Question:  Is it harder to maintain a saltwater vs freshwater tank?  Answer:  Yes and No. The difference is how much effort you put into the planning and learning period. The saltwater fish you have in your home originated from tropical reefs. These reefs are in an incredibly stable environment. Nothing much changes. Water quality, salinity, temperature, etc., stay exactly the same all the time. This being said, it is a fact that these creatures do not adapt to change well. It is essential that you learn the ideal environmental parameters for marine fish in a captive environment in your home. You can achieve great success with your saltwater tank by following these guidelines. You must also exercise patience and self-discipline. Setting up your saltwater tank needs to be done in slow, precise steps. Trying to “rush” the process will lead to big problems. It is also important to gain as much knowledge as you can about the fish you have and their needs and compatibilities. You don’t want your fish eating or attacking each other! In closing, with proper knowledge and patience, a saltwater tank should be no harder to maintain than a freshwater tank. Question:  Should I buy a small saltwater tank first to make sure I am successful before I purchase a large one? Answer:  One benefit to having a small saltwater tank is the initial cost. Remember that stability is the key to a successful tank, so as long as you keep the fish and corals in a stable tank there shouldn’t be much difference. Some people buy a small tank and end up putting too many fish into it. This can create huge problems. It is best to buy the tank that you really want right away and start off on the right foot. As long as you can afford it and have the space.  Question:  How do you control algae in the tank? Answer:  There will always be some algae. Algae is a type of plant and thrives on water, light and food. If any one of these are in excess you can create an undesirable amount of algae in your tank. Unacceptable growth of algae is usually from an excess of light and plant food (fish waste, uneaten fish food, and decomposing plants or fish). Most tanks do not need 10 to 12 hours per day of light. If you have any questions regarding lighting and algae problems, give us a call or come in and we will be happy to help you.

Question:  My fish is sick? Why? Answer:  There are numerous reasons that your fish is sick. Fish do not get sick for no reason at all. Nature usually gives them a defense against and possible cure for most problems. They have an immune system just like we do. When their immune system is strong, they can battle parasites, bacteria, fungus and viruses. When their immune system is not strong it is usually due to a current or recent stress situation. Stress can cause immune deficiency. You must evaluate possible stress factors. They include, but are not limited to, ammonia or nitrate in the water, a temperature problem, rough handling or fighting with other fish, etc. If you can identify the stress problem and correct it the fish has a much greater chance of survival. Many people blame ich on everything and dump in treatments that rarely work. Aside from injury, there are three general categories of disease. PARASITES: This can be ich as well as several other things. Depending on the parasite and the severity, there are several commercial preparations that may help. Don’t try to guess, come in for a consultation with one of our specialists. Remember that there can be side effects and complications from any medecine. BACTERIA AND FUNGUS: These organisms are very smiliar and hard to distinguish sometimes. The treatment is usually some sort of antibiotic or anti-fungal agent. Please come in and consult us. In some cases the fish is beyond help and you don’t want the fish to suffer any longer. Indiscriminate treatment with antibiotics can at the least negatively upset good bacteria in the tank, and at the worst contribute to antibiotic-resistant mutations of bacteria for which there will be no cure. The indiscriminate use of medications can, and will, make treating future problems more, if not impossible to treat. VIRUSES: These are usually untreatable and the fish will either recover or not on its own. It is very uncommon and all you can do is provide the fish with the most stable environment possible. If you have any questions, call or come in and talk to us about your concerns. There are other more rare problems that fish can develop. We can help you to evaluate and treat your fish to ensure the best possible outcome available.