We had another radio show last Tuesday and it was all about fish compatibility and how to determine which fish are right for your saltwater aquarium.  Here is the link to the radio show where you can listen to the interview.

Also, if you’d like to download the recording so you can listen to the shows on your iPod or iPhone, just got to this link for the radio show and click on the iTunes link and it will open your iTunes and put the show into your podcast directory.  I also recommend that you subscribe to the RSS feed (it’s orange) to the show so that you will automatically download future shows.

This is a painful lesson to get wrong, and it takes effort to get it right, along with much practice and reading and advice from others.  For example, last week, one of my staff put a juvenile searobbin into our Sea Scallop Exhibit at the public aquarium where I work as the Curator, and it had to be removed, because what was thought to be a passive and non-aggressive tank mate began trying to eat it.  It’s funny how no matter how many books we read, or how much research we do, that the fish don’t read the books, and they don’t always do what we think they are “supposed to”.

That is why a big part of learning about compatibility is also observing what is working in your tank and what is not – and then responding when needed – like we did with the searobbin.  Fortunately, in the case of the searobbin, it was caught quickly and in time that it was not harmed.  It was relocated  the to a different tank.

What is your biggest question about selecting the right salt water fish?  Enter a comment below and let me know how I can help.

Warren

Technorati Tags: aquarium radio show, fish compatibility, salt water fish, saltwater fish

A couple weeks ago, I did a radio interview where we discussed in detail how to properly acclimate saltwater fish.

And one of the main parameters that you need to adjust for is pH, especially if your fish was shipped overnight, like in the case of ordering a fish online.  Anyway, I thought it might be helpful to recommend a good pH meter that is handy for this purpose.

I like this pH meter by HM for several reasons.  1) it goes to 2 decimal places (i.e. pH = 8.24), which is very important; 2) it’s economical; 3) it shows the water temperature  which is handy during fish acclimations; 4) its easy to calibrate; and 5) it’s waterproof and portable (no power cords).

HM Digital Waterproof pH Meter Professional Waterproof pH/Temp MeterVery reliable waterproof pH meter measures with an accuracy: of +/- 0.02 pH. Measures pH and Temperature Auto-ranging three point calibration with digital fine tuning Includes 4 pH buffer solution in a sponge embedded in a clear cap, so you can see if it’s dried up Waterproof housing Simultaneous temperature display Measurement Range: 0-14 pH Digital Calibration (push button) Auto-off function, data-hold function and low-battery indicator. Display: large and easy-to-read LCD screen includes simultaneous temperature reading. Factory Calibrated: The PH-200 meter is three-point factory calibrated to 4, 7, and 10 pH. The meter can be recalibrated with digital calibration using the push buttons, rather than a screwdriver. Includes a cap, batteries, and lanyard

If you’re serious about keeping saltwater fish, then you need a good pH meter.  I mean, let’s face it.  Half the fun of this hobby is buying new fish, and if you want them to live through the acclimation into their new tank, then you’ll need a good pH meter.

I hope this helps.

Warren

Technorati Tags: acclimating saltwater fish, buying new saltwater fish, pH meter, salt water fish, saltwater fish

You’ve got to see this amazing video of in-situ coral farming in the Fiji Islands. It feels especially good to know that the local fishermen are making the connection between ensuring a healthy reef and making a good living.

Check out the amazing colors on these corals, and the time-lapse shots that show how much they grow. Very cool.

Technorati Tags: coral farming, fiji islands, in-situ coral farming

Here is a very cool video I came across in Coral Magazine about clam farming in Fiji.  It left me wanting more.

So did this video inspire any questions or comments in you?  We’d love to hear them.

Happy Fishes,

Warren

Technorati Tags: clam farming, clam farming in fiji

In case you didn’t already know, I have been a recurring guest on the Under The Sea Radio Show, where we discuss different areas/topics of keeping salt water aquariums, reef tanks, fish-only tanks, etc..  And instead of me guessing what the topics should be for each episode, I’d like for you to tell me what you would like us to cover.  Tell me what your biggest frustrations and challenges are, and what your biggest question is related to keeping your reef tank or fish-only saltwater aquarium.

The people with the best questions and comments will have their question or topic featured on the radio show, so go ahead now and type in a comment and let me know what you would like our next interview to be about.

Some upcoming topics include:

“Fish Compatibility:  How To Choose The Right Saltwater Fish For Your Aquarium”

“Coral Compatibility:  How To Choose The Right Corals and Invertebrates For Your Saltwater Aquarium”

“Water Changes:  The Overlooked Magic Bullet and How To Do It Correctly”

“Lighting For Your Reef Tank:   How To Choose The Right Lighting Setup”

“Temperature Control:   How To Chill Your Tank and Still Make Your Mortgage Payment”

Get any ideas from this list?  Type in a comment and let me know.

Happy Fishes,

Warren

Technorati Tags: aquarium radio show, fish-only tank, reef tank, reef tank lighting, salt water aquarium, saltwater aquarium, temperature control, water changes

This coming Sunday 7/17/2011 at 4:00pm (EST), I will be covering the mysterious topic of fish compatibility on the Under The Sea Radio Show at

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/wm-aquaculture where you can listen live and also listen to the recording in case you can’t make the 4:00pm show time.

So what is your biggest question on fish compatibility, and properly selecting the right fish to go with your existing fish in your reef tank or fish-only tank?  Enter a comment here on this blog post and tell me what your biggest question is that you’d like me to cover on the radio show this weekend.

The person with the best question will get their questions answered in detail, live on the show.

Happy Fishes,

Warren

Technorati Tags: aquarium radio show, fish compatibility, how to avoid selecting the wrong fish, saltwater aquarium

Check it out!  I got invited back on the Under The Sea Radio Show to discuss our recommended methods for acclimating saltwater fish.

It was a lot of fun and we went deep on how to properly acclimate saltwater fish, whether it is coming from your local fish store, or if it was ordered online and shipped overnight.  This topic is a big one, and it’s where a lot of mistakes are made and fish are lost, unnecessarily.

Take a listen and I’d love to hear any questions or comments you might have on the subject.

So, what is  your biggest question about how to acclimate saltwater fish?

Happy Fishes,

Warren

Technorati Tags: acclimation, how to acclimate saltwater fish, radio show, salt water fish, saltwater fish