Care For A Salt Water Aquarium

Initially (1) there is no ammonia in a new system. With time going by, addition of exogenous ammonia, a bit of food, some live rock... ammonia accumulates and populations of chemo-autotrophic bacteria that can utilize it as well. As these first ammonia-utilizing micro-organisms increase in number, their by-product of nitrite (2) begins to accumulate triggering the beginning of a second group of species of nitrifying bacteria (3) that begin to populate the aquarium, converting the nitrite in

This is more important in saltwater tanks, where the high density of the water greatly reduces the amount of available oxygen.

The size of the nitrifying bacteria population in the biological filter determines how much toxic ammonia (fish waste) can be processed. If there are too many fish in an established aquarium, tests for ammonia or nitrite will be positive. The beneficial bacteria pop

care for a salt water aquarium

Whats Hot: A Mix of Techniques

The late nineteen nineties find that as with human affairs, "there are no great leaders, just great committees"; what is being most utilized is a hodge-podge of the best of all the above (and more) filtration ideas, methods and attitudes. High quality live rock, live sand with or without the Jaubert plenum arrangement, vigorous circulation, and improved protein skimming are de riguer. Often, where space and budgets allow, aquaris

This would necessitate a panicked call from a customer and a special trip. I no longer use any Rio pumps and I dont recommend others use them for the reasons I outlined above.

I dont want to give the impression that I have nev

Turns out, these organisms arent necessary, nor advised. There is plenty of ammonia available from live rock, live sand organisms, old/used media, and even starter cultures. Why risk introducing a parasite, pest or pollution to your new system by using live animals here? Dont.

Some folks endorse adding fish food, a bit of cocktail shrimp (sans sauce), even exogenous (like household cleaners) sources of ammonia to s

Gourami Attacking Other Fish
This Gourami owner is discovering that not all Gouramis play well together. Join the discussion and share your thoughts. "Hi I'm new to all this but I was wondering....

Be gentle, it's my first time
Hi, my name is Victor and I'm a fish-a-holic. Have had FW for years and years and years.... Tried SW in college, but I didn't inhale. (or research it) = tank-o-cide. :( Any who, just bought an established 30.

Tunze DOC Skimmer 9015/9020
Have anyone tried/had experience with this skimmer ? any good?.

Livestock List 8/22/06
*_Description Price ea._* Coral Beauty $26.00 Bicolor Mac::Fiji $21.99 Lemon Peel Angel $22.99 Purple Tang $59.99 Green Star Polyps $32.99 Black & White Percula $39.99 True Percula $17.99 Yellow Clown Goby .