One type of marine aquarium never fails to create a stir, the fish-only tank containing BIG fish! The sight of large slices of brightly coloured piscine flesh cruising around an equally spacious aquarium is enough to make anyone's heart beat a little quicker. Such displays are normally the province of the public aquarium, but within the confines of a domestic setting the whole thing can be replicated on a somewhat smaller scale with equally stunning results.

The Tank

There has to be a lower size limit to an aquarium housing big fish otherwise overstocking is quickly going to become a major problem. In addition, keeping large fish in a small aquarium is cruel and stressful, leading to disease, stunted growth and in all probability, a premature death. Of course, juvenile specimens can be housed in smaller accommodation, but the fishkeeper will soon have to make plans for a larger tank.

Like most other marine angelfish this species is another true beauty. One could say that it runs in the family. Adult and juvenile Majestic Angels (Euxiphipops navarchus) also known as the Bluegirdled Angel differ greatly in coloration. This above pictured specimen has begun its transformation into the adult color pattern. A complete juvenile has no orange color at all and the electric blue bands extend into the dorsal fin. The adults are bright orange with many blue dots in the mid-section of the body. The dorsal fin and tail are fireball orange with an iridescent blue border edging. Its face also turns bright orange from below the eye and extending along the gill plates towards the anal fins.

The harlequin tusk (Choerodon fasciatus) belongs to the family of wrasses. It has orange mottled bands. Each band is etched by delicate blue-violet ribbons. Anteriorly, between the orange bands is silvery-white, turning to dark grey-black posteriorly. With his or her (not to be sexist) big protruding tiger-like fangs, the tusk looks very menacing indeed, capable of doing harm to other tank mates. While this is true, it is the authors experience that the harlequin tusk is actually quite peaceful and does not bother other resident aquarium inhabitants. The tusk, however, does not accept undue punishment and is very capable of fending off an attacker.

It's easy to condemn old ideas in fishkeeping as old-fashioned and out-dated. Sometimes they're still sound, and with the benefit of new technology, can be spectacularly successful in a way they never previously were.

One current debate in PFK concerns the effectiveness of "modern" and "traditional" marine filtration systems. The pace of progress is so rapid in marine fishkeeping that modern and traditional are relative terms.