It's getting hard for me to keep track of some of the useful posts here on Reef Frontiers (RF). I thought that anyone searching for a post with a specific topic might want a single place to look. Even though the search function here on RF is excellent, having a link to this post might be of value to track down a broad topic or subject.
I will continue to update this post to try and keep it current for this Forum.
This posts lists links to other RF posts and to articles I sometimes like to suggest people to read. Hope you find this useful!
Links for helping the learning marine aquarist
Step-by-step detailed information on how to get a marine system going AND some explanations on why you are doing what you're doing:
Starting up a Marine Aquarium
When to add fish to that new aquarium? When it is mature and ready for sensitive marine life forms. This post gives some idea on the maturing process and the time needed which most hobbyists rush.
The Mature Aquarium
Information on the water to use to make up artificial salt:
Source Water
Don't use Tap Water!
Things to consider about water quality that aren't always clearly stated or explained to the aquarist, including having a balanced Calcium and Alkalinity level:
What is Water Quality
Links for on-going marine system upkeep
Step-by-step instructions on how to make a marine fish stress-free water change:
How to Make a Successful Water Change
Choosing products (chemicals) to use in the aquarium is not easy in an industry not regulated by government; the aquarist has to learn how to separate true information from anecdotal information and how to read product labels:
Separating Anecdotal info from the truth/How to read labels
Links on acquiring and acclimation of marine fishes
What to look for and be prepared for when choosing a new fish for the marine system:
Should I buy that fish?
Understanding the nutritional needs of marine fish is the now thing. So much has been learned in the last 15 or so years. It is important that aquarist provide the best nutrition and insist that those who produce prepared fish foods put the right ingredients into them:
Fish Health Through Proper Nutrition
You've decided it's time to put a marine fish into your quarantine tank. Are you prepared? It will need to be properly acclimated from the water it is currently in:
Fish Acclimation Procedure
Then that fish will need to go through a freshwater dip before it goes from its bag to its next home:
Fresh Water Fish Dip
The fish's next home from the bag should be a quarantine tank. This is a good reading article about the quarantine virtues:
An Ounce of Prevention. . . article by Steven Pro
This is a step-by-step guide on the quarantine of a newly acquired marine fish:
A Quarantine Procedure
Links on marine fish nutritional needs and caring for the captive marine fish
First things first. If your new fish won't eat then you need some tips on getting your fish to eat:
My New Fish Won't Eat -- Tips
The aquarist's goal in marine husbandry is to get their fish to thrive, not just survive. This post explains the difference between marine fish survival and thriving and the things the marine aquarist can and should do to promote the thriving of captive marine life:
Survive or Thrive?
Once excellent water quality and a mature aquarium is available, the next most important thing is the proper feeding of the marine fish. This post provides guidance on fish health through proper nutrition:
Fish Health Through Proper Nutrition
Having a challenge getting the new fish to eat the proper food? Remove as many stressors from the fish you can and then use this post for additional information:
Getting Fish to Eat the RIGHT Foods
Keeping pod eaters (some Butterflyfishes, Mandarins, etc.) is not always easy. Still they cannot be fed just on what's in the marine system. They need food/eating training. This is a short post on this perspective:
Pod Eaters
Once you've decided on the proper food for the marine fish (above link) your next decision is in what form that food should come. The link takes you to information to help you make this decision:
Different Marine Fish Food Forms
A step in teaching a fish how to eat is providing 'artificial natural food' in a more-or-less natural way. This post provides information on how to get a Mandarin to start eating prepared foods as well as food presentation for any marine fish:
Food Presentation AND Getting Fish to Eat the RIGHT Foods
In an ideal world, the marine aquarist would like to provide not only the proper nutritional needs for their fishes, but also to feed them the way their fishes are used to eating. Many marine fishes (except certain predatory fishes) feed throughout the day. This post has suggestions on feeding marine fish throughout the day rather than only at specific times during the day:
Feeding Fish Throughout the Day
Unfortunately, fish get stressed and become ill or when acquired need to be cured or healed. During this process the fish must be given what I call 'immune boosters.' This post provides information and guidance in this direction:
Immune Boosters
Speaking of stress -- it is a word used a lot. It is real. These posts discuss stressors, how to reduce them, what to look out for, etc. The second post is fish stress in more technicial terms.
