATER FOR MARINE AQUARIUM USE
Summary: Robert Fenner explains how to deal with water supply sanitizers (chlorine, chloramine). Symptomatology & therapy for poisoned livestock.

HOW IMPORTANT IS WATER QUALITY IN A REEF TANK?
Summary: Robert. M. Metelsky explains how to purify tap water. The advantages and disadvantages of reverse osmosis and de-ionization.

WILL ALGAE BE A PROBLEM IN MY SALTWATER AQUARIUM?
Summary: Robert M. Metelsky gives eight recommendations for managing micro-algae, but stresses that regular hand cleaning of glass and overflow pipes is still required.

SEAWEED NUTRITION by Gerald Jennings
Summary: Seaweeds need certain minor trace elements, which may not be present in artificial seawaters. What to test for, and how to add them.

WHAT IS KALKWASSER? AND HOW DO I DOSE IT? by Robert M. Metelsky
Summary: Kalkwasser/limewater/calcium hydroxide should be used for water added to make up for evaporation losses. It must be administered with care.

ACCLIMATIZATION STATION by Andy Gordon and Michelle Stuart
Summary: Some marine animals, especially invertebrates, cannot handle a sudden change in water parameters. Here is described a DIY drip station that will gradually acclimatize new acquisitions.

LIGHTING FOR SALT WATER AND REEF AQUARIUMS by Frank M. Greco
Summary: Frequently asked questions about lighting. A detailed article about the different equipment and how to use it.

WHAT KIND OF FILTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR A REEF TANK?
Summary: Robert. M. Metelsky recommends gradually removing the plastic media from trickle filters, and lists the components of a modern reef filter.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR BUYING A LARGE TANK by Rex Niedermeyer
Summary: Large tanks require more thought and planning than moderate sized ones. Rex discusses power access, structural support, heating and cooling, evaporation, maintenance, redundancy/safety precautions, and cost.

POWER BUDGETING FOR AQUARIUM SYSTEMS by Rex Niedermeyer
Summary: How to calculate the amount of electrical power needed, and how this relates to safety, reliability and cost. Working figures for a large tank (270 gallons) are given in spreadsheet form.

EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT PROTEIN SKIMMING
by Jason Kim
Summary: Jason is an avid reef aquarist who started his own company, AquaC, which makes protein skimmers. An authoritative article.

PLANKTONIC SUBSTITUTES IN THE AQUARIUM by Jason Kim
Summary: Corals feed on plankton in the wild, and need to be fed in aquariums. Jason provides the recipe for his "Special Reef Mash" coral food.

new SEAHORSE FOODS AND FEEDING by Tamara Weiss
Summary: A brief overview of what and how to feed your seahorses.

BREEDING MARINE SPECIES IN THE HOME AQUARIUM by Ed Katuska
Summary: Tips on how to start breeding marines, followed by a list of some of the marine animals that fellow hobbyists have been known to breed successfully in the home aquarium.

KEYSTONE SPECIES IN OUR AQUARIUMS by Aquariumpros.com staff
Summary: Keystone species are those that play crucial roles in an ecosystem, and whose removal would have a profound effect on that community. Examples are given. Aquarists must be aware of damage done by over-harvesting aquarium fish, particularly to coral reefs. The trade and hobby should regulate itself before others step in and over-regulate. A thoughtful article.

STOCKING AND COMPATIBILITY by Dr. Adrian Lawler
Summary: An interesting list of compatibility problems that Dr. Lawler has experienced when stocking aquariums at the J.L. Scott Public Aquarium.

DON'T KEEP by Andy Gordon and Michelle Stuart
Summary: A list of fish and invertebrates that are commonly found in aquarium stores but which do badly in captivity and almost always die prematurely. Their capture and sale should not be encouraged.

BRITISH COLDWATER MARINES by Andy Gordon and Michelle Stuart
Summary: Catching fish from British coastal rock pools. Their suitability for aquarium use, and how to house, keep and feed them. Much of this advice would apply to any temperate waters.

THE CRUCIFIX CATFISH, Arius proops by Allan James
Summary: The under skull structure of this sea catfish resembles a crucifix or a painting of Christ crucified. The upper part of the skull roof looks like a monk or a Roman soldier. They are sold in South American port markets with religious symbols painted on them. Illustrated.

IT'S RODEO TIME, Hippocampus erectus STYLE! by Ed Curran
Summary: Ed wanted his seahorses to breed, so he changed their tank set up. They bred, and he was able to raise the fry from what has been his most exciting spawn to date.

A ROUGH RIDE WITH A TINY HORSE Hippocampus zosterae, THE DWARF SEAHORSE by Mike Hellweg
Summary: Mike tells of his many interesting experiences in keeping these fish, and summarizes their basic care requirements.

THE BLACK TRIGGER by Kevin Thurston
Summary: Kevin keeps a black trigger (Odonus niger) with a lion fish and a moon wrasse, and finds the black trigger to be hardy and not quite as aggressive as other triggers.

"PUFFEROTIS TRIGGERITIS" by Pete Schaumberg
Summary: "Pufferotis triggeritis" symptoms are a compulsion to build larger and larger aquariums, and to keep every kind of pufferfish and triggerfish listed in Burgess's Atlas. Pete's pufferfish, Floyd, has a character all of his own.

SUITABLE AQUARIUM BLENNIES by Gerald Jennings and Terry Hall
Summary: Where and how to collect the various species of these British coldwater marine fish,
and how to keep them.

COLT CORAL PROPAGATION by Michelle Stuart
Summary: How to propagate colt corals by cutting, explained stage by stage.

KEEPING SEAHORSES: THREE KEYS TO SUCCESS by Tamara Weiss
Summary: A comprehensive look at the strategies and care required for the succesful keeping of sea horses.

new POUCH EVACUATIONS FOR MALE SEAHORSES by Tamara Weiss
Summary: Tamara explains how to remove excess gas (Pouch Emphysema) from the pouch of a male seahorse.

new FLAGTAIL PIPEFISH AND THE HOME AQUARIUM by Tamara Weiss
Summary: A summary of how to care for the Flagail Pipefish.

new TWENTY MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT SEAHORSES by Tamara Weiss
Summary: Tamara shares 20 common misconceptions about seahorses and their keeping.

new SEAHORSE TANKMATES - WHAT'S SAFE? WHAT'S NOT? by Will Wooten
Summary: A good survey of potential seahorse tankmates that includes some handy charts.