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