Why Ultraviolet (UV) Protection?

Aquarium ultraviolet (UV) water sterilizers for fresh and saltwater aquariums have never quite caught on in the same way as their pond equivalents, perhaps because they are not used for the same reason – although they should be! The result of a pond’s UV unit destroying singlecelled algae is almost a happy accident, as they… Read more »

Ammonia

#1 Killer: Ammonia The presence of ammonia in aquarium water is the #1 killer of fish. The primary sources of ammonia are the decaying of organic material (primarily uneaten food) and excreted waste from the fishes’ gills. An ammonia level as low as .5 part per million (ppm) creates stress upon fish compromising the natural… Read more »

Aquarium Maintenance Checklist

Aquarium Maintenance Checklist: Daily § Visual Inspection of Aquarium EquipmentSpend a few minutes each day verifying that your pumps are working properly, that your heater and chiller are fully functional and that your other equipment—calcium reactor, protein skimmer, Ultraviolet Sterilizer, media reactors, Ozonizer—are operating as intended. Perhaps you’re already checking on your lights but it’s… Read more »

Saltwater Reef Tank Fish Guide

Arguably the most recognized reef fish in the hobby, tangs are great fish for a large reef. Most tangs reach sizes of 10”+, making them showpieces for large aquariums. Tangs are extremely active fish, spending the bulk of their time cruising around the tank and grazing on rockwork. Most tangs are also great fish for… Read more »

How Much To Feed

Question: How Much Should I Feed My Fish? Answer: In answer to the reader question:“The last few cans of fish food I bought said Do Not Overfeed. Why is that a problem, and how much should I feed my fish?” Overfeeding is the most common mistake fish owners make. Overfeeding clogs the filter, and breaks… Read more »

The Blue Angelfish

The Blue Angelfish is a very beautiful fish found in the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, Bermuda and the Bahamas. The juvenile Blue Angelfish is quite different from that of the adult. Juveniles are dark blue with a yellow tail, a yellow area around the pectoral fins, and brilliant blue vertical bars on the body. FeedingThis… Read more »

Mark Martin on Dealing with Zoanthid-Eating Nudibranchs

This week’s “Tip of the Week” comes from a question I received from a customer with a Zoanthid-eating Nudibranch problem. Zoanthid-eating Nudibranchs are what are known as aeolid Nudibranchs, a type of Nudibranch named for the Greek god of the wind, Aeolis. All aeolids eat cnidarians and are frequently named by aquarists based on their… Read more »

Reef Aquarium Parasites

Reef tank parasites such as cryptocarion (Ich) and Amyloodinum (Velvet disease) are ubiquitous and almost impossible to completely eradicate when you are first establishing your tank. Traditional treatments would be fatal to most of the invertebrates you may be trying to raise. Although there are several methods for controlling these parasites, and fierce differences of… Read more »

Captive-Bred Clownfish

Easily the most recognizable and popular saltwater fish in the hobby is the clownfish (or anemonefish). They are prized not only for their beauty and hardiness but also for their interesting symbiotic lifestyle with host anemones. The news about these fish just gets better as they are among a growing number of marine fish being… Read more »