Of all the species of fish I’ve had in my fish tanks over the years, there’s one that stands out above the others as my all-time favorite.

It’s the Snowflake Moray Eel.

I’ve always been mesmerized by Moray Eels. Watching their heads poke out their lairs with their mouths rhythmically opening and closing.

Combine that with the beauty and attitude of the Snowflake Moray and you’ve got an awesome marine fish tank inhabitant.

These eels are commonly found in aquarium stores and are instantly recognizable by their beautiful white bodies covered with black, brownish and yellow spots. They are also fairly hardy and mostly reef safe. Just make sure you don’t have any crabs, lobsters,  or shrimp in the tank because the Snowflake will make a meal out of them.

They are also expert escape artists…a fact that I know firsthand.

One night I was up late watching TV in my room where my tank was located. Knowing their reputation, I had a full hood on the tank and covered up the holes for the heater, filter, etc. with plastic to keep everyone in the tank. As I was watching TV, all of a sudden I thought I saw a flash out of the corner of my eye. I thought I had imagined it, but after a minute decided I better go investigate.

I looked in the tank and didn’t see my Snowflake Moray and then looked behind the tank and, sure enough, there he was slithering around on the floor like a snake. (And, if I tell you the gap between the plastic and the tank hood couldn’t have been more than 1″ or so, yet he was able to launch himself perfectly through it! )

I quickly got my net and, luckily, he slithered right into it (which was great because I really didn’t want to get my hand bit by an eel at 1 in the morning!). I placed him back in the tank where he swam straight to his favorite rock pile and lived happily for another year or so (with no more escape attempts).

Their escape artists tendencies aside, I still love Snowflake Morays. And they’re also voracious eaters which makes feeding time a lot of fun. Here’s a video of one devouring some frozen brine shrimp…

There’s no shortage of interesting and beautiful inhabitants you could add to your marine fish tank. But the Snowflake Moray Eel is firmly implanted at the top of my list of favorites.

What’s at the top of your list of favorites? Please share them in the comment section below.

Sure, all the “sexy” pieces of equipment for marine fish tanks get most of the attention…the tank itself, lighting, filtration, etc.

But there’s one critical piece of the puzzle that often gets overlooked. And it’s one that’s not so much for sake your marine tank’s inhabitants as for yours.

I’m talking about a GFI, or Ground Fault Interrupter. It’s also known as a GFCI or ground fault circuit interrupter.

A GFI is a type of electrical outlet that protects you from electrical shock. The idea of the GFI is to protect your house or apartment from an electrical fire. The way it works is it monitors the electricity that flows in a circuit. If it detects any loss of current it turns off, protecting both you and your house from potential disaster.

You’ll commonly find GFIs in bathroom outlets and kitchen outlets. However, it’s likely the outlet that you plug the electrical devices like heater, filter, and lights is in your bedroom, living room or basement and isn’t a GFI outlet.

It’s not a big deal to switch out a regular outlet for a GFI outlet. Just make sure you turn the circuit breaker off to the outlet before you take the old one out and put the GFI in! If you’re not handy, you can call a handyman to help you do this. It shouldn’t take more than 20 minute or so of their time.

Water and electricity don’t mix well. So, before you set up your marine fish tank, be sure you protect you, your house and your family by installing a GFI outlet that you plug your tank’s electrical components into.

Nothing brings together with both and splendor in the sea more than a lionfish. Lionfish having a scientific name Pterois Volitans is not only incredibly lovely with their gracefully streaming fins, spectacular coloration, cautious movements and fish-gulping mouths, however they are also venomous sea fish that are ready with venomous spines able of giving you agonizing stings.

They are well-known in many of the oceanic aquarist and reef aquarium owners. Lionfish are members of the scorpionfish family and particularly, the subfamily of Pleroinae. This fish has pectoral rays that don\’t reach the base of its caudal penduncle, plus general, their fins are split and form a solid fan shape by a membrane that spans each fin ray. Lionfish range in size from 6.2 to 42.4 cm with typical adult measuring 38 cm and weighing about 480 grams. The largest one can raise about 15 inches in length. Lionfish can live from five to 15 years and have a challenging courtship and multiplying behavior. Females exposed two mucus-filled eggs cluster frequently, which could consist of as many as fifteen thousand eggs. Research says that their reproductive system habits increased significantly in the past decades.

