The Aquarium Fish Care Blog

So, you are attracted to the stunning beauty of a marine aquarium, with its spectacular range of reef fishes and invertebrates thriving in a crystal-clear aquatic world that is the ecological environment of these creatures.

But how do you start putting up one of these marine aquariums at home? Up to recent times, freshwater aquariums are considered the beginner’s choice as they are much easier to set up and maintain than marine tanks.

However, with advances in technology and breeding methods, even a novice can now try his/her hand at a marine aquarium. To start off, a bigger tank is always better — consider a 40 to 50 gallon tank to begin with.

A large tank provides much water to allow easier stabilization of water composition, a critical factor for the survival of marine life. In addition, marine fishes generally need more space as they can be quite territorial.

Here’s a quick way to calculate the volume of a rectangular tank:

1. Measure the tank’s height, width and depth in inches.
2. Multiply these 3 numbers together, then multiply the result by 0.0036 to get the tank’s volume in gallons.
3. Take off about 10% from the calculated volume to compensate for space taken by rockwork and other aquarium decor. To do this, multiply the volume by 0.9.

If you are working with measurements in centimetres, multiply the height, width and depth together, then divide the result by 1000 to arrive at the tank’s volume in litres. Again, take away 10% from this calculation.

To achieve that spectacular marine aquarium look, opt for a glass tank instead of acrylic. Although acrylic is much lighter and thus the tank is easier to lift, this material is prone to scratches. Always ensure your glass tank is not cracked and properly sealed.

Lastly, ensure that the tank is seated on a leveled stand which is sturdy. Locate your aquarium near to a wall with power sockets to provide easy electrical connections for lighting, pumps, etc. Ensure that there is sufficient space between the wall and the back of the tank for access during maintenance of your marine aquarium.

Setting up a marine aquarium requires careful planning for long term success. You can’t be in a hurry; instead, you’d need to commit enough time to take care of the marine fishes and their environment.

Take your time to learn about marine life — the fishes, the invertebrates and the environment — and also related aquarium equipment. A good resource to consult is the guidebook “Ultimate Secrets to Saltwater Aquarium Fish and Invertebrates”.

Here’s to a good start in your quest to create your very own marine aquarium.

Peter P | Aquarium Setup, Tropical Fish | August 18th, 2011 | 1 Comment »

Fancy the Yellow Sailfin Tang? Just imagine how lovely this Tang will look in your marine aquarium. Are you missing out on this beauty?

Tangs are the smaller members of the Acanthuridae family, otherwise called the Surgeonfish group because of the scalpel-like spines located near the tails of these fish.

Since the Tang feed mostly on algae, its name was coined from the German word “seetang”, which actually means kelp or seaweed. There is somewhat a nice ring to this name, I must say.

So now you know how the beautiful Tang got such a fine name.

Tangs have lots of beneficial bacteria in their alimentary tracts to assist in the breakdown of plant food. Therefore, medications, especially those containing copper, must be administered with great care. Doing so will avoid wiping out these good bacteria in the Tang and compromise it’s digestive ability.

Interestingly, color can tell you the mood of your Tang fish. For example, the popular and appealing Yellow Sailfin Tang (pictured above) — also known as Zebra flavescens — will develop a vertical white band on its body during the day when it has been frightened. Be mindful of such signs to understand the health of your Tangs in your marine aquarium.

Taking care of Tang fish can be slightly daunting for those who are not familiar. You can learn how to care for Tang fish with fish care guides such as the “Saltwater Aquarium Secrets” eBook.

Look after your Tangs well and you’d be rewarded with the beauty and grace of these colorful and playful fish. Enjoy your aquarium!

Peter P | Tang Fish, Tropical Fish | August 17th, 2011 | 1 Comment »

We regret to inform you that the owners of “Tang Fish Secrets” have pulled the product off the market. As such, it is no longer available for purchase.

For alternatives, we suggest you check out two of the finest aquarium fish care products:

• –  “Easy Tropical Fish Care”
   
• –  “Saltwater Aquarium Secrets”

Peter P | Tang Fish, Tropical Fish | May 24th, 2011 | Comments Off

Saltwater fishes require water that resembles seawater, which is their natural environment. However, it is not necessary for your marine aquarium to be filled with ocean seawater as a synthetic concoction of fresh water and a salt mix can work well.

Ocean water may actually be unsafe for your home aquarium. If collected from shorelines near urban areas, this seawater often contains pollutants, parasites and bacterial cultures which will make the aquarium environment unstable for the marine creatures.

Even if one goes further out, the untreated ocean water may still require filtration and aging in the dark; most likely, it will require chlorination, filtering and de-chlorination before it can be used in your tank.

For starters, synthetic seawater is not merely water containing dissolved sodium chloride, i.e. table salt. Marine fish will not survive in this “salty” water as it lacks the complex composition of ions and trace elements that is found in ocean seawater.

Based on studies by marine biologists, seawater contains both major ions (e.g. chloride, sodium, sulfate, magnesium, etc) and minor ions (bicarbonate, bromide, borate, etc). In addition, many trace elements crucial to the health of aquatic life are present, such as flouride, zinc, copper, phosphorous, chromium, etc.

Thus, to replicate seawater the synthetic way, a good salt mix is important. Avoid the cheap brands as these could be deficient in certain essentials and tend to give inconsistent results. Do not compromise quality here as the health of your aquarium inhabitants depend on it.

Never add dry salt mix directly into an aquarium tank that is already populated. Doing so can damage the gills of fishes and shock the delicate invertebrates. Always prepare synthetic seawater upfront, allowing it to aerate for a day before introducing it during a water change.

Keep your saltwater aquarium beautiful and thriving with aquatic life with good aquarium fish care tips and lots of patience. The resulting enjoyment and satisfaction are often the best rewards.

Learn more saltwater aquarium tips and secrets from the “Ultimate Secrets to Saltwater Aquarium Fish and Invertebrates” guidebook and create the marine aquarium you’ve always wanted.

Peter P | Aquarium Setup | May 10th, 2011 | Comments Off

If you are new to Tang fish, it would be wise to find out what types of Tangs are easier to keep in your tropical aquarium. This will definitely start you off with confidence, allow you to gain experience with Tang fish care and learn their “secrets”.

Beginners will do well to add the following surgeonfishes to their saltwater aquarium:

• ✔ the Yellow Tang (scientific name: Zebrasoma flavescens)
• ✔ the Hippo Tang / Yellowtail Blue Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus)
• ✔ the Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum)

Affordability of these Tangs decreases roughly in the order listed.

Watch a short video of the Purple Tang here:

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_HKTF7fwZM

Tangs that a beginner should avoid include:

• ✘ the Achilles Tang (Acanthurus achilles)
• ✘ the Powerblue Tang (Acanthurus leucosternon)
• ✘ the Lined Tang (Acanthurus lineatus)
• ✘ the Whitecheek Tang (Acanthurus nigricans)

Not only are these Tang fish more expensive, they are much harder to keep, and so should be best left to more advanced hobbyists.

There is no hurry though, as you would very much enjoy the company of the Yellow Tang and Hippo Tang for quite a long time. Acquire the appropriate aquarium fish care experience first and learn from valuable resources like the “Tropical Fish Secrets Insider’s Guide”.

Peter P | Tang Fish, Tropical Fish | April 18th, 2011 | Comments Off