About.com

What Do Fish Eat?

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:00:40 +0000

To better understand what different types or species of fishes eat in the wild, use this list of major fish families we have compiled and cross-matched to the number coded food groups listed in our table of what may be considered the 11 primary feeding categories of marine fishes to provide your aquarium fish with the appropriate fares each prefers, as well as should have in their diets.

More: FAQ: How Often Should I Feed My Fish? Once per day? Twice? Every two or three days? Feed too often and ...

More About: What Nori Is and How It Is Used Possibly the best staple food for the herbavores in your tank.

More About: Foods, Feeding & Nutrition Your tank critters will eat a lot of different "stuff", but what do they really need to stay healthy?

Photo © JGOERDT

Scheduled Aquarium Maintenance

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 01:00:27 +0000

Everyone knows saltwater aquariums and all of their components require maintenance in order to run properly and avoid problems, but what exactly should you do and how often should you do it? Since every tank is different, you will have to determine what is best for your tank. Here is a simple plan to guide you through performing Routine Scheduled Maintenance.

More: The Top Nitrate Absorbing Products and Top Phosphate Removing Products help reduce the need for frequent water changes to keep these toxins at an acceptable level.

Making Glass Aquarium Repairs

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 01:00:56 +0000

That small, annoying leak in your aquarium can turn into a major leak fairly quickly. Here are tips on why leaks occur and common mistakes to avoid when making repairs, and instructions on how to repair small leaks, major leaks or seam blowouts, replace a broken glass panel, as well as build a glass aquarium from scratch.

More: DIY Glass Aquarium Plans Building your own aquarium is easier than you might think. Here are simple, easy to follow instructions and plans.

Still More: Cheap, Easy DIY Sumps Why buy one when you can make your own custom sump, built just right for your tank?

The Latest in Reef Tank Lighting

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 01:00:23 +0000

Reef tank lighting has taken a huge leap forward in the past couple of years. No longer are you restricted to simple fluorescent lighting. Smaller (5/8") T-5 HO bulbs make possible powerful reef quality lighting in a slim package. Power Compacts are available alone or in combination with Metal Halide for hard coral lighting. A wide variety of fixtures with 20000K White and Actinic Blue LED's are now available at more affordable prices.

More: T-5 HO Reef Tank Lights saltwater aquarium lights are state of the art fixtures used for reef tanks. The thin (5/8") bulbs produce almost twice as much light as standard fluorescent bulbs. Many of these lights include LED Lunar Lights as well as integrated timers.

More: LED Saltwater Aquarium Lights have gone beyond being used for Lunar Lights alone. LED lights are now used for primary lighting for Fish Only and Fish Only with Live Rock as well as reef tanks. As the price of LED lamps has come down, they are being offered in more interesting and innovative packages.

True VS False Percula Clownfishes - How Can You Tell The Difference??

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 01:00:20 +0000

Exactly how do you tell these two Clownfish species apart? Most people can't tell the difference between them, but if you know which three characteristics to look for, it's actually pretty easy. --

More: Top Clownfish Photos Gallery Here is a collection of outstanding photos of many species of Clownfishes.

Still More: Clownfish Profiles If you already have, or are thinking about adding a Clownfish to you tank, you might want to see what the requirements are for your specific species.

Photo by Steve Whitt

Gobies - Your Reef Tank's Best Friends

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 01:00:56 +0000

The lowly Goby may be one of the most valuable critters you can put in your reef tank. The Sand Sifting Gobies help keep the DSB aerated while they consume uneaten food, detritus and nuisance algae. The Shrimp Gobies stir the sand as they sift through it and build their burrows, which many will share with a Pistol Shrimp. The Small Gobies will act as cleaners as they pick parasites from their tank mates. Gobies do all this and don't even take a day off or ask for a raise.

Forums: Goby Feeding? My watchman goby just sits in the pistol shrimp's ditch, or close to it. How do I assure he gets ...

Photo by Larry Jordan

Reef Tank Safe Janitors

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:00:15 +0000

"Tank Janitors" are the critters (fish and invertebrates) that crawl and/or swim around your tank, cleaning up the crud (detritus, uneaten food, undesirable microalgae, etc.) that builds up in a saltwater aquarium, disrupting the biological balance and appearance. "Reef Tank Safe Janitors" do it without destroying your corals and other tank mates.

More: Reef Tank Safe Hermit Crabs may be the best investment you can make for your reef tank. They clean your tank 24/7 without harming your valuable corals.

More: Reef Safe Rock & Glass Cleaners Looking for something to get rid of all that algae that keeps showing up on your aquarium glass and the Live Rock in your reef tank? These critters are Reef Safe and will do a great job getting rid of that algae.

Photo by Larry Yarbray

How to Grow Terrific Coralline Algae

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 01:00:19 +0000

Even if you have nothing but base rock in your tank, growing a healthy, colorful crop of coralline algae may not be as difficult as you think. If you already have coralline growing in your tank, there are a few steps you can take to help it quickly multiply.

More: Coralline Algae Photo Gallery Photos of a number of different types of Coralline Algae, including encrusting coralline as well as a few more unusual types.

Forums: Coralline Algae Bleaching Out? "We just re-rockscaped my 55g tank a couple nights ago when I added 60lbs of hirocks. It appears I have some coralline that is bleaching out?? What could cause..."

Photo by Stan & Debbie Hauter

Get Rid of Aiptasia Anemones

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:00:28 +0000

Most aquarists consider the Aiptasia Anemone to be an unwanted pest in their aquariums. Once Aiptasia gain a foothold in your tank, they can be tough to get rid of. Here is the short course on what Aiptasia are, where they come from and methods (i.e. Peppermint Shrimp) for getting rid of them.

More: Before & After: Did you know that you can easily destroy Aiptasia by injecting them with lemon juice? Here's how.

More: The Klein's Butterflyfish: Eats Aiptasia for breakfast.

More: Hyposalinity Kills Aiptasia and some other tank pests, but...

More: Compare Prices on OTC Aiptasia treatments that actually work.

Are Wet/Dry Trickle Filters The Right Choice For Your Tank??

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:00:03 +0000

Wet/dry trickle filters have been a popular choice in biological filtration for a long time in the saltwater aquarium hobby. Wet/Dry Trickle Filters have the added advantage of being an excellent method for raising the Dissolved Oxygen level in aquariums. However, as the technology in aquarium keeping has advanced and the desire to attain a "natural" reef system becomes ever popular, controversy surrounds this choice. ...

More: Top Wet-Dry/Trickle Filter Picks From a basic wet/dry only, to a wet/dry with sump, to a wet/dry with sump and built-in skimmer included, trickle filters are available in an array of styles and sizes to fit your particular saltwater aquarium's filtration needs. Designed to utilize biological, mechanical and chemical mediums, as well as a place to put a heater, skimmer or other additional aquarium equipment, these wet/dry filters can dramatically increase your aquarium's holding capacity.