The prey of your lionfish is mostly little fishes, invertebrates, mollusks in great amount. How much pre in lionfish stomachs throughout the day claim that lionfish most eat actively from 7:00-11:00 A.M., and a. decreased serving through the afternoon.

They are experienced predators using a specialized swimming bladder muscles to deliver superb control of location in the water column, allowing the fish to alter its center of gravity to improve attack prey.

They are also named turkey fish, dragon fish and scorpion fish and are resident to the reef and crevice which are regularly found in the Indo-Pacific (Central and Western Pacific Oceans) and the Red Sea. Some such as Russell\’s lionfish which are mostly typically on both reef and rocky areas in subtropical and tropical waters, while others have tremendously restricted ranges, such as the Hawaiian lionfish, that happen to be commonly in the waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands.Generally speaking, they are fairly nonviolent fish which aren\’t really interested in the monotonous tasks of an aquarist cleaning the tank or doing water changes.

Lionfish are popular in most of the oceanic aquarist and reef tank owners. Lionfish are members of the scorpionfish family and particularly, the subfamily of Pleroinae. Lionfish has pectoral rays that don\’t reach the base of its caudal penduncle, and in general, their fins are cleft and form a solid fan shape by a involving membrane that spans each fin ray. Lionfish range in size from 6.2 to 42.4 cm with typical adult measuring 38 cm and weighing an average of 480 grams. The largest lionfish can be as large as about 15 inches in length. Lionfish can live from five to fifteen years and have a complex courtship and mating behavior. Females let loose two mucus-filled eggs cluster frequently, which can contain as many as fifteen thousand eggs. Studies on lionfish\’s reproductive habits are have increased significantly in the past decades.

They are popular in most of the oceanic aquarist and reef tank owners. Lionfish are members of the scorpionfish family and particularly, the subfamily of Pleroinae. Lionfish has pectoral rays that don\’t reach the base of its caudal penduncle, and in general, their fins are split and form a solid fan shape by a connecting membrane that spans each fin ray. Lionfish range in size from 6.2 to 42.4 cm with typical adult measuring 38 cm and weighing an average of 480 grams. The largest lionfish can become about 15 inches in length. Lionfish can live from five to fifteen years and have a complex courtship and mating behavior. Females let loose two mucus-filled eggs cluster frequently, which can contain as many as fifteen thousand eggs. Studies on their reproductive habits have increased significantly in the past decades.

Lionfish are well-like in some parts of the world as food, but are far more prized in the nature aquarium particularly in reef aquarium trade. Their population numbers are healthy and their distribution is growing, causing some concerned in the United States, where some feel the success of this non-indigenous species presents human and environmental danger. on camouflage and lightning-fast reflexes to capture prey, just like fish and shrimps.

Lionfish\’s venom produced negative inotropic and chronotropic effect, these results are due to nitric oxide discharge. In human beings, the venom of a lionfish may cause systematic effects like vomiting, fever and sweatingand often causes nausea and inhaling difficulties.

Lionfish may be known in some parts of the world as food, but are much more revered in the reef aquarium trade. Their population number is healthy and their distribution is growing.

Learn more about nature aquarium. Stop by Bince Olear\’s site where you can find out all about Reef Aquarium and what it can do for you.

Photo attribution: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mon_oeil/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

If you are interested in getting a saltwater fish tank, it means you probably want to have a load of lovely tropical fish in your home. But be warned they take more care than a freshwater equivalent. When choosing your new purchase, always buy the biggest tank you can afford assuming you have sufficient space available.

They come in either glass or acrylic but I would always choose the glass saltwater fish tank. It is easier to clean, won’t discolor with age or sunlight and is scratch resistant. People will tell you to choose acrylic as they weigh less but I don’t think that matters. Regardless of what type of marine aquarium you buy you will want to stand it somewhere very secure so that it doesn’t fall over or lean to one side causing a break or leak.

