Review of "Cebu Mactan Quality Marine Aquarium Fish" in the Philippine Islands

Upon arrival at Cebu Mactan Quality Marine Aquarium Fish, located sea side in the town of Maribago, I was warmly welcomed by the staff, which was not surprising given that the people of the Philippines are very friendly, and was soon directed towards the owner of the facility. A Mr. Peter Boserio, a native of Australia who had moved his fish exporting business to the Philippines three years ago. After the introductions, he kindly agreed to allow me to wander at will, and left me unescorted while he tended to something in the office that my arrival had interrupted. His only request was that I not put my hands into any of the water. That request was my first clue as to the level of care and concern his newly captive stock receives. I was a bit reluctant to leave the small lounge area since it was lined with aquariums housing a nice variety of fish and had captured my attention. When Peter over heard my comments to my wife about how nice the aquariums were, I may have given the impression that I thought the display tanks were part of the holding system and was informed that they are for display only and were his wife's pets. I did note that the plumbing to each tank was tied into the main water supply which feeds the facilities holding tanks and had the thought that if Peter was keeping his pets in the same system as is his stock, then he must be doing something right. That "something right" was quickly evident as soon as I turned the corner into the main warehouse.

Mandarins kept isolated from each other to prevent aggressiveness and stress.

I was taken aback quite a bit since what I was looking at was nothing that I had imagined a holding facility would be. I immediately became excited and almost forgot the reason I was there, as I was simply amazed at what appeared to be an extremely well kept and thought out system. After a few minutes of looking over the huge selection of fish species, Peter rejoined me and proceeded to give me the guided tour. As we walked the rows upon rows of holding tanks, Peter was more than happy to answer my numerous questions as to how he maintains, what was to me, such a high level of quality care.

After answering a few of my questions, it quickly became apparent that the key to Peter's success was in his ability to manage the stress levels of the fish, which the entire warehouse was geared towards reducing. Even the lighting is kept subdued as a method to make the fish feel more secure and relaxed, although it did not make for great photography, it was though, yet another small detail that Peter employs to ensure the health of his fish stock.

I also noted that the majority of the fish species were kept isolated from each other and wondered at why this was done until I realized that a great many of the species do not get along with each other and could cause greater stress levels and wounds if kept in a community setting.

As a reef aquarium hobbyist, I was of course highly interested in how water quality was maintained. Being ocean side, I had assumed that such a facility would employ an open loop system with the ocean. As Peter explained to me, such a system would cause ammonia problems as well as having planktonic life colonizing the system's surface areas and its plumbing which would eventually clog up such a high flow system. With the vast amount of detritus and plankton being brought in with an open loop, the build up and eventual decay of an array of planktonic life forms would quickly pollute the system's water and contribute greatly to the stress levels of the livestock. Something that Peter works very hard at preventing.

Of course, having hundreds, if not thousands of fish all living within a closed loop system, they themselves will generate enough waste products and require partial water changes. Peter accomplishes this by having a one thousand gallon sump which is emptied once a week and refilled with ocean water. Prior to the ocean water being allowed to circulate through the system, it is cleaned of all particulate and planktonic matter through the use of micron filters and a large bank of ultra violet sterilizers. Only when the water has met with Peter's approval is it allowed to be used. I also noted that heavy aeration is also employed at all times, which is accomplished through the use of air stones and having the individual tank's water source fall through the air into the tank, which not only provides aeration, but cools the water as well.

The one thousand gallon sump area.

The bank of thirty ultra violet units.

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