| Many marine aquarium keepers today set up their | | | | relationship. The fish gets disease cleaned off it |
| systems to keep both fish and invertebrates and | | | | and the shrimp gets food in the form of old |
| corals together in one system. Displays such as | | | | tissues. As a bonus the shrimp are very colorful |
| these are called saltwater reef aquarium systems. | | | | and active additions to all saltwater aquarium |
| These captive systems are as close as you can | | | | systems. |
| get to the wild reef without actually going to the | | | | Vitamins |
| ocean. There are however some concerns you | | | | There are companies that have developed |
| need to be aware of when setting up a complete | | | | additives that you can add to your saltwater fish |
| reef system | | | | food to help keep them healthy in the reef |
| The main drawback many reef keepers find is | | | | aquarium. These additives often include vitamin C, |
| that sick saltwater fish are very hard to treat | | | | garlic and special marine proteins and fatty acids. |
| once they are in the tank. A sick fish can and | | | | All of these are compounds that many |
| usually does spread the disease to the entire tank | | | | commercial fish foods lack and the animals need |
| and most all medications that treat disease will | | | | to stay healthy. In addition to making your fish |
| also kill corals and other invertebrates. While | | | | healthier they will often brighten their colors and |
| buying healthy fish and fish that are naturally | | | | make them more active as well. |
| disease resistant is one way to ensure your reef | | | | Prevention |
| stays healthy there are a few things you can do | | | | If you have the space and money setting up a |
| to keep your fish healthy once in your tank and | | | | simple holding tank is the best way to put only |
| they are listed below. | | | | healthy fish in saltwater reef aquarium systems. A |
| Natural Cleaning | | | | holding tank is just another set up where the |
| In nature there are shrimps that will clean old | | | | single fish can be placed and observed for signs |
| tissue and disease off fish. They operate on | | | | of disease. If any disease is spotted then you can |
| saltwater fish of all sizes and often set up | | | | treat the disease and once the fish regains its |
| stations that the fish come to to get cleaned. | | | | health introduce it into your reef aquarium. |
| Both the fish and the shrimp benefit from this | | | | |