It doesn’t matter whether you buy the glass or acrylic version; never buy your fish at the same time. A saltwater fish tank has to settle before you move the fish into it. This process takes time and should not be rushed. You will need to check your nitrate levels and gravity. Don’t skip these steps as otherwise you will kill the inhabitants of your tank. You will have wasted your money and killed these beautiful creatures at the same time.

You should check your tank on a daily basis and make sure that all the fish are accounted for and looking healthy. If you notice something is wrong i.e. the fish are not behaving as they would normally then you need to check and find out what is causing the problem.

The water could be too hot or cold, lacking oxygen or have too many nitrates in it. You may have overfed the fish or starved them. It is important to keep an eye on the inhabitants as it is only your vigilance that keeps them alive.

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Following on from our introduction to saltwater aquariums this segment is designed to give you some idea of a typical saltwater aquarium setup.

The type of saltwater aquarium setup you choose depends on a few factors. For example, the kinds of species you want to stock, the space you have available, and your budget. In general you will want to buy the biggest saltwater aquarium setup you can afford that will fit nicely into your living environment.

This is so that your fish and other animals can have the most comfort possible as they grow. The fish and other invertebrates that you choose to stock your tank with need enough space to swim and grow in and enough oxygen to survive. When you choose a saltwater aquarium setup remember that these two factors are determined mainly by the size of the tank.

So let’s talk about the oxygen component of a saltwater aquarium setup. The amount of oxygen in the water is related to the tanks surface area. This means the amount of area on the tank’s surface that is exposed to the air. The greater the surface area of your saltwater aquarium setup, the more room there is for exchange of oxygen to happen at the surface.

The more oxygen that is allowed to enter the tank and the more harmful gases like carbon dioxide are allowed to leave the healthier your saltwater aquarium setup will be. The oxygen content of the water is also influenced by its temperature. In general, the warmer the water, the lower the oxygen content will be.

Most marine species from the tropics like water that is 75 degrees or higher so this means that less oxygen is going to be available to them. This is when it becomes important to increase the surface of the tank by making sure your saltwater aquarium setup is as large as possible.

How do you do this? There is no typical saltwater aquarium setup. Marine tanks come in a variety of shapes and size, but it is the shape of the tank, not its volume that influences surface area. This means that even where two tanks have identical volumes they might not have the same surface area depending on their shape. A saltwater aquarium setup that is tall and slender won’t get a good rate of gas exchange. An ideal design would be one that is short and wide.

Once you’ve chosen your tank its time to start thinking about its residents. Of course the size of your tank is going to dictate how many fish and invertebrates it can house. The main thing to avoid in your saltwater aquarium setup is overcrowding. Too many inhabitants and your tank’s filtration system will be overloaded. Fish living in cramped conditions become stressed and this can lead to illness and death.

You can calculate how many fish your saltwater aquarium setup will hold by stocking one inch of fish per four gallons of water for a period of six months. After this period increase the number of fish slowly to one inch per two gallons. This means that a 40 gallon aquarium should not contain more than 10 inches of fish for the first six months.

So, for example, you might choose one 3-inch queen angel, two 1-inch clownfish, one 2-inch regal tang, one 1-inch bicolor blenny and two 1-inch Beau Gregory’s. Once the six month period is over you could increase the total number of inches in your saltwater aquarium setup to 20.

Of course, your fish are going to grow so you have to adjust for the changing sizes of your fish. The shape of your fish is also important. If your fish are likely to be on the heavy side you will need to stick to the low end of the capacity of your saltwater aquarium setup.

A saltwater aquarium setup will cost you time and money so accept this and don’t skimp. Even if you devote considerable time and effort to a small tank you can still encounter problems. If you choose the wrong one initially you will probably end up having to buy another one and this may be discouraging. In short, if you don’t have the money to buy a tank that’s at least 30 gallons, don’t invest any money at all.

