• Last updated 10/10/11 by Beth

By Bang Guy.   The success rate in keeping Mandarin/Dragonettes fish with small tanks and new setups is dismal. Copepods, Amphipods, and smallish Isopods are only usually available for Mandarins in established tanks. Refugiums help a lot as far as growing critters to feed Dragonettes.     There are no sure fire frozen foods for Dragonettes. Once in a while one can be trained to eat frozen foods but it's not all that common. Brine Shrimp are not an acceptable substitute. Dragonettes will eat them but they are nutritionally deficient. Frozen Mysis... read more

• Last updated 10/27/10 by PauloEsco

by Ret Talbot   Every marine aquarist knows that good water quality is a good thing in a saltwater aquarium, but what is good water quality? Good water quality is, generally speaking, water quality that approaches the ideal environment from which the animals you keep originate. While there may be some variations based on what specific biotope you are recreating, there are about seven parameters which should be pretty consistent across all saltwater aquaria. They are: pH Temperature Salinity or Specific Gravity Dissolved... read more

• Last updated 8/2/11 by travelerjp98

The hobby of keeping saltwater fish can seem like it's overwhelming at first. Many beginner hobbyists make poor decisions which can lead to many headaches in the future. Since it is easy to get confused and overwhelmed with all the information starting off as a salt water hobbyist; here are some basic tips and suggestions to follow.   Always do your research prior to buying any livestock or supplies. Plan out the livestock you want in your tank prior to buying it, especially if it's your first tank. It's always a good idea to get even a very brief general... read more

• Last updated 8/23/10 by Beth

by Beth  What is it ich? Ich is a ciliated protozoan called Cryptocaryon irritans. Common names for this parasite in the hobby are: Ick, Ich, white spot disease. The top two viable choices for treatment of this parasite are copper and hyposalinity. Hyposalinity is the safest treatment option.  Hyposalinity is medication-free so it will not kill-off the bio-filter in your quarantine tank, and fish will not experience the ill-effects of potent medication therapies.  The so-called Reef Safe medications are risky business. They are never very effective and could... read more

• Last updated 7/22/11 by SCSInet

  Considerable confusion exists in the hobby relating to metal halide (MH) lighting.    This article serves to explain some of the fundamentals of halide systems and provide the hobbyist with useful information to be used in pre-purchase research.   This article is not intended to debate the use of halides versus other technologies, but rather to explain the fundamental differences and the pros/cons, allowing the hobbyists researching lightings systems to be armed with all the facts about halide systems.  What is Metal Halide?    Metal halide is a type of... read more

• Last updated 8/28/10 by Beth

by Beth Quarantine Tank (QT) or Hospital Tank (HT)   What is it and why should I do it? A quarantine tank is an isolating holding fish tank where newly acquired fish are quarantined for a period of time—minimally 3 weeks PRIOR TO placing the fish into a display tank system. It is used to observe new fish for health and potential diseases. QTs facilitate easy treatment of recently acquired fish if disease is present or manifests during the QT process. But, most important, it prevents fish disease contamination of healthy fish in your main tank by not exposing... read more

• Last updated 9/13/10 by Beth

by Beth Head and Lateral Line Erosion-HLLE or Hole in the Head Disease is not a contagious fish disease but, rather, a condition where the epidermis and scales, primarily along the lateral line and face of the effected fish, become pitted and eroded. HLLE is thought to result in captive fish subjected to poor environment, poor nutrition, poor care and sometimes even another disease process. There is not always an obvious “cause” because many hobbyists may have what is considered a good setup with even  “pristine” water quality, but still have developing HLLE on a... read more

• Last updated 10/8/10 by Beth

by Beth Lymphocystis is a chronic viral infection effecting susceptible fish resulting in the cauliflower or ward-like appearance of lesions on the afflicted fish’s fins and even the body. The size of these lesions can range from small irregular shaped spots as see in this blue hippo tang [not to be confused with ich],  to large wart-like growths.  Lymphocystis does not have to be a death sentence, however, and, in fact, it usually is not. Many fish with this condition may remain symptom-free; others will suffer significant disfigurement if the condition is not... read more

• Last updated 8/28/10 by Beth

by Beth Formalin baths are typically used for the treatment of brooklynella and black ich.   In a separate dedicated container, fill with water from your display. Use a 37% formaldehyde solution (brand name Formalin sold in the hobby) at 20 drops for each gal of water.   Be sure to aerate the bath water using a small pump that is dedicated for use in treating fish diseases.   Place infected fish in the bathe for 45 minutes, every other day, 3-5 treatments. Warning: This is a toxic medication so don't overdose.  When finished with the bath,... read more

• Last updated 8/28/10 by Beth

by Beth Black ich is an infestation on fish by tiny turbellarian flatworms, genus Paravortex.  While this parasitic problem is largely associated with tangs, particularly yellow tangs, it does infect all fish.  They are easily identified on light, solid colored fish such as the yellow tang, therefore more noticeable on these fish.  They are not, however, an exclusively a tang parasitic problem.   Black ich is not as dangerous to the host fish as are other parasites, such as Cryptocaryon (white ich), brooklynella, and amyloodinium (marine velvet). ... read more