Custom Aquarium Specialists

We will up-date this list from time-to-time. Please note that not all members of a listed Genus or Family are difficult to keep. Many species that are closely related to those listed here are hardy. If you disagree with any of our selections, or feel weve l

There is usually a control valve for regulating water flow. A check valve is usually placed on the filter intake to prevent the sand from packing-down when the filter is turned off.

Because water flows upward through the filter, the sand in the filter becomes suspended or "fluidized" in the water column, forming a fluidized bed of sand. If the flow of water is controlled properly, the sand does not flow out of the filter, but remains suspended. This happens because the flow of water is just fast enough to keep the sand in suspension. The weight of the sand prevents it from escaping the filter. Because the sand is suspended in wat

Overflow Boxes vs. Drilled Fittings:

I tend to be more charitable re these devices than several of my cohorts. Overflow boxes are for folks who have not or dont want to have their tanks drilled, but instead come to rely on hang-on arrangements that in turn are subject to tragic failure... counting on sufficient water level/s, a lack of blockage by livestock... IF you want to use overflow boxes instead of drilling your tank/s, DO use at least two (yes, I know theyre expensive... so is your gear, livestock, flooding, divorce) on ANY size sy

custom aquarium specialists

Lighting:

Though intensity is not as much an issue for cooler water systems compared to tropical, light quality is. You are especially encouraged not to cheat yourself out of the wonder and beauty of cultivating the micro and macro-algae that grow in cooler water. Utilize full-spectrum fluorescents on a timer as detailed before.

Filtration:

Due to the abundance and size of livestock and copious feeding, a

Please thoroughly cleanse these items and gravel now, before putting them into the system.

Unplug everything, drain the system down, and carefully place the substrate over the sub-gravel filter (if youre using them) and the rest of you CC (chemically-correct) decor.

Have you set up a "mixing tank" for blending synthetic seawater? This is better than just pouring it into a bucket and trying to "make it on the run". Dont mix it in the system.

Whether youre using natural or fabricated saltwater, this is

Grand Baby!!!
Hi, I'm so excited just have to share.. I got ultra sound pictures of my first grand child today. It's a boy!! I can't believe I'm going to be a grandma!! The pic's are really clear now a days. He has hair!! Wow I'm old!!.

Where to place my Zoa's??
I was wondering how much light most Zoa's need. I am thinking of putting the new frags lower in the tank, right on the sand bed or just a little above. I have a 26" deep tank and I am using 250W MH and pc Actinics for lighting. I have some zoos that are doing fine in the mid section of the tank and a large colony that is quite near .

Custom Aquarium Specialists

Angel Fish Pterophyllum altum (back) & scalare (front)