If you talk to 10 different saltwater aquarium experts, you will likely get ten different opinions. The reality is that there are so many different ways to do a saltwater aquarium right, that if you don’t choose one way, you run the risk of making one big mess that doesn’t work. I’ve gone on about this point before, because it is that important.
One of the other great experts that I learned from when I was getting started was Julian Sprung. He’s the author of many books and now has his own product line. He also had a column in one of the major aquarium magazines called Reef Notes, and I gobbled up every article he wrote. He was always able to answer questions directly and to help you out in a way that involved no ego. He is always good at helping you out where you are trying to go, whatever the problem you are dealing with.
So the point here is to ask for help and be ready to be helped. Don’t let someone’s expertise or celebrity status intimidate you. We all started somewhere and we were all newbies at one point, overwhelmed and confused. So you are me and I’m you. How do you like that?
If you have a question you’d like help with, just enter it as a comment here on the blog and I’ll do my best to answer it and help you out.
When it comes to learning something new, we all tend to look for an expert to learn from and follow. It has been my intention to be that expert for you. And today, in line with that intention, I’m going to introduce you to another expert who has created an ebook that will help you greatly – especially if you are new to aquarium keeping – but even if you are experienced too – it will still help you.
Over the years of attending different aquarium hobby club meetings where there was an expert guest speaker or at aquarium conferences where there were other expert speakers, I noticed a common flaw that many new saltwater aquarium enthusiasts fell into. Here it is. The flaw was in following multiple experts at the same time and then trying to apply everything that all of the experts were recommending.
So what is wrong with that? There are so many ways to do a saltwater aquarium right, but unless you choose one way and stick with it, you’ll likely end up with a system that doesn’t work well and is a hodge podge of multiple methods. The best way is to choose one expert to follow and stick with them, and do what they say until you have some experience and success under your belt. THEN – and only then – does it make sense to begin experimenting with different methods.
So today, I am exposing you to another expert for you to learn from, to give you a different perspective.
Let me know what you like the most in Andrej’s ebook and how it helped you.
Over the years of installing and maintaining large custom reef tanks, I have seen my fare share of live rock. And I always had a bad feeling whenever I brought in live rock that was collected from the wild, which was the norm. Now there is a new aquacultured live rock that is amazing and it’s from one my absolute favorite fish/coral wholesalers. And today I have a video to show you.
The product is called REAL REEF ROCK, and it is created by Fish Heads, Inc.. This is the wholesaler we get most of our corals, saltwater fish and invertebrates from. These guys are awesome. Not only has their animals been great quality (they never shipped us undersized or poor quality), but they have been wonderful to do business with as well – very reliable. All around I’ve always felt lucky to do business with Fish Heads, Inc..
Here’s a video from Fish Heads, Inc. showing their new REAL REEF ROCK, along with an an explanation of what it is and how it is created. Oh – and did I mention that this rock is cured? Yes, that’s right – for the same price as wild-collected live rock (which needs to be cured), you can get aquacultured live rock that is already cured, and has no nasty hitch hikers to wory about (mantis shrimps, fire worms, rock crabs, etc..). Here’s the video along with a link where you can buy REAL REEF ROCK:
If you’re in the market for some great live rock that is completely aquacultured and has no negative impact on wild coral reefs, then this is the stuff you want. And they have it in nice big sizes too (as you can see in the video).
Here’s another great question I got today about combining multiple filtration methods
on one aquarium (a reef system). Here’s the question and my answer:
QUESTION: “Warren did I understand you to say that you like to use multiple filtration methods on one aquarium? Like aJaubert plenum with a deep sand bed in the display tank with a mud filter refugium in the sump with return water flowing thru a uv. This is exactly what I would like to do on my new 135 gal reef tank. What are your thoughts on this combo???”
ANSWER: So, to answer your question about if I like using multiple filtration methods on one aquarium, my answer is no – and I’ll explain.
Do I think it’s a good idea to use a Jaubert plenum in your exhibit tank with a mud filter refugium in the sump, along with a UV? Yes that could work well.
Overall, my philosophy is that while there are many different methods or filtration formats for a successful reef tank, you generally want to pick one and stick with it. In other words, you don’t want to install an algae scrubber, with a protein skimmer along with a living sponge filtration system and a UV sterilizer and a trickle filter and live rock (I think you get the idea). The different components that are used for one method may counteract other component from a different method. And what you end up with is a mess that doesn’t work, and has chronic water quality problems.
For example, a UV sterilizer would kill off any water borne bacteria and phytoplankton and would thus partly starve a living sponge filter. Or using an aggressive protein skimmer with a living sponge filter system would not work, as the protein skimmer would starve the live sponge of its food source.
Or another example would be the use of bioballs/trickle filter in combination with an algae scrubber. The bioballs/trickle filter would add to the chronic nitrate levels that the algae scrubber or refugium is designed to reduce.
So, yes it’s OK to combine a Jaubert plenum in the exhibit tank with a refugium/mud filter in the sump, along with a UV sterilizer. Just don’t go overboard trying to install every known form of filtration into your system.
I’ve seen a public aquariums do this with their 1,000 gallon reef tank (this was years ago) and the exhibit was a nightmare to operate – plus it didn’t look anywhere near as good as it should have at the time.
Also, with your Jaubert plenum, you may likely find that depending on how large your calcium/magnesium demand is, that you may need to supplement for calcium and magnesium (alkalinity too).
I only have a little experience with Jaubert plenum systems, but did research them aggressively years ago when they began to become popular. What are you hearing/learning about their effectiveness?
Leave a comment here and let me know what filtration method you are using and what your experience has been.
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