Fish Lore Aquarium Blog

Anyone that has had an aquarium set up for any amount of time can tell you about algae.  Aquarium algae control is a popular topic on forums too.  So with that in mind I decided to write up something that would be helpful to aquarium newbies for controlling algae in their aquariums.  The article is kinda long but hopefully it touches on the many possible causes and sources of algae problems in your tank.  I was also kinda selfish in that I plan on linking to it when someone has an algae problem on the forum. (more…)

Another new small polyp stony (SPS) coral profile is now up on the Birdsnest Coral (Seriatopora hystrix).  It has a few different color variations with the pink birdsnest being very common.  They are somewhat pricey but if you have the right setup they should grow nicely for you. What do you need to keep this coral? Well, the proper lighting to start, then add in the appropriate amount of water flow and stable water parameters.  (more…)

The Purple Tang is quite popular among saltwater fish hobbyists with larger tanks and they are expensive! Ranging in price anywhere from $100 - $150 and that is online. Locally you can expect to pay more.  The scientific name for them is Zebrasoma xanthurus and they are collected in the Red Sea, the West Indian Ocean and a few other locales.  Like other tangs, the Purple Tang needs lots of swimming space, proper tank mates, slow acclimation and the proper diet for adequate long term care. 

(more…)

Just uploaded the April 2009 Fish Lore Aquarium Magazine.  Thanks to Platy Ben and Amanda for the articles and Au01st and Nick Goody for the member spotlights. (more…)

I just added a new aquarium book review to the site.  The book is “Giant Clams in the Sea and Aquarium” written by James Fatherree.  If you currently have Tridacnid clams or plan on purchasing them in the future then this book is for you.  It provides in depth information on every species of the giant clams.  (more…)

The March 2009 issue of the Fish Lore Aquarium Magazine has been uploaded for you to read.  This was a pretty big issue this month.  We had Fish Lore Member Spotlights on Choffman, Red1313, MeGustaUnaPez and SteveAngela.   A big thank you goes out to PFP and Tom with the freshwater fish profiles this month.  Also included are a couple of coral profiles and info on protein skimmers.   If reading about aquariums and fish is what you like, check out the magazine. (more…)

What exactly is a protein skimmer and do you really need one for you new saltwater aquarium?  These are two questions that are often asked by newcomers to the hobby and we try to help you out with some general info on skimmers and their function in the saltwater aquarium. 

Not everyone “needs” a protein skimmer but there are many benefits from using one on your tank.  Yes, they can be very expensive but when you think about the benefits and the improved water quality that you get from using them you may think that they are not so expensive after all.  (more…)

A nice looking coral (albeit a pricey one) is the Acanthastrea species of corals.  In general they are undemanding needing moderate lighting and moderate water flows.  Stable water parameters along with supplemental feedings are needed too if you want better growth rates.  Fragging them is easy too.  Still not sure (more…)

One of the pieces of equipment you might be interested in for your aquarium is a Reverse Osmosis / Deionization water filter.  These are sometimes simply called RO/DI units.  If you keep an aquarium that runs high output flourescent or metal halide lighting, like for a reef tank or a freshwater planted tank, you probably should know about these water purification devices.

Running high output lights can really spell trouble in an unbalanced tank loaded with nitrates, phosphates and other dissolved organics that can lead to algae blooms.  Starting with good source water out of the tap for water top-offs, water changes, and tank fillings can become a crucial component for your aquarium.  (more…)

Just put up a new coral profile on the Candy Cane coral (Caulastrea furcata).  For a Large Polyped Stony coral (LPS) the candy cane is relatively easy to care for since it can be quite hardy in the right conditions.

(more…)

This is regarding a review on the Ocotopus HB 800s Hang On protein skimmer.  I am always interested in reading about the latest and greatest when it comes to aquarium equipment, especiall protein skimmers.  I feel that protein skimmers (for saltwater tanks) are one of the most important tools we can use other than regular partial water changes to keep the aquarium water at optimum levels.  

Whenever I come across a post or article on a new skimmer I always read it with interest, hoping to find the next great skimmer.  I had been hearing repeatedly how good the Octopus line of skimmers perform and was very interested in checking one of them out.   I was also interested in picking up a deltec 600 but couldn’t find one online or locally for a decent price.  Those deltecs are expensive!  Too expensive if you ask me…

(more…)

Coming in a variety of colors the corallimorphs also have the benefit of being fairly hardy beginner corals assuming that you have the proper lighting levels and water conditions. Red, pink, purple, blue and greens are common. Don’t place them too closely to other corals though and they should grow nicely, albeit slowly for you. Fortunately they are easy to frag in the home aquarium.

