When I first got started with reef tanks and saltwater fish tanks in general, every book, speaker, expert and author all referred to buffering capacity and total hardness and alkalinity and calcium hardness and dkh, and what …???? I was so confused at first.
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.
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.
I received a great question and thought I would share it with you along with my answer.
So here’s the question: What do you think is the simplest system to use for a reef tank?
I think I will make a video answer to this question and post it on the blog for others, because
keeping things simple is one of the most important things to learn in reef keeping, and yet also one
of the most challenging to accomplish. Again, great question.
Here’s my answer:
As for what is the simplest system for a reef tank, I would have to say it depends on three factors:
1) the size of the tank, how heavily it is stocked with small-polyped stony corals (SPS);
2) how much time (work) you want to spend per week maintaining it; and
3) how much effort you are willing to put into setting it up (installation)
So, of course, I am biased. I like larger systems that maximize stocking density and diversity of all kinds of corals and fishes. And I like to take my time setting it up so that it is as easy as possible to maintain (I’m lazy) and so that it is designed to prevent problems (this last one is one of my greatest talents).
If you are just getting started and your tank is less than 200 gallons, and not heavily stocked yet, you can get away with just doing water changes. A good quality reef salt will help maintain your pH, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium and all other levels, by simply doing frequent water changes. If water changes is your only method of maintaining water quality, then you will want to do roughly 50% or more per month, done weekly. So, for example, if you have a 100-gallon system, and you are doing 50% water change per month, then you could do one water change per week of 12.5 gallons. Thus after four weeks, you will have changed 50% of the system’s water. The down side to this approach is that you will go through more salt (higher cost) and it requires weekly water changes (more time). We maintained a 250-gallon reef tank (all soft corals) for many years with great success, using this approach. Because this system had great water movement and high flow rates (10x system volume/hr) and strong lighting (3 x 400w HQI metal halides 10,000K), strong protein skimming (ETS1400), stable water temperature (chiller), and it grew soft corals like crazy. It was very simple.
The Jaubert method is OK as long as your sand bed is deep enough and that you use a fine enough substrate, and as long as it can keep up with the calcium/magnesium demand of the corals in the system. I would say that the Jaubert method is best suited for systems that are not heavily stocked with fast-growing stony corals. Systems that are heavily stocked with the faster-growing small-polyped stony corals (SPS corals) will need a more aggressive dosing approach than the passive Jaubert method.
Another very simple way to help maintain calcium, magnesium, and alkalinity is by use of a fluidized bed sand filter that is filled with aragonite sand (0.5-2.0mm particle size I recommend Carribsea’s “Sea Floor Special Grade Reef Sand”). It is very cheap and very low maintenance and will help to maintain calcium, magnesium, and alkalinity. You will need to refill (top off) the fluidized sand filter about every 4-6 months as the substrate will dissolve over time. This is also a very efficient biological filter. Depending on the size of the fluidized sand filter (the bigger the better – you cannot over size it), this method is best suited for a higher stocking density of corals than with the method of just doing water changes.
Another very simple method is to use one of the liquid two-part products administered with a two-part dossier (usually also sold by the manufacturer of the liquid 2-part product). We have used the B-Ionic product (by ESV) with great success, along with their liquid 2-part dossier.
So when considering what is the simplest method for keeping or setting up a reef tank, remember the following factors:
1) the size of the tank, how heavily it is stocked with small-polyped stony corals (SPS);
2) how much time (work) you want to spend per week maintaining it; and
3) how much effort you are willing to put into setting it up (installation)
If you have a method you love for it’s simplicity, we’d love to hear about it. Post a comment and let us know what is working for you to keep things simple.
If you ask most people what words come to mind when they think of saltwater aquariums, most of them will eventually mention “complicated”, “difficult”, or “a lot of work”. And – yes – saltwater aquariums ARE inherently complicated. BUT, they don’t have to be difficult or overwhelming or “a lot of work”. What if it were simple, easy and fun? What if it could be this way for you?
Well, I am here to tell you it can be. I don’t like to toot my own horn, but if there is one thing I am good at, it is taking things that are inherently complex and making them simple. In fact, if you are going to be both successful at saltwater aquariums AND have fun doing it, you must learn to keep it simple or simplify.
When people ask me what does it take to make a great saltwater aquarium I tell them that it is as simple as this:
If you put stuff in, you have to take stuff out – otherwise you end up with pollution. Another way of saying it is that in order to prevent accumulation of bad stuff (nitrates, phosphates, organics, detritus, waste, etc.) you need to always be removing it. There are many ways to accomplish this, such as: water changes; activated carbon, protein skimmer, refugium w/ macro-algae, water changes, phosphate-removing media, etc..
