Saltwater Fishtank Fish

Planning: Measure Twice, Cut Three Times:

The plumbing of your saltwater system is likely the most perilous and adventurous part of your aquarium system... Do it on paper first! It is immensely more satisfying to erase a line, valve, coupler with an eraser and redraw it, make a shopping list and only have to go to the store a few (versus several) times to get parts and tools... then to find your plumbing diagram/scheme wont work, your diameters are off, youre short a pa

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A good stop-gap measure, but not a long-term solution. You want to find the root cause/s of the problem and solve them.

Adding More Beneficial Microbes: Can be done by placing more cured live rock, and/or clean "old" substrate or filter media, or cycling products.

Adding Bio-Absorbers: Macro-Algae are probably the best known forms of photosynthetic life that can be added safely to help "take up" ammonia, nitrite. Caulerpa and Halimeda spp. in particular are good for this purpose.

Chemical Filtrants: Exist for removing amm

.. by a combination of mechanical media (like batting) for the water to run over, and baffling (using compartments in the sump/s to allow the bubbles time/space to join and dissipate.

Finding pump plumbing intake leaks can be difficult, but a few tools can help... a new paper towel or napkin wiped around all piping, fittings AND the pump volute (often the leak is due to a bad seal, o-ring, or screws not completely tightened...)... a length of tubing you can hold up to your ear and along the piping on the pumps intake side may reveal a "hissing" noise from a leak... a spray bottle of water appli

A simple, yet absolutely essential process in putting up a new aquatic system is the introduction and culture of these beneficial bacteria.

Where do they come from? How do you get them to populate your new tank and keep them going? As you will find, there are almost as many opinions on how to "cycle" your new system as there are ways to do it. Yes, th

DIY Aquarium Cave
This tidbit I recieved in the mail today was too good not to share. Mark Shoemaker and Esther Baum wrote these great 10 step do it yourself instructions for creating an....

lighting help
Alright im gonna make my own canopy and wanna retro some lights in it. Im not sure on what lights to use but i dont want buy anything later down the road. So heres what i was thinking 2 175 watt 10k metal maybe 2 96 watt vhos and 2 acntic vhos .

Blue Algae , cyanobacteria

Blue Algae ( cyanobacteria )

Most aquarium hobbyists know and fear this type of algae, well actually i.