(more…)

Just launched  a new aquarium fish video page that is loaded with helpful aquarium and fish care videos.  We will add more as time allows.  Check it out here: Aquarium Fish Videos.

One of the more popular species of Large Polyp Stony Corals is the Frogspawn coral, Euphyllia divisa.  They have some easily met requirements and they sport some really cool colors.  The frogspawn can be quite aggressive with other corals though and they need plenty of space between themselves and other corals due to the long sweeper tentacles.

(more…)

The latest Fish Lore Aquarium Magazine is now online. There are a few profile articles, a couple of member spotlights, the photo contest winners, a fish quiz and a lighting equipment review. We made a change starting this month for the aquarium of the month and fish of the month photo contest winners. (more…)

If you are looking for something easy to keep to start your journey in coral keeping the Button Polyps or Zoanthids can be a good one to start with.  They are fairly hardy and will tolerate quite a range of water conditions but will do best and grow quicker under reef like conditions.  They are not outwardly aggressive with tank mates but they do grow quickly and can overtake large parts of the rock work. (more…)

Researching lighting for a reef tank can be bewildering at times.  How do you know which lights are good and which are crap?  Reviews of course.  The cash required for reef tank lights can be significant and you’ll want to research as much as possible to make sure you’re making the right decision.  Hopefully we can help you out if you’re looking into the Nova Extreme T5-HO lights.  You may also be interested in this setup if you’re wanting to keep a freshwater planted tank. (more…)

If you’re looking for a decent scavenger for your saltwater aquarium you may want to check out the brittle stars.  They ship poorly but once they’ve acclimated to your saltwater tank they should do fine provided that your water quality is kept in the optimal range, i.e. very low nitrates, stable salinity and pH, etc. (more…)

The latest magazine is now online if you’re looking for something to read.  We had a lot of member spotlights this month.  Pandora, Alessa, FishFolk and Annadvn were all spotlighted.  There were 3 new fish profiles in the past month and the first small polyped stoney coral profile on the Montipora capricornis. (more…)

There is a new coral profile up on the site on the Small Polyped Stoney coral named Montipora Capricornis.  There are several different color varieties available and this could also be considered a good first SPS coral to start out with if you’ve never kept SPS corals before.  That is, if your tank parameters and equipment are in line with what is required for keeping this coral. (more…)

I wrote a new article that talks about some of the more commonly described areas and zones on the coral reefs.  Since the plan is to have more coral profiles on the website it makes sense to have an article describing these areas since the location in which corals are normally found can lend some insight into their captive care requirements. 

(more…)

This is a powerhead modification that is talked about quite frequently amongst saltwater hobbyists to help increase the flow rates in their aquariums.  This is actually one of the better and less expensive ways to get the water really moving in your reef tank or FOWLR. 

Be advised that if you have a sand substrate you may need to keep it higher in the tank because it really whips up the current in the tank.  There are several positive aspects of implementing this Maxi Jet mod.   If you’re interested in getting more out of your maxi jet powerheads (more…)

There is another new saltwater fish profile on the Three Stripe Damselfish on the main website.  These damsels get to be about 4 inches in size but have personalities similar to some of the other more aggressive damsels.

For a minimum tank size you’ll need at least a 30 gallon tank, preferably larger of course.  They are quite hardy and could be considered a good beginner’s fish if not for their temperament.  The trick with keeping these damsels is finding (more…)

The August issue is online now.  Alessa1235 wrote an article with tips for beginners on what to do to get the cycle started and what to do after you get it going.  There is a game review, some saltwater fish profiles, member spotlights on Andy and CoryD, winners of the photo (more…)

This is one interesting looking fish.  The Pajama Cardinalfish is a favorite among saltwater reef keepers due to their small size, temperament and they are relatively easy to care for and breed!  Yes, breed.  They are mouth brooders and could be considered a candidate for those saltwater hobbyists out there interested in trying their hand at breeding marine fish.  For more (more…)

The Naso Tang needs a large tank to adequately care for them given their potential size of a whopping 18 inches, likely not that big in the aquarium but this is still a big fish. (more…)

One of the largest of the saltwater butterfly fish is the Lined Butterflyfish, Chaetodon lineolatus. They can get up to 12 inches or so and need at least a 150 gallon aquarium.  Take your time acclimating them and keep them out of reef tanks otherwise you risk losing some of your prized corals.  (more…)

The June 2008 issue of the Fish Lore Online Aquarium Magazine is now online.  Thanks to the article authors this month: Tom, Sirdarksol and RB. Also thank you to the members that were spotlighted: MartinisMommy and MissMTS.  These articles and member spotlights are always interesting to read.  The photo contest (more…)

There is now a profile on the Eibli Angelfish.  This is one of the bigger dwarf angels with the potential to get up to 6 inches. They are sometimes found on the reef amongst C. vrolikii at depths of 1 to 30 meters. 