When you choose a saltwater aquarium setup there are many options. You can choose from glass and acrylic and you can even get reef-ready styles complete with pre-drilled holes for equipment and plumbing. Glass tanks sealed with silicon rubber cement are a common choice. Rectangle designs are popular but they are also found in octagon and hexagon. They are non-toxic and don’t scratch easily.

The downside to a glass saltwater aquarium setup is that they are heavy. This means that large tanks will have very thick glass. Try to find one with a plastic frame that will make the tank more stable. Plated glass is shatterproof but not as strong as tempered.

An acrylic saltwater aquarium setup is molded with few seams so they are more transparent. However your view may still be distorted at the corners. Acrylic tanks are not as heavy as glass and so come in a wider variety of shapes and sizes. Acrylic is also stronger than glass. On the downside acrylic tanks can get scratched and are more expensive than glass. They are easily scratched by algae scrapers and decorations. It is possible to buff these marks out with a special kit.

Whichever saltwater aquarium setup you choose make sure it provides a healthy environment for your fish. You also need to make sure that you can afford to maintain it properly and that it suits your lifestyle and available time. Once you have everything set up correctly you will be able to enjoy the colorful antics and shapes of your fishy friends, corals and other invertebrates. Enjoy the wonderful world of your saltwater aquarium!

If you enjoyed reading this article check out Leland’s latest written articles on Types of Dogs.

Knowing where to locate your salt water tank is half the battle to providing a good home for your new fish. You do not want to put the tank too near sunlight. This can encourage the growth of algae as well as cause overheating problems. You do not want to put it somewhere it would be in a draft either as you want to keep the tank water within a certain temperature range.

Although it might not look it, a salt water tank needs to sit on a firm structure as it will be heavy when full. You can buy specially made aquarium stands. If you are placing it on a shelf, make sure that the shelf is secure enough to hold the tank. Always keep the tank level as you do not want to put pressure on one side of the tank by having the water at a slope. This can cause the aquarium to break or leak, neither of which is healthy for the inhabitants.

Speaking of leaks you should always double check any salt water tank you buy especially if they are bought second hand. If you find a leak it can be sealed but you are probably best returning the tank for a new one.

When you are happy that you have the right salt water tank, set it up in the chosen location and fill it with the rocks, coral and water solution. If you have bought fish that like to bury themselves at night e.g. Parrot fishes, you need to put a deep layer of base medium on the bottom of the tank.

Now you have set up your marine aquarium you must continue to look after your fish on a daily basis. Keep them happy and healthy by feeding them the correct food at regular intervals.

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A salt water aquarium is sometimes for the better experienced aquarist as it is more maintenance-intensive and pricey. Depending on the kind of salt water fish tank set up chosen, these aquariums can cost from around $650 for a fish only with live rock set-up to $1300 and more for buying and setting up a coral reef aquarium. Saltwater aquarium fish are hard to look after and also dear, generally coming with a price tag of about $15 and infrequently much more. Most nevertheless, will agree that with regard to beauty, saltwater aquarium fish are surpassingly spectacular to their freshwater opposite numbers.

There are 3 sorts of setups for salt water aquariums.

Fish only tanks are the least dear as they don’t contain live rock. But thanks to the absence of live rock, these fish tanks require more frequent water changes. Salt water aquarium fish will be housed in either a community tank with peaceful fish which should co-exist well with other species, or in semi-aggressive tanks which tend to contain individual fish from different types of similar size. Community fish include Anthias, Blennies, Dartfish, Cardinalfish, Chromis, Gobies, Squirrelfish and Seahorses. Examples of assertive species are Angelfish, Clownfish, Damselfish, Scorpionfish, Rays, Triggerfish and Tangs. It is vitally important to research salt water aquarium fish re their dietary necessities, adult size, temperaments, water parameters, level of care and if they are reef safe.

Fish only with live rock is the most popular of the salt water fish tank setups. This porous rock is brim-full of living organisms which act as a natural biological filter for the aquarium, helping to rid it of nitrates. These creatures also provide food for the invertebrates and fish in the tank, as well as hiding places. The one downside is that obtaining the aquarium live rock might be the most dear part of this type of salt water fish tank since 1 to 2 pounds of rock is needed for each gallon of water.

