Crafts & Hobbies Information

Saltwater Coral Reef Aquariums - 5 Tips for Success


Do you dream of watching the natural beauty of the undersea reef life while sitting in your living room?

Whether your goal is a nano reef tank or a 150 gallon aquarium with an ecosystem of coral and saltwater fish, the following five tips will lead you on your way to success.

1) Commit! Decide you are going to spend the $$ it takes to make a proper go of it. At a minimum, most tanks, (from 10 gal to 55 gal) take between $250 and $500 to get going. Can you do it cheaper? Yes, but usually not your first one. You have to know what you are doing and understand how things can and will go wrong before you can choose less expensive husbandry options and/or equipment. Save up if you have to, but count on that first tank being expensive.

Realize that this is not a short term commitment. And as much fun as it is to collect the coolest coral fragments out there and show them off to your friends, there WILL come a time when you are hauling all of those same 'frags' out of the tank and into temporary storage when your six year old cracks the side of the display tank with a pool ball or some other calamity occurs.

2) Study! Spend time on the internet, in books and watching nature shows on reefs BEFORE you get your animals. Understand the animals that you are going to keep and how they interact with each other. If you count on the LFS (Local Fish Store) or your buddy down the road to keep you out of trouble and don't do your homework.. You will fail. That is the one guarantee in this hobby. DO YOUR HOMEWORK.

The only way around this is to be able to afford to pay someone else to set-up and maintain your tank.

3) Mingle! (see 2 above) There are plenty of reef-keeping societies out there with lots of experience to help you along your way and teach you what you need to know. As long as you are doing your own homework, they are usually happy to help!

4) Keep an open mind! There is not just one way to keep a reef tank - no matter how loudly people on the various bulletin boards and forums out there might shout that there is.

5) Share! It is amazing how much help people are willing to give when they realize that you are offering a particularly nice specimen that they have always wanted. Equipment that they didn't even remember they had may magically appear or they might be willing to share a very nice piece of their own reef frag with you.

Trading frags not only is a great way to increase your variety, but it helps maintain genetic strains of corals (frags are also known as 'clones') that might otherwise die out in a single tank struck by the calamity mentioned in 1 above.

Chris Knowlton is an avid fan of reef keeping and propagation. He maintains a nano tank and two large saltwater reef aquariums. To read 5 More Tips for Success with Saltwater Coral Reef Aquariums Visit http://www.KnowltonsReef.com.

Please, include an active link to the authors site when republishing this article.

  


MORE RESOURCES:

Its Homeward Bound for Attawapiskat Evacuees
Net Newsledger, Canada - 6 hours ago
Tickets are $10.00 per person - available @ the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium Box Office, Coran's music store, and at Thom Thumb Hobbies and Crafts on ...


Cub Scout families play together this weekend
Huntington Herald Dispatch, WV - 19 hours ago
"It is certainly a good time for families to learn new outdoor hobbies that will create better family spirit and will also help reduce obesity. ...


Town Notes
Wicked Local Boxborough, MA - 21 hours ago
Prize categories include produce; arts and crafts projects; baked goods; hobbies; and conservation projects. If you are a craft person and would like to ...


Cayman Net News

Local Notices and Information
Cayman Net News, Cayman Islands - 22 hours ago
Book drive drop-off boxes are located at: Books and Books at Camana Bay, Hobbies and Books in Grand Harbour and Piccadilly Square, George Town, ...


The 'Wright' stuff: Young artist on display at MassArt
Medford Transcript, MA - May 15, 2008
Wright has a variety of hobbies, from studying guitar and violin to BMX cycling. But of all his creative ventures, the Columbus student feels a special ...


A gift of love: Spools of yarn and spare time make a big difference
Asbury Park Press, NJ - May 15, 2008
Many in the group, now retired, said they've lived full lives and are now taking time to enjoy themselves with the activities and hobbies they love, ...


Ribchester Field Day Queen 2008
Clitheroe Today, UK - May 11, 2008
Alexandra's hobbies include ballet, ice skating, art and crafts, reading and drama – she is a keen member of Young Rats (Ribchester Amateur Theatrical ...


Life 101: Let's fly a kite
Southtown Star, IL - Apr 21, 2008
... spend the afternoon with your kids, your date, your spouse or even just your dog," says Don Hendrick, manager of Pat's Hobbies and Crafts in Oak Lawn. ...


Redefining a Room: Laundry Room Makeover
Tuskegee News, AL - May 14, 2008
Whether your laundry is in the basement, the upper floors or off the kitchen, why not turn it into a multifunctional space - perfect for hobbies and crafts. ...


Hobby, frame shops moving in together
Emporia Gazette, KS - May 8, 2008
By Brandy Nance (Contact) Dayton’s Hobbies & Crafts and Tallgrass Art & Frame Shop are about to go Plum Bazaar. The two stores now are located at 811 and ...

crafts hobbies - Google News

Article List | Index | Site Map
All logos, trademarks and articles on this site are property and copyright of their respective owner(s).
The comments are property of their posters, all the rest is Copyright © 2006 CanadaSEEK.com - All Rights Reserved.