Fish Stress -- General
Fish Stress -- A Technical/Physiological Approach
It's always a treat to provide marine fishes foods they can find in the wild. Though these foods don't replace proper nourishment, they are often welcomed by wild caught fish. Some macro algae can be grown in a refugium for Tangs, Angels, and some Butterflyfishes for instance. This is information on such macro algae that Tangs have been known to eat:
Macro Algae for Tangs
No one should be hesitant to make/prepare their own homemade fish foods. It is time consuming to gather the ingredients and make the food, but the aquarist has the satisfaction of knowing what exactly is in the food and to see to it that the food has the proper nutrition. This thread is a place to post your recipe and have it reviewed by myself and others in the Forum:
Home Made Fish Foods
Links on marine fish cures, diseases, treatments and false treatments
The aquarist needs to have some essentials on the shelf to handle not only the proper acclimation, but the ongoing care of marine fishes. This post provides information on what to stock or have available and some directions on the de-worming of marine fishes:
Fish Medicine Cabinet
Regardless of where the fish is (quarantine tank, hospital tank, display tank) the fish can be treated with medications that are fed to the fish. The fed medications best are those that treat intestinal disorders. All newly acquired fishes should be de-wormed. This post covers de-worming and treatment of marine fish intestinal problems:
De-Worming and Fishes with Intestinal Problems
If the fish isn't in a quarantine tank, but gets ill or injured in the marine system, then the aquarist needs to move the fish to a hospital tank:
Catching Fish
Marine Ich (Cryptocaryon irritans) is very well researched and understood. Still there are many myths and 'myth-information' going around based upon anecdotal information. The truth is out there, but it must be looked for. This is a post that informs and corrects many of those myths:
Marine Ich - Myths and Facts
There are three known successful (nearly 100%) treatments for Marine Ich. These two are the most common methods used by marine aquarists and professionals:
A Fish Hyposalinity Treatment
Copper Medications - Good, Bad, and Ugly
Sometimes there's nothing that seems can be done for a sick or injured fish. This post helps decided when and if it may be appropriate to put down a fish and a gentle way of doing it:
Euthanasia -- Putting a Marine Fish Down
Garlic? What it does and doesn't do:
Garlic - Magic or Fool's Gold?
Lastly, it is important for the marine aquarist to separate truthful information from unfounded information. This takes understanding the role anecdotal information plays in this hobby. It also requires that the marine aquarist be trained on how to read product labels. This post will hep in both general areas:
Separating Anecdotal info from the truth/How to read labels
Who is the author of some of the above?
Additional information about Lee Birch:
Lee's Bio
Lee's Marine Systems
I will continue to update this post to try and keep it current for this Forum.
This posts lists links to other RF posts and to articles I sometimes like to suggest people to read. Hope you find this useful!
Links for helping the learning marine aquarist
Step-by-step detailed information on how to get a marine system going AND some explanations on why you are doing what you're doing:
Starting up a Marine Aquarium
When to add fish to that new aquarium? When it is mature and ready for sensitive marine life forms. This post gives some idea on the maturing process and the time needed which most hobbyists rush.
The Mature Aquarium
Information on the water to use to make up artificial salt:
Source Water
Don't use Tap Water!
Things to consider about water quality that aren't always clearly stated or explained to the aquarist, including having a balanced Calcium and Alkalinity level:
What is Water Quality
Links for on-going marine system upkeep
Step-by-step instructions on how to make a marine fish stress-free water change:
How to Make a Successful Water Change
Choosing products (chemicals) to use in the aquarium is not easy in an industry not regulated by government; the aquarist has to learn how to separate true information from anecdotal information and how to read product labels:
Separating Anecdotal info from the truth/How to read labels
Links on acquiring and acclimation of marine fishes
What to look for and be prepared for when choosing a new fish for the marine system:
Should I buy that fish?
Understanding the nutritional needs of marine fish is the now thing. So much has been learned in the last 15 or so years. It is important that aquarist provide the best nutrition and insist that those who produce prepared fish foods put the right ingredients into them:
Fish Health Through Proper Nutrition
You've decided it's time to put a marine fish into your quarantine tank. Are you prepared? It will need to be properly acclimated from the water it is currently in:
Fish Acclimation Procedure
Then that fish will need to go through a freshwater dip before it goes from its bag to its next home:
Fresh Water Fish Dip
The fish's next home from the bag should be a quarantine tank. This is a good reading article about the quarantine virtues:
An Ounce of Prevention. . . article by Steven Pro
This is a step-by-step guide on the quarantine of a newly acquired marine fish:
A Quarantine Procedure
Links on marine fish nutritional needs and caring for the captive marine fish
First things first. If your new fish won't eat then you need some tips on getting your fish to eat:
My New Fish Won't Eat -- Tips
The aquarist's goal in marine husbandry is to get their fish to thrive, not just survive. This post explains the difference between marine fish survival and thriving and the things the marine aquarist can and should do to promote the thriving of captive marine life:
Survive or Thrive?