Reef aquariums concentrate on growing corals and anemones and keeping invertebrates. Examples of saltwater invertebrates are crabs, sponges, lobsters, shrimps, clams, feather dusters, sea cucumbers, scallops, snails, starfish and urchins. These fish tanks aquariums need in depth daily maintenance and expensive hardware. For those experienced aquarists who’ve got the time, cash and energy to invest, there’s little more breathtakingly pretty than a coral reef aquarium.

A saltwater aquarium shouldn’t be less than 20 gallons and ideally much larger than this. Since saltwater fish are so sensitive to changes in water quality, bigger fish tanks and aquariums provide bigger stableness and also give more space for the marine creatures which need larger room than freshwater species due to the lower oxygen content of seawater. Setting up marine aquariums will require a good substrate like marine sand, crushed coral or dolomite. Efficient purification mechanisms are wanted to keep nitrite levels below 20 ppm, as well as the purchase of live rock which acts as a natural biological filter. Lighting is needed to encourage the expansion of marine plants and enhance the appearance of the tank. Reef aquariums need extremely high lighting levels. Most salt water aquariums must be maintained between 75-80F and require a heater to maintain a steady temperature. It is going to be critical to buy power heads for water movement, hydrometers, protein skimmers, aquarium test kits, water additions and salt mix. A coral reef aquarium will also need a reverse osmosis filter unit and a refugium for culturing live foods. Water related variables like salinity, alkalinity, pH levels, calcium, nitrate, nitrite and temperature must be conscientiously monitored using appropriate test kits. Marine aquariums must be frequently cleaned and the water changed often. The replacement water needs to be mixed up days previously using manmade sea salt with reverse osmosis water or water from a cleaning unit.

Jill Kaestner provides a listing of saltwater fish supplies for those setting up their first aquarium. For more information, visit here info site on fish aquariums.

These live organisms are of good value for your fish tank or aquarium because they make a extremely natural environment for your fish. Live rock will have crabs, algae, worms, shellfish as well as bacteria, and all these will be moved to your tank to form an environment as close to the real deal as practical. Salt water live rock is the one that is most assured to offer you as many organisms as possible. Salt water aquarium live rock has made it simple for many of us to keep saltwater aquariums.

What are the Benefits of Live Rock?

1. It acts as the primary filter for your fish tank. Live rock looks just as you see it out at sea or in the ocean; it’s full of little holes and nooks and crannies and is penetrable. This indicates that when water goes thru it, waste gets caught in the rock. You may still need a dedicated filter for your tank, but this as a first step in filtration is significant because live rock has so many additional benefits.

2. Live rock, due to the nature of its surface, has a big surface area. This surface area supports growth of both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. This is an alternative way that it acts as a filter “it permits natural growth of all kinds of advantageous bacteria! The bacteria are critical for converting ammonia to nitrates and then to nitrogen, a harmless gas that may leave the tank from the water surface.

3. Fish like to play. Aquarium live rock supplies them with a fascinating play ground where they can hide. They can go off in the live rock for some quiet time too when they don’t want to be troubled.

4. Live rock could be a source of food for some categories of salt water fish as well as other invertebrates that are in your tank. The fish may consume bits of it, but the live rock will also contain little organisms the fish can eat.

5. Live rock makes your fish tank look prettier. And not only the rock, but the algae that grows on the rock is extremely pretty as well. You will get a lot of pink and purple crystal-like algae growing on live rock.

6. Live rock, after it’s cured and in your tank, springs new organisms. These can be adapted and fascinating and will add life to your fish tank. You might spend longer taking a look at these new organisms than at your own fish!

7. Aquarium live rock gives your saltwater aquarium a rather more natural look. You can compare it to a fresh water aquarium that is well planted.

How Much Live Rock Should You Put into Your tank?

The amount of rock that you put in your aquarium will determine the length of the nitrogen cycle in your water tank. 1 pound per gallon of water will usually do for a regular fish tank. If you do not have an aquarium filter, you could need a bit more. It is highly recommended though you get a filter “live rock is designed to exist in a way more extended environment where filtration occurs naturally as there is a lot of room. Space is rather limited in an aquarium and waste will have a tendency to collect much faster. This waste can be too much for your live rock to handle.