(more…)

Today I added “categories” for Freshwater and Saltwater Fish Species in the fish picture photo gallery.  You can upload your pics if you’d like to show off your species!  I think this will be cool once we start getting some of the categories filled out with pics.   Couple of things: (more…)

A couple days late due to some scheduling issues on my part prevented me from pushing out the magazine this month on the 1st.  Lots of great stuff to read this month including member spotlights, forum thread of the month and some interesting articles.  Check (more…)

Maintaining and testing the calcium and alkalinity levels in a saltwater reef tank set up can be quite the chore if you have a tank full of growing corals.  There is a piece of aquarium equipment that can help you out called the calcium reactor.  (more…)

Have you ever had to deal with green bubble algae in your saltwater aquarium?  We have and it’s not fun.  Just wrote an article on what to do and how to deal with this algae without pulling what’s left of your hair out.  

There are several different varieties of this bubble algae and we talk about the most common one - Ventricaria ventricosa.  Hope it helps you deal with this algae.  If you have a tip on dealing with this algae post it on the article page and we’ll add it!  Read the article here: Green Bubble Algae.

Just uploaded the latest Fish Lore Aquarium Magazine for April 2008.  We have more member spotlights, a book review, aquarium chiller review, an article on cyanobacteria and a freshwater and saltwater fish profile.  Here are (more…)

If you have a larger saltwater tank, say around a 100 gallons or so, with little to no invertebrates you might just be interested in the Harlequin Tuskfish.  This fish is a beauty and will do well with similar sized species although avoid housing them with inverts.  They should leave the corals and clams alone but may eat smaller fish species and motile inverts.  Here’s the fish profile if you’re interested in learning more about these fish: Harlequin Tuskfish

This week I read an interesting book on aquarium design.  I’m not the most creative person and any creative help I can get I’ll take.  If you’re looking for inspiration for an upcoming aquarium setup or redesign you may want to read this book first. 

(more…)

For the saltwater tank owners or the cold-water fish species keepers out there we recently reviewed a “nano” chiller. 

If you have a smaller tank less than 40 gallons and you are interested in getting an aquarium chiller you might be interested in this chiller.  Read the review here: JBJ Mini Arctica Aquarium Chiller

Looking for a book to help identify those corals at the store and what the requirements are for the various species?  If so, this book could be what you’re looking for.  Then again, if you’re looking for very detailed info on each of the coral species, it may not be the book for you.  Check out the review here: Corals Reference Guide

A new saltwater book review is online.  The Nano-Reef Handbook is geared towards those hobbyists interested in keeping those small nano tanks.   For those saltwater hobbyists interested in setting up a nano aquarium, is this book worth the investment? Find out by reading the review on The Nano-Reef Handbook.

A new saltwater aquarium equipment review is up on the FishLore.com.  There are a ton of really crappy skimmers out there for smaller saltwater and reef type tanks.  Many hobbyists (including me) tried to go the cheap route and start a tank with an inexpensive protein skimmer.  We soon find out that it doesn’t work and so then we get the next one up in price.  That one still doesn’t work very good so we finally do what we should have done from the beginning and thoroughly research and shell out the cash for the more expensive skimmer.  

Is this another crappy one or does it (more…)

I’ve wanted a nano cube for some time now.  I’ve been saving up for a much larger saltwater reef tank too but just could not wait any longer.  MTS (Multiple Tank Syndrom) reared it’s ugly head and I got the 28 Gallon JBJ Nanocube with 150 watt HQI Metal Halide.  This aquarium is really nice and I’m very happy with it.  If you’re interested in seeing how I’ve set mine up, see JBJ Nano Cube Setup

You can post comments on the nano cube setup page too.  If you have one of these nano cubes I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts, tips, advice, etc.

Just finished a new article on these very pricey pieces of equipment.  Freshwater hobbyists can probably skip over this article, unless you’re interested in keeping coldwater species.  Reef Tank hobbyists running high-output lighting systems may be interested in getting an aquarium chiller.  (more…)

Yesterday I added an article about how to setup a hang on the back of the tank refugium using an AquaClear Power Filter. These aquaclears are nice to use because of they way they’re set up and have a larger open area conducive for a mini-refugium.  You can get one of these setup for less than  (more…)

I recently wrote and uploaded an article that explains the equipment and steps involved in setting up a reef tank.  A reef tank is a saltwater aquarium that is used primarily to showcase soft and hard stony corals and invertebrates.  Fish are kept in a reef tank too, though not stocked (more…)