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Marine Topics -
FAQs
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Written by Nick Dakin
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Q) Is it absolutely necessary to have a calcium reactor in my reef aquarium?
John Sullivan, Maldon, Essex. England. A) It really depends on what type of livestock predominates. Soft corals and anemones for example do not have a calcareous skeleton and have little need for high calcium levels. Consequently, they tend to do very well in aquaria where calcium is in short supply. |
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Marine Topics -
FAQs
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Written by Nick Dakin
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Q) My marine aquarium has been plagued by slime and hair algae almost from the day I started stocking up. What steps can I take to get rid of it? It spoils the whole appearance of the showtank.
C. Crawford, Washington DC, USA.
A) I have long since lost count of the number of marine aquarists who have written to me threatening to leave the hobby as they endure the scourge of nuisance algae. It is possibly the only area of the hobby guaranteed to affect practically all hobbyists at one time or another, with persistent and serious cases being reasonably commonplace. Both filamentous and slime algae can reduce an attractive underwater scene into a ghastly mess, leading the marinist to believe that collecting cigarette butts could be a rewarding hobby by comparison! |
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Marine Topics -
FAQs
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Written by Nick Dakin
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Q) I have never been sure of the best way to dispatch ailing livestock. There seem to be many differing opinions on the subject. Which techniques are best?
David Wallace, Surrey, United Kingdom.
A) The whole subject of livestock euthanasia has always been a sensitive one, creating very little regular and open discussion but nevertheless generating a great deal of strong feeling and disagreement whenever the topic is broached. |
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Marine Topics -
FAQs
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Written by Nick Dakin
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 Q) What points should I bear in mind when looking for healthy livestock?
R. Messina, Florence, Italy.
A) Apart from a bargain, everyone is looking for livestock in the peak of health. By purchasing strong and vibrant animals, the marinist gains a distinct advantage in that his/her charges will already be ready to survive the rigours of aquarium acclimatisation and come out the other end full of vitality and stress-free. But do most enthusiasts know what to look for in a good specimen? How can we tell the good from the bad - even though they may be ugly!? |
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Marine Topics -
FAQs
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Written by Nick Dakin
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Q) Why does my marine aquarium appear to 'lose' water? Is it likely to be harmful to the fish and invertebrates? How can I replace it safely?
A) Any body of water left open to the atmosphere will evaporate if not replaced. This can be demonstrated by wetting the back of your hand. Within a minute or so, it will be completely dry as the water quickly evaporates. The same principle applies to the aquarium; given long enough, a full aquarium would dry out completely! Realistically, the marinist would attend to any lost water as required by various methods, as we shall see. It is important to note at this point that it is only water molecules that evaporate, molecules of other substances remain in the main body of water, effectively making it denser. The end result being that specific gravity (s.g.) and salinity start to rise if measures are not taken to redress the balance. Both fish and invertebrates are sensitive to changes in these parameters as it affects their osmoregulatory systems markedly, leading to stress and possibly disease. Therefore, it is in everyone's interests to replace water as soon as it evaporates. (Unfortunately, a complete explanation of the highly interesting, but nevertheless substantial topic of osmoregulation in fish will have to be the subject of a future article).
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