Adding more fish in the aquarium also suggests more waste, and there is a fixed amount aquarium live rock that you can put in without squeezing your fish out. If you have few fish and make a decision to use live rock as a filter, you need to continually check the quality of your water.

You want to have the best experience possible with your water tank. That suggests maintaining healthy fish as well as making sure that your aquarium looks fantastic. Aquarium live rock will certainly give you a reinforced experience.

Jill Kaestner has published a fast guide for saltwater aquariums. Visit her information packed internet site for clarification and suggestions relating to fish tanks and supplies.

With salt water aquariums it is very important to keep the nitrogen levels down or else the fish will die. Fish are living creatures and like humans they will eat food and release waste. The release of waste material leads to increased levels of nitrogen and carbon dioxide in the water. The carbon dioxide is removed either by algae living in the tank or by the process of aeration.

The nitrogen must be converted to less toxic products by bacteria. These bacteria covert waste material into ammonia which is then converted into nitrite and subsequently into nitrate. This is then utilized by the plants as fertilizer and removed from the water. In some salt water aquariums there will be no plants so these nitrates must be removed by other means, usually with filters.

Fish tank filters can be mechanical, chemical or biological. Most aquariums will accommodate all three types of filters and it will be up to you, the owner, as to which type to use. If you are a beginner you may want to take advice on this and steer clear of the biological filters for now or at least don’t solely rely on them as they take some getting used to.

In addition to filters you will also need some form of aeration. Fish use a lot of oxygen and it is important to keep the levels topped up in salt water aquariums. You can get air pumps, air stones or air hoses. You will need a heater to keep the water temperature in the specific range which is dependent on the type of fish you have chosen to buy. Finally you will need proper aquarium lighting. Fish don’t like to be lit up like a Christmas tree so don’t go overboard on the bulb selection.

This all may seem a little complicated but in reality it isn’t.

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The rest of the 10 basic saltwater fish supplies you can get to ensure that you get started correctly:

5. Substrate and aquarium live rock: You need to know which substrate is best for your fish tank. There are different kinds and if you get the incorrect kind, you might finish up slaughtering your fish. Live rock is also important; it acts both as a filter and a source of nourishment for the fish. Both substrate and live rock are an important part of you saltwater fish supplies for their classy value in the tank as well.

6. Sea salts: You are keeping a saltwater aquarium you definitely need sea salt. You must also get a salt water hydrometer to help check your salinity levels. You wish to get right concentration in the water as this will affect your fish.

7. Heater and Thermometer: These are critical. You need your fish to always be in water that’s at the proper temperature otherwise they could either freeze or overheat to death. The scale of tank that you have will determine the scale of a heater that you need to get. A floating thermometer is best, or one which you can see at a peek.

8. Supplements and Additives: These are crucial for your fish and also to offer a balanced environment in the tank. The most vital are calcium and iodine, and as you shop for your saltwater fish supplies, you need to do not forget to get these. They also help the aquarium live rock to release more nutrition into the tank. You’ll need a test kit so that you can regularly check the levels of these additions in your tank.

9. Air Pump: Air bubbles in salt water aquariums cause salt creep. If you have equipment in the tank that is making bubbles, like a protein simmer, you want to get yourself these. An air pump manages the movement of the water as the bubbles leave to minimize splashing.

10. Upkeep Equipment: You’ll need buckets, maybe a spare bath, spare filters, hoses and a few other things to make make sure you keep your aquarium clean and also to attenuate stress for yourself when cleaning.

A number of these saltwater fish supplies need replacing and it could be frequent. The duration between replacements may rely on the kind of supplies that you have picked, but as you get started on your saltwater fish tank, it’s an significant point to don’t forget.

Jill Kaestner provides exhaustive info on saltwater aquariums at her web site. Visit her site and learn about the unique but beautiful tower aquariums, and see why you may want to get one yourself.