About.com Saltwater Aquariums

Top Cup & Sun Coral Photo Gallery

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:00:06 +0000

Flash View the Top Cup & Sun Coral Species Photo Gallery, submitted to About Saltwater Aquariums for display in the Gallery, on coral photo pages and for entry in About Saltwater Aquariums Reef Tank Photo Contests.

Forums: Coral suggestions: I looking for some suggestions for corals to add to my tank. I have used up all of the real estate on the top of my rock formation, but there are lots of partial shade and full shade sports along the front of my rock wall....

Photo By Robert Bailey

Top Cup & Sun Coral Photo Gallery originally appeared on About.com Saltwater Aquariums on Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 at 01:00:06.

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Ich - Diagnosis, Treatment & Prevention

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:00:34 +0000

When you start seeing those little white spots on your fish, quickly determining if it is Velvet (Oodinium) or White Spot (Cryptocaryon) Disease makes all the difference in the world if you want to cure it. Learn the difference between these two types of saltwater Ich, how to diagnose and properly treat each one.

More: Top Saltwater Ich Medications Which treat Ich and other parasitic infestations. Some of these are reef safe, others are not, so read the reviews carefully. You might want to keep this in your Aquarium First Aid Kit for immediate treatment when an outbreak occurs. Rapid treatment of Ich is best for a rapid and complete cure.

More: Saltwater Ich (Cryptocaryon) Life Cycle Shows when the Ich parasite can be treated.

More: Osmotic Shock Therapy A simple, effective, chemical free treatment for Saltwater Ich.

Forums: DF Puffer with Ick? My Dog Face Puffer has all of a sudden shown signs of ick. He has tiny white spots on ...

Ich - Diagnosis, Treatment & Prevention originally appeared on About.com Saltwater Aquariums on Saturday, November 21st, 2009 at 01:00:34.

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Cheap, Easy DIY Sumps

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:00:21 +0000

Mini-Reef Tanks are particularly good candidates for DIY Sumps. A sump can dramatically increase the equipment you can utilize in your aquarium system. Why pay a ton of money for a simple sump if you don't have to?

Forums: Wet/Dry Filter overflowing Help! I have a 72 Gallon Bow front tank that has been set up for about 4 years. I will start by saying I have done nothing different recently, made no changes. The last 2 times I have done a water change I have experienced the following: I turn off my pump before starting the ...

More: DIY Cabinet & Stand Plans Easy to build and can save you a lot of money.

More: What is a Sump? Do You Need One? Handy for holding pumps, skimmers and for use as a refugium.

Photo By Luis Contesini

Cheap, Easy DIY Sumps originally appeared on About.com Saltwater Aquariums on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 01:00:21.

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The Importance of Proper Areation

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:00:23 +0000

Are air stone bubbles a sufficient source of oxygen? Just how efficient are those little bubbles that come out of air stones, or diffusers? Many aquarists believe they play an important role in an aquarium when it comes to oxygenation and aeration of the water, and that this air source is adequate. Not so! Low DO (Disolved Oxygen) levels in your tank water can cause a myriad of subtle problems. Fortunately, it isn't hard to increase your DO with little to no money.

More: Top Air Pump Picks Compare prices on aquarium air pumps your Guides consider to be some of the best choices on the market.

More: How To Use Powerheads for Water Circulation Increase the dissolved Oxygen in your aquarium with the use of a powerhead.

The Importance of Proper Areation originally appeared on About.com Saltwater Aquariums on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 01:00:23.

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When Is Live Rock, "Live"?

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:00:05 +0000

Having the opportunity to work in the fish department at the Animal Jungle Pet Store in Kinston, NC has given rise to many interesting questions from customers that want to start a saltwater aquarium. A particular question that we hear often is, when is live rock, well, live, which is a very good one.

What do you think? Read the conceptual points we have outlined in this discussion on what makes live rock live and see if you agree or disagree with them, and give us your input by participating in our poll.

More: Live Rock & Its Purpose What the heck is Live Rock, anyway? Why do people put it in their marine aquariums? How do you know what good Live Rock looks like? All of your questions are answered here.

When Is Live Rock, "Live"? originally appeared on About.com Saltwater Aquariums on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 01:00:05.

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Sea Anemones & Clownfish in Your Reef Tank

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:00:09 +0000

Most people agree that there aren't many things more entertaining than watching Clownfish frolicking in Sea Anemones, as in these Top Clownfish/Anemone Photos.

