FAMILY: CLAVULARIIDAE

The terms, Star Polyps and Clavularia may be rather unfamiliar to many marine aquarists but all marinists interested in invertebrates will have come across the many species of the these delightful colonies, if they do not already own one or two. Unfortunately, the family Clavulariidae, commonly known as Star Polyps, has long been confused with Xenia to which it superficially resembles; so much so, that it has, quite wrongly, been labelled Xenia with gay abandon and little regard for correct scientific terminology. To put the record straight, Xenia are Pulse Corals with polyps held on elongated stems, unable to withdraw into a basal mass. On the whole, they are far more sensitive than the clavularids and usually require optimum water and lighting conditions. Star Polyps, on the other hand, are not a difficult coral to keep and often make an ideal choice for the newcomer to invertebrates.

Fish/Fish Compatibility

Fish/fish compatibility is a perennial problem that affects all marine fishkeepers, beginners and advanced alike. The successful display of livestock depends on one main factor - advance planning. There are a good many fish that are incompatible with each other and it is vitally important that these are identified early in the life of an aquarium. To ignore this process is to invite trouble with unnecessary fighting or bullying leading to stress, disease and the consequent loss of livestock. In addition, a disharmonious aquarium makes for a very poor display!

Sometimes it seems that a new product hits the market every few days but usually it is a familiar concept re-arranged in new packaging. Just occasionally though, a really new idea is presented to the hobbyist which does not cost a fortune and performs a useful purpose. However, it has to be said that most of the items I am about to list require a certain amount of investment and it would be wise to compare several makes, not only for quality but also value for money.

Q) How do I go about setting up a basic undergravel filter for a marine aquarium?

 A) Over the last ten years or so, marine filtration has advanced in leaps and bounds, leading many to believe that there is no future for the technique that sustained marine livestock for several generations.......the undergravel filter. Such beliefs are, of course, highly misleading, for undergravel filters work very well and are an excellent starting point for newcomers to the hobby; especially those whose budget will not stretch to all the high-tech gadgetry now available. Having said that, we cannot ignore the basics of good marine aquarium husbandry and any beginner is urged to start with a reasonably sized aquarium; 36"x12"x15" (90x30x35cm) must be seen as an absolute minimum, although 36"x15"x18" (90x35x45cm) would be a much better starting point. The larger the tank, the greater the degree of water stability and the happier the livestock (and you) will ultimately be.