by Saltwater Smarts | Sep 18, 2016 | Equipment, Invertebrates, Reef, Science
Ever notice that there are lots of articles and posts out there with titles like “The Top 10 Mistakes Novice Marine Aquarists Make”? Considering that newcomers are generally much more susceptible to making major errors than their experienced counterparts are, this stands to reason. However, just because the slip-up spotlight is usually focused on newbies doesn’t mean experienced hobbyists never make mistakes. In fact, they still make their share of blunders, most of which stem from complacency or overconfidence.So, turnabout being fair play—and to give hobby newcomers a break for a change—let’s look at what I would consider the 5 most common mistakes experienced marine aquarists make: 1. Failing to test Experienced hobbyists may like to believe they can ascertain the nitrate level in their tank by simply sniffing the water (“Mmm, smells like 20 ppm to me. Time for a water change!”), but the fact of the matter is, routine testing of water parameters is just as important for advanced hobbyists as it is for newbies. True, they probably have a pretty solid maintenance regimen in place, so water-quality problems aren’t likely to develop suddenly by Todd Gardner | Sep 8, 2016 | Aquaculture, Equipment, Eye Candy, Science
Last year, as I was attempting to design my dream larval culture system while staying within the space limitations of my small laboratory/classroom, I had the brilliant idea to use pseudo-kreisels as rearing tanks.… by Saltwater Smarts | Sep 4, 2016 | Corals, Equipment, Reef, Science
Ensuring proper flow in your aquarium should be the number one priority, then aestheticsQuestionI have a new 60-gallon reef tank, and I’m using two powerheads to provide water circulation. One is mounted in the upper right-hand corner of the tank near the back and the other is in the lower left-hand corner near the front. My problem is, while the powerheads are providing good water flow, I hate the look of them. To my eye, they stand out like a sore thumb, and I want my tank to look as naturalistic as possible. Is there any reason I can’t hide them in the rocks?” – Submitted by Amir Answer Thanks for your question, Amir. It is possible to conceal powerheads among the rockwork in a reef system, but before attempting to do so, you’ll need to consider each of the following important points: Proper flow trumps aesthetics Good water circulation is absolutely essential in a reef system, so any aesthetic consideration with respect to powerheads should come in a very distant second to the flow they provide. Keep in mind that hiding powerheads in rockwork can easily limit their output if you’re not careful in their placement. If you’re unable to achieve the desired water movement with the powerheads tucked away behind rocks, it’s better to leave them out in the open. by Saltwater Smarts | Aug 27, 2016 | Aquaculture, Corals, Equipment, Photography, Reef, Science, Tanks, Technology
I get asked fairly often what light is the best light. Unfortunately, there is no right answer. First off, there is the difference in aesthetics. That is a purely subjective decision that only hobbyists can make for themselves. Most of the time hobbyists gravitate towards the blue end of the spectrum because it is very flattering to corals that fluoresce brightly.In terms of coral biology, the type of lighting that will work the best for your tank will depend a great deal on what animals you intend to keep. As I mentioned in Part 1, corals will adapt to lighting by regulating their zooxanthellae, so most coral will grow under any of these lighting technologies. Having said that, it is also entirely possible to have some corals take on a desirable appearance while other corals become less attractive under the same light. Such is the price to be paid for a mixed reef tank by Saltwater Smarts | Aug 26, 2016 | Corals, Equipment, Reef, Science, Tanks, Technology
LEDs continue to gain a loyal following as a capable reef lighting technologyLighting is important because it directly affects how we visually enjoy the hobby and, more importantly, the vast majority of the corals in our tanks are photosynthetic. In this two-part article, we will first cover some of the basics of the light itself and then discuss the various lighting technologies people use to light their reefs. Coral and zooxanthellaeCoral as we know it is a symbiotic relationship between the coral animal and dinoflagellates called zooxanthellae. Zooxanthellae live in the tissue of the coral and are like algae in that they contain chlorophyll for photosynthesis. The byproducts of photosynthesis are things like simple sugars that the coral hosts can use as an energy source. It is for this reason that coral are often described to the layperson as having traits of both plants and animals. The color of zooxanthellae is varying degrees of brown. However, there are over 80 known varieties of zooxanthellae by Marcin Smok | Aug 22, 2016 | Equipment, Industry, Opinion, Technology
Germany’s Aquamedic is famous among reefkeepers for being the first company to popularize the automatic dosing pump. As hobbyists realized the importance of supplementing their reef tanks with calcium and alkalinity buffers, the Aquamedic Reefdoser was their...