Stop and just stare at your tank regularly – few skills are more crucial to a successful saltwater aquarium than observation. Observation is absolutely foundational to your success. And the good thing is it is really easy to do. Just stand and stare, and do it on a regular basis. You will learn more, discover more, prevent more problems and come up with more solutions by just getting quiet and still and just watching your tank.
Become a learning and reading maniac and ask lots of questions. Learn as much as you can about the animals you are keeping and have a strong sense of wonder – Whether it is animals or filtration equipment, it is vitally important that you learn as much as you can about them. Let’s face it, this part takes a while, and yet there is no way around it, unless you are going to hire someone to take care of your tank for you, which may be an option for you. You will need to learn about their life history, ecology, husbandry requirements and compatibility with other potential tank mates. And filtration equipment or life support equipment must be understood in order to select the right one and to operate it properly. So read as much as you can (books, magazines, online forums, blogs), join a local saltwater aquarium hobby club, attend seminars, workshops and lectures, and above all be open-minded. Know you can never know everything, and be willing to be contributed to. Be willing for the other guy to know more than you, so that you can learn something new (this alone has taken me very far).
Be consistent and keep a routine – There is no beating around the bush. Saltwater aquariums require consistent routine care, and if you skimp on your consistency or miss a day or a week here and there, it can come back to bite you. Tropical coral reef thrive with consistent conditions, and your saltwater aquarium is no different. You must be regular and consistent with your saltwater aquarium maintenance routine. I have seen amazing tanks whose only difference from mediocre ones was that their routine was amazingly thorough and consistent. The bottom line is that saltwater aquariums need regular attention.
Prevention, Prevention, Prevention – The saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is alive and well with keeping saltwater aquariums. To the degree that you focus on preventing problems with your saltwater aquarium, you will be more successful. This is an area I have been forced to become very good at as the owner of Gibbons Aquaria, Inc., a high-end custom saltwater aquarium design/installation/management company. With multiple customers and multiple tanks (most of which are more than several hundred gallons) my business and my customers cannot afford too many problems. And to be frank, saltwater aquariums require good problem solving skills. Even if you are wildly successful, you will still have your share of surprises, such as mechanical failures, leaks, disease outbreaks, animal aggression/mortality, etc.. All of these unpleasant things are going to happen to you eventually, no matter how good you are. The key is to prevent, minimize and respond to them so that they don’t cause big problems for you. In other words, if a pump stops working and you don’t even know it, you can lose your entire tank. Or even if you notice in time that the pump has stopped working but you don’t have a spare, you are in trouble. So prevent problems in the first place. Minimize them when they do happen. And then set yourself up with some kind of monitoring system to notify you so that you can respond when they do happen.
Be like a boyscout and be prepared – Preventing problems is one thing (and it’s absolutely huge), and being prepared for problems is different. If you can afford it, keep spares of as many critical life support components as possible (pumps, light bulbs for reef tanks, heater, etc.). Also, part of being prepared is making sure you know that problems are going to happen and design your aquarium setup to accommodate them. An example of this would be to make sure system fails “safe” in the event of a power failure. This means that your sump will not overflow or your system is capable of starting back up without you needing to be there when the power comes back on. Another example is to have your aquarium notify you of key life support failures when they happen by using a monitoring system (I love the Sensaphone 400 and Sensaphone 800).
Become a critical thinker and ask lots of “why” and “how” questions – It is vitally important that as you learn, that you actually understand what you are learning and why the thing you are learning is so. The opposite of this is like kids in school who just want the teacher to tell them what’s going to be on the exam. Just learning the answer won’t help you if you don’t actually understand why it is the answer. In fact, this failed approach leads to more problems whereby you are mystified and confused, but now with even more problems that you don’t understand.
Move lots of water – Proper water circulation can be almost magical in its beneficial impact on a saltwater aquarium. Here are some of the benefits of proper water circulation: helps keep detritus and other waste up in the water column so that it can be removed by filters; helps increase oxygen levels and reduce carbon dioxide, brings nutrients to corals and invertebrates, provides ideal respiration for all animals and plants, acts as a treadmill for fish to get exercise, allows for better density of coral skeletons, helps create more natural coral growth forms, increased coral growth rate, etc..
Lighting: The proper quantity and quality of light – Simply put, you need enough of the right type of light. One rule of thumb for reef aquariums with photosynthetic corals is to use 2.5-4 watts of lighting per gallon of aquarium. So if your tank is 70 gallons and you want to keep stony corals, you will want to be at the upper end – at 4 watts per gallon. So if we do the math: 4 watts x 70 gallons = 280 watts of lighting. A fish-only aquarium only requires enough lighting for aesthetic benefit - about 1/4 of the wattage per gallon.
