| I thought I'd jot down what I consider to be the five | | | | amount for bulbs, so they should at least perform as |
| major sins of a marine aquarist, be that for a reef tank | | | | designed. Changing the bulbs at regular intervals |
| or a fish only tank. They are not in any particular order. | | | | achieves this. Fluorescent tubes should be changed at |
| The list is not just aimed at beginners to the hobby | | | | six months to one year. Halides should be changed at |
| who are just starting a saltwater aquarium but at | | | | one year to two years. Look at what the |
| aquarists of any level. | | | | manufacturer states, and pay heed to what other |
| Overfeeding | | | | aquarists who use the same make and type of bulb |
| This is self explanatory, and is probably for the most | | | | say. |
| part the domain of the new aquarist. Overfeeding | | | | If light requiring corals are not flourishing, and seawater |
| occurs so easily, with those beautiful fish swimming | | | | quality, including seawater movement, is known to be |
| close to the front glass 'begging' for food. Overfeeding | | | | fault free, consider the lighting. Is there a problem? Do |
| can occur with the best of intentions, the aquarist being | | | | the bulb(s) need changing? |
| concerned that the fish (and whatever else) are | | | | Incompatible Stocking |
| sufficiently fed. Flake food (for example) is | | | | The aquarist may have very high seawater quality and |
| concentrated and rich, and pollutes the water very | | | | lighting may be fault free, but some of the fish (for |
| easily. That is the problem, pollution. Eventually, even | | | | example) may be sickly, feeding poorly and obviously |
| with routine water changes, water quality reduces. | | | | unhappy. When on the wild reef fish have few |
| Food is a major source of nitrate and phosphate, both | | | | objectives in their lives, but the ones they do have are : |
| of which are nutrients for nuisance algae. | | | | 1. To breed |
| The solution to overfeeding is simply don't do it. | | | | 2. To avoid confrontation |
| Observe the livestock. Are they well fed? Remember, | | | | 3. To find enough food |
| they will obtain some food from the reef/decorations. | | | | 4. To avoid becoming food |
| Discipline and observation are the essentials. | | | | So if a small fish has gone missing, has a predator |
| Failure to Test the Seawater | | | | (example: a lionfish Pterois volitions) been introduced? |
| It is repeated over and over again by every authority | | | | Don't smile, you'd be surprised at what is purchased |
| that seawater quality is the number one on the | | | | sometimes on impulse. Is a fish showing ragged fins, |
| aquarists list of 'must haves'. The seawater in the | | | | poor colours, hovering in a corner, or hiding in rockwork, |
| aquarium is nearly everything to livestock, they are | | | | hardly coming out even to feed? Is it being harassed |
| touching it constantly and rely on it for oxygen and | | | | by bold and aggressive fishes? It is not only inter-fish |
| other essentials. Food alone, no matter how high the | | | | problems that must be avoided. There are fish that |
| quality, will not sustain them entirely. As soon as | | | | would love to eat that shrimp. There are shrimps that |
| seawater is in the aquarium with livestock, it begins to | | | | would love to eat that starfish. |
| deteriorate. The rate of deterioration can be slowed | | | | Research what is being put into the aquarium. Ensure |
| down by, in particular, the employment of a high quality | | | | full compatibility. It is cruel to fail to do this. Nowadays |
| protein skimmer. Other aids can be the reef itself (live | | | | there are many quality books available, and the internet |
| rock), a deep sand bed, a calcium reactor (some of | | | | where information is freely available. |
| these inject more than calcium) etc. Nevertheless, | | | | Overstocking |
| seawater quality deterioration is there. The fish only | | | | Large or small, every aquarium system has its limit in |
| aquarist can do fewer tests than the reef aquarist, but | | | | the amount of livestock that can be kept. Keeping too |
| whatever the livestock, testing must be done. Once | | | | much livestock, in particular fish, increases the bio-load |
| experience has been gained then testing frequency | | | | that has to be dealt with. The biological support of the |
| can be reduced. However, the aquarist must always | | | | aquarium will increase over time as the bio-load |
| be aware of the state of the seawater. We would not | | | | increases - up to a point. Then it is unable to deal with |
| be happy walking around in and breathing polluted air. | | | | the wastes and disaster is just around the corner. The |
| Routine water changes should be completed, using | | | | aquarium inhabitants face death by poisoning. The |
| reverse osmosis water for the mix. At the start, 10% | | | | need for large seawater changes is going to increase. |
| (of the systems net gallonage) should be changed. | | | | Even then, disaster is close. The aquarist has put all his |
| Again, this can be reduced when experience is gained, | | | | her efforts in jeopardy, including seawater quality and |
| either by lowering the percentage or increasing the | | | | even all aquarium life. |
| period between changes, and also subject to a light or | | | | Quite apart from the dangers of reduced seawater |
| heavy bio-load. In some cases the percentage may | | | | quality and failing biological support, there is the question |
| need to be raised to maintain high quality seawater, but | | | | of the space needs of the inhabitants themselves. Fish |
| if this is the case an examination of filtration, feeding | | | | etc need to feel secure in order to prosper and be |
| and stocking should be undertaken. Are the filters | | | | healthy, which means they need to be able to find a |
| functioning correctly, and are they sufficiently sized? Is | | | | hide hole during the dark hours and in daylight hours |
| the system overstocked? Are the livestock being | | | | have a hole to disappear into. If the aquarium is |
| overfed? | | | | overstocked holes are going to be at a premium and |
| Failure to Renew the Light Bulbs | | | | aggression and fights could ensue. On the wild reef it is |
| By light bulbs I am referring to metal halide bulbs or | | | | life to have a secure hole and the instinctive need |
| fluorescent tubes. Lighting needs are more appropriate | | | | does not disappear in an aquarium. |
| to the reef aquarist. Lighting is a close second to | | | | Many aquarists, particularly those with reef aquariums, |
| water quality. A large number of corals need lighting of | | | | don't stock to the theoretical capacity. They under |
| the correct intensity and spectrum to flourish. Light | | | | stock knowing that seawater quality will be better, and |
| bulbs reduce in efficiency as time passes. This | | | | the corals and fish will be all the better for it. Avoid the |
| efficiency loss is because of light intensity reduction | | | | temptation of 'just one more fish'. |
| and also spectrum shift. The aquarist pays quite an | | | | |