Once excellent water quality and a mature aquarium is available, the next most important thing is the proper feeding of the marine fish. This post provides guidance on fish health through proper nutrition:
Fish Health Through Proper Nutrition
Having a challenge getting the new fish to eat the proper food? Remove as many stressors from the fish you can and then use this post for additional information:
Getting Fish to Eat the RIGHT Foods
Keeping pod eaters (some Butterflyfishes, Mandarins, etc.) is not always easy. Still they cannot be fed just on what's in the marine system. They need food/eating training. This is a short post on this perspective:
Pod Eaters
Once you've decided on the proper food for the marine fish (above link) your next decision is in what form that food should come. The link takes you to information to help you make this decision:
Different Marine Fish Food Forms
A step in teaching a fish how to eat is providing 'artificial natural food' in a more-or-less natural way. This post provides information on how to get a Mandarin to start eating prepared foods as well as food presentation for any marine fish:
Food Presentation AND Getting Fish to Eat the RIGHT Foods
In an ideal world, the marine aquarist would like to provide not only the proper nutritional needs for their fishes, but also to feed them the way their fishes are used to eating. Many marine fishes (except certain predatory fishes) feed throughout the day. This post has suggestions on feeding marine fish throughout the day rather than only at specific times during the day:
Feeding Fish Throughout the Day
Unfortunately, fish get stressed and become ill or when acquired need to be cured or healed. During this process the fish must be given what I call 'immune boosters.' This post provides information and guidance in this direction:
Immune Boosters
Speaking of stress -- it is a word used a lot. It is real. These posts discuss stressors, how to reduce them, what to look out for, etc. The second post is fish stress in more technicial terms.
Fish Stress -- General
Fish Stress -- A Technical/Physiological Approach
It's always a treat to provide marine fishes foods they can find in the wild. Though these foods don't replace proper nourishment, they are often welcomed by wild caught fish. Some macro algae can be grown in a refugium for Tangs, Angels, and some Butterflyfishes for instance. This is information on such macro algae that Tangs have been known to eat:
Macro Algae for Tangs
No one should be hesitant to make/prepare their own homemade fish foods. It is time consuming to gather the ingredients and make the food, but the aquarist has the satisfaction of knowing what exactly is in the food and to see to it that the food has the proper nutrition. This thread is a place to post your recipe and have it reviewed by myself and others in the Forum:
Home Made Fish Foods
Links on marine fish cures, diseases, treatments and false treatments
The aquarist needs to have some essentials on the shelf to handle not only the proper acclimation, but the ongoing care of marine fishes. This post provides information on what to stock or have available and some directions on the de-worming of marine fishes:
Fish Medicine Cabinet
Regardless of where the fish is (quarantine tank, hospital tank, display tank) the fish can be treated with medications that are fed to the fish. The fed medications best are those that treat intestinal disorders. All newly acquired fishes should be de-wormed. This post covers de-worming and treatment of marine fish intestinal problems:
De-Worming and Fishes with Intestinal Problems
If the fish isn't in a quarantine tank, but gets ill or injured in the marine system, then the aquarist needs to move the fish to a hospital tank:
Catching Fish
Marine Ich (Cryptocaryon irritans) is very well researched and understood. Still there are many myths and 'myth-information' going around based upon anecdotal information. The truth is out there, but it must be looked for. This is a post that informs and corrects many of those myths:
Marine Ich - Myths and Facts
There are three known successful (nearly 100%) treatments for Marine Ich. These two are the most common methods used by marine aquarists and professionals:
A Fish Hyposalinity Treatment
Copper Medications - Good, Bad, and Ugly
Sometimes there's nothing that seems can be done for a sick or injured fish. This post helps decided when and if it may be appropriate to put down a fish and a gentle way of doing it:
Euthanasia -- Putting a Marine Fish Down
Garlic? What it does and doesn't do:
Garlic - Magic or Fool's Gold?
Lastly, it is important for the marine aquarist to separate truthful information from unfounded information. This takes understanding the role anecdotal information plays in this hobby. It also requires that the marine aquarist be trained on how to read product labels. This post will hep in both general areas:
Separating Anecdotal info from the truth/How to read labels
Who is the author of some of the above?
Additional information about Lee Birch:
Lee's Bio
Lee's Marine Systems
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