This is the first article in a series of 4 articles that will cover everything that you need to know before setting up a marine tank. Although there is a lot of information, there is no need to be overwhelmed. The marine hobby is seen by many as the elite class of fish keepers, however, few people realise that the skills that you develop when keeping freshwater fish transfer into the marine hobby. The first article in this series will deal with tank size, tank type and placement of the tank. Fish Only, Fish Only with Live Rock, or Reef Tank? To get started, you will want to decide which type of system you want. Even if your dream is having a reef tank, complete with corals,
View more-
-
Saltwater aquariums can be grouped into three basic types – fish-only aquariums, fish-only-with-live-rock aquariums, and reef aquariums. The following article will describe the differences between the three and the benefits of each. FISH-ONLY MARINE AQUARIUMS Fish-only aquariums, as their name implies, are designed to house and showcase marine fish. Since the fish are the centre of attention, FO aquariums are sparsely decorated, often with coral skeletons or coral replicas. Like any aquarium setup, maintaining proper water parameters and employing efficient filtration is key. The availability of beautiful and hardy marine fish such as damselfish, yellow tangs, and captive-bred species adds to the success of FO aquariums. The fish-only aquarium is a great setup for the dedicated beginner interested in marine aquariums. This saltwater setup allows novice hobbyists
View more -
Hawkfish are generally quite hardy, easy to care for, disease resistant and attractive. This endears them to many hobbyists, however, hawkfish are by no means the perfect fish. Many hawkfish are incompatible with many other marine fish and invertebrates. As a result, tank mates need to be chosen with care. Feeding Hawkfish will eat a wide variety of aquarium foods, including; flake food, brine shrimp, fresh fish and shrimp, mussels etc. Compatibility As a general rule, hawkfish are intolerant of each other or other species of hawkfish. Although a mated pair of hawkfish may be kept together, success rates are limited. The easiest way to keep a pair of hawkfish is to buy an already mated pair. However, with a very large aquarium and a plethora of places
View more -
Housing Tank size is largely dependent on the species and on the other fish you plan on keeping with the Angelfish. Members of the genus Holacanthus and Pomacanthus should be provided with a minimum of 450 litres (120 gallons). Again, the more fish you keep with the Angelfish the larger the tank will have to be. As far as décor is concerned, you should provide plenty of caves and overhangs for the Angelfish to retreat to while it is a juvenile. This will give the Angelfish confidence, which means that you will see your fish more, but it will also reduce stress and ensure the long term health of the Angelfish. The need for cover decreases as the Angelfish matures, however, there should always be cover
View more -
Pufferfish may be the saltwater equivalent of Oscars. Pufferfish are known for their individual personalities and intelligence, traits that endear them to many hobbyists. On top of this, their general hardiness just adds to the appeal. Taxonomy There are two families of fish commonly referred to as pufferfish. Tetraodontidae are known as ‘true puffers’, while the family Diodontidae are more correctly known as porcupinefish. A third family, Triodontidae, comprises only one species, the Three-tooth puffer (Triodon macropterus). The easiest way to tell pufferfish apart is by examining their teeth. True puffers have four teeth, while porcupinefish possess only two teeth fused into a powerful beak. Housing Pufferfish of the genus Canthigaster require a minimum tank size of at least 150 litres (33 gallons). The medium puffers, such as
View more -
For those that do not have the space to house a fully grown Pterois volitans or common lionfish, the Fu Manchu lionfish may be the answer. And for those ‘predator’ junkies out there, don’t worry the Fu Manchu’s small size in no way diminishes its predatory nature. Be aware that as with all lionfish the Fu Manchu has venomous spines that are capable of causing severe pain. Therefore, when keeping one of these animals it is important to take note of the lionfish’s whereabouts in the aquarium before performing any kind of maintenance. Compatibility Fu Manchu lionfish (Dendrochirus biocellatus) are compatible with all peaceful community fish that are at least the same size or bigger than the lionfish itself. However, it should not be kept with
View more -
One of the most striking qualities about triggerfish as a group is the obvious intelligence exhibited by these fish. Unlike other fish which seem to move through their environment with no obvious purpose, triggerfish seem to move with deliberation. To top this, in a similar way to freshwater cichlids, triggerfish learn to recognize their keepers. In addition to their intelligence and their striking colours, triggerfish are some of the hardiest fish out there. They are as forgiving as aquarium fish get, marine or freshwater. Triggerfish are tremendously disease resistant and this quality alone makes them appealing to a wide range of aquarists. They rarely succumb to the common marine parasites. On the rare occasion that a triggerfish does become infected with a parasite such as saltwater
View more -
The condition commonly known as gas bubble syndrome (GBS) is probably the most common health problem for home aquarists keeping seahorses. Gas bubble syndrome is believed to be caused by gas pockets forming within the tissue of the brood pouch of males, the eye or the muscular prehensile tail. When GBS occurs in the brood pouch of the males the condition is called chronic pouch emphysema and results in positive buoyancy. Chronic pouch emphysema is by far the most common form of GBS and is restricted to males, as females do not have a brood pouch. When GBS occurs in the capillary network behind the eye the condition is known as Exophthalmos. In this case, the affected eye or eyes can become enormously swollen. When
View more -
The mandarin fish (Synchiropus splendidus) is admired for its exquisite beauty and elegance. Their small size makes them suitable for nano tanks, with adults reaching a length of between 7.5 and 10 cm. With the exception of diet, mandarin fish are quite hardy and are resistant to many common aquarium diseases. Despite their small size mandarin fish can live for between 10 and 15 years. Water parameters should be the same as for any other reef dwelling fish. Feeding Feeding is arguably the number one concern for hobbyists keeping mandarin fish. This is because they prefer live foods such as copepods and brine shrimp. Supplying this on a routine basis may prove a challenge. Making sure that the mandarin fish gets its fair share of the
View more