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…
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Livestock Euthanasia – A Taboo Subject?
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…
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Cure Nuisance Algae
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…
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Calcium Reactors
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…
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Marine Hobbyist Beginner FAQs
Q1) Is marine fishkeeping difficult? A) There is no straight yes or no to this question but It need not be difficult if approached in the right way. As with other pet hobbies, a certain amount of preparation is required before investing in costly hardware and livestock. Read books on the subject. Go to your…
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Marine Equipment Overview
One of the joys of marine fishkeeping has to be the ability to up-grade a system at any time using one, or a combination, of new pieces of equipment. Not only does this have the effect of improving the environment of expensive livestock but it also brings about a certain self-satisfaction knowing that your pets…
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Craving Caves – Marine Aquarium Decor
One of the greatest pleasures of marine fishkeeping has always been to replicate as accurately as possible the authentic environment of a particular range of livestock, thus enjoying perfectly natural behaviour. Depriving fish and invertebrates of a similar environment from which they were collected can create stress, leading to strange behaviour patterns, disease, and in…
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Working Together To Keep Coral Reefs Alive
Dear Friends of CORAL, There is plenty of bad news about coral reefs this year, but here is some good news. After years of work by lots of different organizations and individuals, President Clinton has issued an Executive Order creating the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Reserve, the single largest nature reserve ever established in…
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Coral Reefs An Endangered Ecosystem
Coral reefs are among the world's most fragile and endangered ecosystems. They host an extraordinary variety of marine plants and animals and are one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the world. They are a significant source of food to low-income coastal communities, a source of income and employment through tourism and marine recreation,…
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Fishing With Cyanide – Coral Reef Genocide
Cyanide Fishing Destroys Coral Reefs Cyanide, one of the most toxic poisons known, is being used to catch live fish in the South Pacific and Southeast Asia. Fishermen stun fish by squirting cyanide into the reef areas where these fish seek refuge. They then rip apart the reefs with crowbars to capture disoriented fish in…
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UNEP-WCMC
World Conservation Monitoring Centre provides objective, scientifically rigorous and focused information on global biodiversity and the sustainable use of the world's living resources. Since 1993, UNEP-WCMC has been developing the most detailed global map of coral reefs. This information represents a critical part of the increasing information base now available describing coral reefs world-wide. (more…)
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Marine Fish and Invertebrate Compatibility
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…
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Wrasses for the Marine Aquarium
Family: Labridae If I was asked to name one group of fish which featured a wealth of attributes such as beautiful coloration, tireless activity from dawn to dusk, ease of feeding, a generally peaceful nature, compatibility with invertebrates and disease resistance, I would lay odds that the questioner would not be expecting a realistic reply. (more…)
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Lionfish | Pterois volitans
The Volitans Lionfish is to me one of the most fascinating of marine fishes. They have an almost royal presence about them in almost any aquarium. If you like fish that swim all over the tank then this is not the fish for you, as they tend to be at home for hours in one…
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Saltwater Gobies – Go For A Goby
Family: Gobiidae To the casual observer, gobies may not initially be an overly attractive prospect for the marine aquarium; but look a little closer. This extremely large family of fish (and there are well in excess of 1,500 species in both salt and freshwater environments) contains some of the most appealing and adaptable species available…
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The Problem Top Fifteen
An Article Discussing The Fifteen Most Common Problems In The Tropical Marine Tank. In the main, marine fishkeeping is not difficult. But common problems do occur from time to time and although these tend to be of an elementary nature, a significant number of aquarists find difficulty in resolving them unless they have definite and…
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Stocking A 4 Foot Saltwater Tank – The Master Plan
An article discussing the proper stocking of a four foot, fish-only, marine aquarium.There is no doubt that marine fishkeeping can be great fun, even when there appears to be nothing to do but wait. Let me explain. Imagine you have purchased your first marine aquarium, it is set up and running and the maturation fluid…
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Livestock
Marinists who follow the hobby closely may have recently noticed that there has been a marked swing away from interest in livestock (fish, invertebrates & algae) to a blanket coverage of hardware, almost to the point of obsession! There are often bitter disputes about who ‘invented’ what, when and how (as if it REALLY matters!).…
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It’s A Woman’s Life In The Marines
Pondering the mysteries of the universe one evening (you know how one does), a thought crossed my mind ... WOMEN! (Now chaps, don't get too excited!) Just why is it that so few women get involved with the marine side of the aquarium hobby? The question was a serious one and did not elicit a…
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Fish For The New Marinist
Regular readers of my columns will be aware that I strongly advocate all newcomers to the hobby to gain some valuable experience with fish-only before advancing into the world of invertebrates. There are two very good reasons for this: 1) most marine fish are infinitely easier to keep than most invertebrates, and2) the basics of good…
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Big, Bold and Beautiful Fish for The Marine Aquarium!
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…
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Orchid Dottyback | Pseudochromis fridmani
History is replete with tales of individuals seeking something unobtainable. Jason and the Argonauts sought the Golden Fleece. Ponce de Leon sought the fountain of youth. And I sought to obtain the Orchid Dottyback (Pseudochromis fridmani). I realize that most hobbyists have one fish that they must have, but I doubt that many have contacted…
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Captivating Cardinals
Whilst the coloration and behaviour of this family of fishes could never be regarded as wildly over-the-top in the same as, say, clownfish, they nevertheless have a subdued charm that appeals to the marine fishkeeper. In addition, these are some of the easiest fish to maintain and the newcomer would do well to put the…
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Tropical Marine Blennies
Family: Blennidae Sooner or later, the serious marine aquarist cannot fail to come upon these endlessly fascinating and endearing group of fishes. Their curious habits and occasional brightly coloured appearance have continued to make them a firm favourite with reef and fish-only keepers alike. Blennies are found in seas all over the world. They are…
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(Finally) A How-To on Angelfish Reef Aquariums
In creating a truly sustainable and enduring marine environment, it’s not uncommon for a reef aquarium owner to feel suddenly besieged. Looking at all the filtration setups, pumps, bubble machines, heaters, coolers, fish tank stands and fish tanks out there – it’s easy to get knocked back on your heels. If only someone could consolidate…
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