Reed is usually right on the money!
Breckie,
The meetings are usually on the third Saturday of the month. I know its not set in stone because of speakers availability or vendors, etc. But I look forward to seeing you hanging out and learning from you.
1. I prefer to see my fish before purchase, unless I know seller and feel comfortable.
2. I have to agree with Reed. The shipping procedure is why fish are so expensive at times. Its hard to predict what will happen in shipping process.
3. When I visit a store. I like to watch how staff bag fish. If there are any dead fish in tanks. How they acclimate fish upon arrival. The equiptment they are using to maintain fishes health. I also feel easier about giving money to people that support clubs or societies. Its like putting stock back into your self by supporting each other.
4. This is why I recommend going and visiting other aquariums. We learn which fish can possilby adapt to other fish. We learn which fish will eat what or why its territorial. Each Fish has a personality or job. I believe people with Corals need to learn which fish can possibly eat their fish, invertebrates,
the mating technics and possibility of corals being damaged. How fish establish territory and what you can do to confuse fish. When people learn which fish are compatible with what things usually work for the best.
If you have a tank with corals, you want a fish that is Reef Safe, does not damage your corals.
If you want a preditor tank. In my oppinion, groupers, Large Angels, large Triggers,barracuda, You will have to be experience to learn which fish could possibly eat the other fish. So size is importance, if fish has been fed live food, I would also look at fish to see if he had been agressive towards other fish in same aquarium or ask why he is alone, ask questions from seller. Its a lottery when you buy a fish that could possibly eat another fish. When possible I like to introduce two fish or more to a esstablish colony. I do this to confuse the other fish. I feel the more distractions, the aggresive fish will tend to wear him self out. Adding fish you take a chance of stressing the fish you have and especially the weaker new fish.
Ok, back to question. I feel Large Angelfish, Surgeon Fish (Tangs) Clownfish, and smaller colorful wrasse, anthias are most desired to view in aquariums.
5. I feel that freshwater set ups are more likely to carry deseases more readily than saltwater.
Any fish may it be Saltwater or Freshwater is sensitive to PH and temperature, amonia, nitrates. stress related to travel or Post tramadic shock(fish looks fine but dies a few days later because of stress induced from transport, handling). The confusion that people have often in my oppinon is preparing the water. Saltwater for example, People tend to shy away because of salinity. Salinity changes due to evaporation. People tend to over react. If they want to fix this, they can test their salinity. Make a marker line on aquarium or tape a line on aquarium and watch the line as water evaporates, fill it with RO/DI water to same level. But alway check your salinity. That extra step adds fear into people. You always need to due water changes in either set up.
The prices of equiptment for Saltwater filters tend to scare people. The lighting for growing corals is more exspensive.
But people tend to forget to do a water change properly.
Saltwater you never want to mix salt inside the tank with animals. This causes shock due to salinity levels raised too fast. Premix your saltwater in a bucket with powerhead and heater to same parameters as aquaium you are adding water to. Its a few more steps for Saltwater.
Water still needs to be treated in Freshwater to provide same temperature and PH.
But both temperature and Ph in Saltwater and Freshwater are contributing factors in fishes health.
People need to get past the bacterial cycle of freshwater or saltwater aquariums.
6. I agree with Reed. Its easy, I can read his thread before mine..cheers Reed. People are subject to error because of changes made too quickly.
Let the tank set up build bacteria, prevent areas for build up of waste, keep water moving, wait for 8 weeks or more for bacteria to cycle inside your aquarium. Do small changes, a filter change one day. Then do a water change the next. Changes create stress on animals.
Learn what food your fish desires, which food is healthy for your fish to maintain his health. Monitor your temperature and PH often or always.
Support your local Salwater Club, build a good relationship with people that support the hobby(vendors), they support you. Treat people the way you would like to be treated...ok, back under my rock.
psst, again its easy to say this because I read Reeds thread, I trust Reed. I have learned a lot from Reed. Cheers Reed