From the prolific Aiptasia to the colorful Hawaiian Maroon to the Blue Carpet to the Rose Bubble Tip, Anemones are terrific additions to most marine reef aquariums. Did you know that, without sea anemones, there probably wouldn't be any Clownfish in the oceans today? In the wild, Clownfish have little defense against predators other than the stinging tentacles of anemones. In an aquarium, anemones make colorful, cozy houses for Clownfish which seem to revel in being massaged by their stinging tentacles.

It used to be thought that all anemones required a very high water quality as well as fairly intense tank lighting in order to thrive. As more anemone research and experimentation has been done, it has been found that many anemones actually prefer lower lighting levels and seem to do quite well when their diet is supplemented with a few bits of the seafood found in your local grocery store's freezer case.

Not all Clownfish will take to diving into all Anemones. Before purchasing a Clown or Anemone, some research should be done to see which ones will most likely pair up. Host Anemone & Clownfish Matches will show you which match ups are most likely to succeed in your tank.

Sea Anemones & Clownfish in Your Reef Tank originally appeared on About.com Saltwater Aquariums on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 at 01:00:09.

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VHO Reef Tank Lighting

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:00:48 +0000

Getting ready to buy lights for your new tank or thinking about upgrading to reef tank quality lighting? If you understand the basics of wattage, CRI and Kelvin Ratings, you will be able to save money by buying exactly what you need. Are your bulbs getting a bit weak (new algae bloom or corals fading)? Compare prices on Aquarium Fluorescent Light Bulbs.

More: Top Power Compact Light Fixtures PC's have come a long ways. There are now affordable PC light fixtures that are small enough for that Mini or Micro Reef Tank you've been dreaming of.

More: Top Metal Halide Fixture Picks Metal Halide lights have rapidly become the fixture of choice for many SW reefers. Their relatively small size for the amount of light provided has made these fixtures very popular. Many of these new fixtures are well designed, add a stylish look to any aquarium and even include Lunar Lights.

VHO Reef Tank Lighting originally appeared on About.com Saltwater Aquariums on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 01:00:48.

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The 4 Basic Coral Requirements

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:00:37 +0000

All corals have 4 basic requirements which must be met in order to survive in captivity. The specific requirements vary by coral type and species, but the 4 basics remain the same. Once you understand the basics, the rest is easy.

More: Soft Coral Profiles Save yourself a lot of money and heartache by finding out what a coral species requires before you buy it. Soft corals are among the most forgiving so they may be the right kind of coral to start out with. Facts, Information about Soft Corals.

More: SPS/LPS Coral Profiles Hard (SPS/LPS) corals can be a bit more demanding that their soft cousins, but with the right information, you can chose the Hard Corals that will work best in your tank. Here is the information you need to make keeping hard corals in your tank a success.

More: 15 Easy Corals Corals which are more forgiving of less than perfect tank conditions.

Forums: Xenia study Since I pass them each time that I head out onto the reefs, and did notice that wild xenia seem to die off just as our captive ones seem to do. Soooo.....

Photo by Phylis Daniels

The 4 Basic Coral Requirements originally appeared on About.com Saltwater Aquariums on Saturday, November 14th, 2009 at 01:00:37.

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What Is The Nitrogen Cycling Process?

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:00:01 +0000

Understanding the nitrogen cycle, also referred to as the biological cycle, is essential knowledge for not only cycling a new tank, but also for preventing dangerous ammonia and nitrite spikes in established tanks known as New Tank Syndrome. Here is an easily understood explanation of what the nitrogen or biological cycle is and how it works to keep your aquarium functioning properly.

More: Rapid Nitrate Reduction Water Change Method Reducing your nitrates from 100 ppm to 5 ppm can be accomplished in a few hours and uses far less water than doing repeated 20% water changes over time.

More: Top Nitrate Absorbing Products can reduce your nitrate levels to near zero without repetitive water changes. These products are easy to use and very cost effective.

What Is The Nitrogen Cycling Process? originally appeared on About.com Saltwater Aquariums on Friday, November 13th, 2009 at 01:00:01.

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Using Activated Carbon In Your Aquarium

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:00:46 +0000

Activated carbon has many uses in a saltwater aquarium. But, how often should carbon be used and how often should it be changed? These and many more questions are answered about using activated carbon in your system.

More: DIY Carbon Tube Filtration Use Hiatt's Tri-Based Pelletized Carbon and Hiatt's Right Now! bacteria and end up with a fantastic biological filter as well as near zero nitrates.

Using Activated Carbon In Your Aquarium originally appeared on About.com Saltwater Aquariums on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 01:00:46.

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