Build it fail-safe – It is one thing for bad things to happen with your saltwater aquarium. But what if something bad happened (like a power failure) but no bad consequences came of it. This is what happens when you design and build your aquarium’s life support system to fail safe. For example, the aquariums I install and maintain can easily accommodate power failure, pump failure, leaks, overheating/cooling, and unwanted changes in water levels. All of these can happen without any negative consequences to the tank and its inhabitants, because it was built to fail safe.
Water quality rules: If you don’t have good water quality, nothing else you do will matter - Test the following water quality parameters once a week and graph your results so you can track trends over time (pH, salinity, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, nitrates, and phosphates).
Disease is always present, so use a ultraviolet sterilizer - Since there is always disease in every aquarium all the time, use an ultraviolet sterilizer (U.V. sterilizer) to help prevent an outbreak. Your fish and corals can live happily with a chronic low level of parasites, as can we humans. But when stress levels increase in your aquarium (for whatever reason), disease can spread quickly and is difficult to get back under control once an outbreak occurs. Thus, a U.V. sterilizer prevents such a thing from happening and in my opinion is mandatory as part of your saltwater aquarium’s life support system
Prevent stress and you will significantly lessen the occurrence of disease, aggression and deaths. Just like in humans, stress is accumulative – even for fish and corals and other invertebrates.
I got into whitewater kayaking because I wanted to have fun. And yet it is inherently fraught with dangers. So my motto became “Safety first”. If you’re not safe, then someone’s going to get hurt, and then no one’s having fun. So if you put safety first, you can have fun.
So right now you might be thinking “Ok … so what does safety first have to do with keeping a saltwater aquarium? Well, instead of ‘safety first’, think avoiding problems. If you can, at the very least, avoid problems, then you are going to have a lot more fun. Would you like to know my secret to avoiding most problems?
Keep reading.
In fact – let’s face it – most problems are caused by us humans. Yes, the majority of problems (by far) are human error. Next in line is mechanical failure, and then, lastly is biological. Biological error is usually out of our control – for example where one fish all of a sudden begins harassing another or even kills it.
So the big question is what if you had a procedure to follow, that, when you followed it – you were all but assured of avoiding most problems. I mean, I’m talkin’ preventing 95% of the problems that come with keeping an aquarium – period. Do I have your attention?
Ok, here’s my secret. I use a ‘check-in and check-out’ procedure. I treat my tanks like a patient in the hospital. We’ve all seen the shows on T.V., like E.R.. Whenever a doctor comes on shift, the first think they do is they do “rounds”. This is where they go around and check all patients, and confirm that all equipment is operating correctly, and that all vital signs are normal, etc. (I’m not a doctor). And just before the go off shift, the do rounds again. Here, again, they make sure all equipment is operating properly, that all vital signs are normal, etc.. You get the idea.
CHECK IN and CHECK OUT is a routine procedure – a check list – that you do at the beginning and end of each time you do any work on your aquarium. And when it is followed, nothing is missed and often you catch something you forgot to turn off, or a valve that was set wrong, or a pump that was off, or a tank that was still filling, or a leak, or a water level that isn’t right – you get the idea. I can’t tell you how many times I have been interrupted in the wee hours of the morning and called to go to a customer’s tank (we use computer monitors that call our cell phones), only to find a problem that was not caught during checkout – because aquarist did not follow the CHECK OUT list.
So, imagine, you set aside an hour or two to work on your tank. You go about fragging corals, cleaning glass, doing a water change, changing GFO (ferric oxide – removes phosphate – Rowaphos is the best for this), culling algae from your refugium, etc..
But you didn’t begin by going thru your CHECK IN procedure and check list, so you didn’t discover that your R.O. unit was leaking (Revers Osmosis filter – purifies tap water). You went about having your fun with your tank for two hours and now that it’s time to leave, you go to get some Reverse Osmosis water to top off your tank and now you discover the leak. But this is a whole project all by itself, and you have to meet your family for dinner in 25 minutes. Had you gone through the CHECK IN procedure when you started, you would have found the leak at the beginning and had plenty of time to fix it. You get the idea.
How’d you like to get your hands on the CHECK IN/CHECK OUT sheet that we use? Submit a comment and be sure to include your email address and I’ll send it to you. In fact, if you would like me to, I’ll do a video going over the entire CHECK IN/CHECK OUT procedure and put it up here on the blog. Just post a comment below, and let me know if you’d like to see that video.
And if you’d like to be notified of new videos and articles, just subscribe to our newsletter (upper right corner of the blog).
Have you ever been tidepooling? It’s a blast – really fun. Most of you who know about tidepooling conjure up memories of when you were a kid, wading through the shallows at the beach or even a lake, with a dip net and a bucket – catching animals and putting them in your bucket to get a closer look at them.
Can you guess which aquarist skill tidepooling will help you develop? Watch this video and then leave a comment below with your answer.
Loading ...