Mac Fish Tank

The deep gravel bed also provides a home for burrowing motile invertebrates which feed on solid organic mulm and detritus. These burrowing animals, which are either purchased and/or cultivate on their own from live rock, serve to keep the plenum porous and aid in the slow movement of water through the system. "Burrowing" sea cucumbers that serve this function well may be purchased from a good aquarium store.

The aquarium is stocked with live rock, but not as much as is typically used. The live rock construct should be suspended above the gravel bed, allowing water to move freely

But, as previously stated, they are more durable (regarding wear/abuse and lifespan), and they are more powerful (operating against greater pressure/resistance/head). Yet, some modern external drive pumps are remarkably efficient and competitive. They may use less total energy overall than the number of powerheads required to produce the s

The same holds true with more nitrate. The more you have, the less viable/healthy your aquarium water is.

Take care to not place too much livestock too quickly (variable with type of system, filtration...), nor too much in the long haul, nor over-feed the system... as all can and will cause trouble with overloading your biological filtration (among other things).

Too Late! Ammonia, Nitrite Too HIGH!!!

Should you ever find your system ammonia or nitrite concentrations approaching 1.0 ppm due to overloading, mis-feeding,

A Whisper Air pump powers the airstones. The Skilter cartridges are changed every other week and the airstones every other month.

Each tank also has a mechanical filter backup. There is a Marineland Penguin 160 on one, and a Millennium 2000 on the other. Cartridges on both of these are changed weekly.

Water, and a Lot More: Tom uses tap water to make up his synthetic seawater! He tried one of the in-line water purifiers but found there was no noticeable difference whether or not he used it or not, so he

They provide adequate circulation and exchange of water; harbor beneficial aerobic (and often anaerobic) microbes, promote gaseous exchange; mechanically filter out large solid wastes (generally in a pre-filter arrangement) and their sumps are often equipped with contactors, dosers, meters, and skimmers.

These units do have their shortcomings; improperly engineered they can be a flo

Scratched Glass
Most of us have run into this problem at one time or another. Care to share your experience with scratched glass? "Does any one know how to fill some scratches....