| Many people don't even want to think about | | | | cause STN, Or Patchy recession in your corals. |
| owning an aquarium. Most have only heard horror | | | | Test daily and keep it around 1.025 if you are |
| stories or the cost outweighs the reward. But for | | | | keeping corals, 1.023 is fine for fish. |
| those of us brave enough to venture into this | | | | Next I want to touch on Temperature: |
| expensive and rewarding hobby, many experience | | | | Temperature can be overlooked quite often |
| bumps in the road. The worst bump is losing | | | | especially when you are new to the hobby. |
| animals for unknown reasons. In the brief article I | | | | Extreme or low temperature in the aquarium can |
| will explain some easy solutions to help your | | | | cause Tissue necrosis or decline in health to most |
| animals thrive not just survive. | | | | animals housed in a saltwater aquarium. Be sure |
| Many people jump right into the hobby with little | | | | to invest in the proper heating and cooling |
| or no experience and take all their advice from | | | | elements to keep temps within a few degrees |
| one single local fish store that generally is just | | | | difference at all times. Ensuring proper temps of |
| trying to make a buck. This is the incorrect way | | | | around 77-80 degrees is key to ongoing success |
| to enter a hobby dealing with precious live marine | | | | when keeping corals and fish. |
| animals into the hobby. Research is key, there are | | | | Magnesium: Magnesium is an element I see new |
| countless forums, articles and even fish stores to | | | | aquarist overlooking almost 90% of the time. This |
| help you out before making the plunge. | | | | element is absolutely essential to maintain proper |
| Below I am going to list a few troubleshooting | | | | calcium and alkalinity levels. Invest time into |
| points that will help you determine why you may | | | | keeping your mag levels at least 1300-1500ppm |
| be losing corals or fish in your new or existing | | | | as you will see increased growth and stability in |
| aquarium. From my experience these are | | | | your corals. If your levels are low you will often |
| generally overlooked as the common solution. | | | | loose corals after a short period of time and |
| Salinity: This is by far one of the most important | | | | stunted growth. |
| aspects of an aquarium and you want to keep it | | | | In essence there are a few simple ways to keep |
| stable 24/7. I suggest everyone invest in a | | | | your coral thriving for years to come. Consistency |
| refractometer and test often. Hydrometers are | | | | is key to keeping saltwater aquariums and the |
| not accurate do not even waste your money. | | | | few parameters above are the most overlooked |
| Common Mistakes with Salinity: Make sure to top | | | | in the hobby that I have come to realize as being |
| off your water daily or invest in an auto top off | | | | extremely important. So keep on reefing and |
| system which can be found for as low as $50. | | | | always be sure to research what it takes to care |
| This is the key to keeping your salinity where it | | | | for your new animals. |
| should be all the time. Low Salinity will eventually | | | | |