Saltwater Aquariums

Exactly how do you tell these two Clownfish species apart? Most people can't tell the difference between them, but if you know which three characteristics to look for, it's actually pretty easy. --

More: Top Clownfish Photos Gallery Here is a collection of outstanding photos of many species of Clownfishes.

Still More: Clownfish Profiles If you already have, or are thinking about adding a Clownfish to you tank, you might want to see what the requirements are for your specific species.

Photo by Steve Whitt

The lowly Goby may be one of the most valuable critters you can put in your reef tank. The Sand Sifting Gobies help keep the DSB aerated while they consume uneaten food, detritus and nuisance algae. The Shrimp Gobies stir the sand as they sift through it and build their burrows, which many will share with a Pistol Shrimp. The Small Gobies will act as cleaners as they pick parasites from their tank mates. Gobies do all this and don't even take a day off or ask for a raise.

Forums: Goby Feeding? My watchman goby just sits in the pistol shrimp's ditch, or close to it. How do I assure he gets ...

Photo by Larry Jordan

"Tank Janitors" are the critters (fish and invertebrates) that crawl and/or swim around your tank, cleaning up the crud (detritus, uneaten food, undesirable microalgae, etc.) that builds up in a saltwater aquarium, disrupting the biological balance and appearance. "Reef Tank Safe Janitors" do it without destroying your corals and other tank mates.

More: Reef Tank Safe Hermit Crabs may be the best investment you can make for your reef tank. They clean your tank 24/7 without harming your valuable corals.

More: Reef Safe Rock & Glass Cleaners Looking for something to get rid of all that algae that keeps showing up on your aquarium glass and the Live Rock in your reef tank? These critters are Reef Safe and will do a great job getting rid of that algae.

Photo by Larry Yarbray

Even if you have nothing but base rock in your tank, growing a healthy, colorful crop of coralline algae may not be as difficult as you think. If you already have coralline growing in your tank, there are a few steps you can take to help it quickly multiply.

More: Coralline Algae Photo Gallery Photos of a number of different types of Coralline Algae, including encrusting coralline as well as a few more unusual types.

Forums: Coralline Algae Bleaching Out? "We just re-rockscaped my 55g tank a couple nights ago when I added 60lbs of hirocks. It appears I have some coralline that is bleaching out?? What could cause..."

Photo by Stan & Debbie Hauter

Wet/dry trickle filters have been a popular choice in biological filtration for a  long time in the saltwater aquarium hobby. Wet/Dry Trickle Filters have the added advantage of being an excellent method for raising the Dissolved Oxygen level in aquariums. However, as the technology in aquarium keeping has advanced and the desire to attain a "natural" reef system becomes ever popular, controversy surrounds this choice. ...

More: Top Wet-Dry/Trickle Filter Picks From a basic wet/dry only, to a wet/dry with sump, to a wet/dry with sump and built-in skimmer included, trickle filters are available in an array of styles and sizes to fit your particular saltwater aquarium's filtration needs. Designed to utilize biological, mechanical and chemical mediums, as well as a place to put a heater, skimmer or other additional aquarium equipment, these wet/dry filters can dramatically increase your aquarium's holding capacity.

Some aquarists love them as pets and others consider them nothing but pests. Some of them are very beautiful, but they all have "jaws of steel", able to inflict a serious wound or kill almost anything in your tank. This article takes a look at both sides and lets you decide.

More: Shrimp Pictures Take a few moments to view these outstanding photos of a number of very interesting Marine Shrimps. Many of these colorful shrimps are available for your home aquarium.
More: Reef Safe Invertebrates Not All invertebrates are safe for your reef aquarium. Some will tear up your corals as fast as you can put them in your tank. Some will not. Here is a list of some invertebrates which are considered safe for your reef tank.

Photo by Dr. Ray Caldwell

If you are considering adding a protein skimmer to your tank, you will find this article by Don Carner well worth reading. Not sure which style skimmer to buy? Don describes each one, with details about In-Tank Co-Current and Counter-Current Styles, Hang-On Styles, and Summaries on both In-Tank & Hang-On Skimmer Styles.

MORE: Hang-In/On Tank Skimmers: Compare Prices of the newest models on the market, today.

MORE: In/On Sump Protein Skimmers: Compare Prices of the latest models on the market.

MORE: Already have a skimmer? Tired of performing constant water changes? You can drastically reduce your nitrates and phosphate levels (many times to ZERO!!) with the "Vodka Method" of Nitrate Reduction.

Keeping nitrates in check can be one of the most frustrating (and expensive) long term tasks a saltwater aquarist faces. Considering the price of a bag of sea salts, the cost in dollars (let alone the time) of repetitive water changes can add up to a tidy sum over time. Here is a simple, inexpensive, permanent method which quickly reduces nitrates to near zero on a long term basis.

More: Reducing NO3 & PO4 in Your Marine Aquarium With Vodka - Sharing a very dry vodka martini with your marine reef tank can reduce the nitrate (NO3) and phosphate (PO4) levels in your tank.

These small, beautiful fish have color patterns which almost defy description. Considered by many to be difficult to keep because of their specific diet requirements. In the wild, the Dragonets' diet consists almost solely of Amphipods and Copepods, which most mature reef or FOWLR tanks already contain in some quantities. With a little patience, most of these fish can be trained to take Brine and Mysis Shrimp and other hand fed foods.

While all of the species are stunning, the Striped or Green Mandarinfish and Spotted Mandarinfish are most hobbyists' favorites.

More: View terrific photos of Dragonets/Mardarinfish. The outrageous colors of these fish are truly unbelievable.

More: DIY Refugiums are easy and inexpensive to build. Perfect for growing macroalgae as well as Copepods and Amphipods.

Photo By Andy Wakefield

Co-Current, Counter-Current, Needle Wheel, Venturi; it all sounds pretty complicated, but contrary to what some people would like you to believe, protein skimming ain't rocket science. Skimming is no more than injecting air bubbles into a water column, twirling them around for a bit, then skimming off the crud (proteins) that they collect. Exactly how different protein skimmers do this is a bit of an art, however. Here are the simple nuts and bolts of protein skimming. Understanding the principles makes it easier to find the right skimmer for your saltwater aquarium.

More: Top In/On Tank Protein Skimmers If you are planning to install a protein skimmer in or on your aquarium, these are the ones you will want to see. Compare Prices and save $$.

More: Top In/On Sump Protein Skimmers Compare prices on these state of the art sump mounted protein skimmers.