Each member enjoys individual attention and help. Member  JOHN KRELL 1. Where you place the aquarium is a matter of personal preference. It makes a great focus piece in the living room.Larger aquariums can be used as a room divider. Where ever you decide to place the aquarium make sure it easy access to multiple wall outlets to minimize the use of power cords. You shouldn't place the aquarium in an area subject to cold drafts or one that is to warm. You also shouldn't place the aquarium too close to a radiator, fireplace, air conditioner, or in front of a window that receives direct sunlight. Several hours of sunlight is good for the aquarium but strong sunlight will cause excessive alga growth and over heating in the summer. Make sure that the aquarium is level, this will avoid any unnecessary stress on parts of the aquarium. This is true for all glass aquariums. Most large aquariums have stands that are made especially for them. Most inquiring or beginning marine hobbyists feel they need to have y to be successful. This is not really the case as there is not that much difference between a freshwater and a saltwater aquarium, but being a maria degree in marine biologne hobbyist you do need to have an understanding of the basics. It is this lack of understanding that causes the majority of aquarium hobbyists to 'limp along' with the bits-and-pieces of information that they gather from their local aquarium shop. They lose many fish and a hugh amount of money as they learn on their own. Many dealers are happy to replace the fish and sell the unneeded equipment. We receive many e-mails from members who comment about the lack of, or poor quality of information that they receive in local aquarium shops. It has been written that by using the advice and experience of a aquarium club one will have a 75% better chance at being succesful with the aquatic hobby. *SETTING UP and maintaining a REEF TANK What to consider when setting up a saltwater aquarium. The proper preliminary planning and setup of your marine tank will be crucial to the health and longevity of its inhabitants. Doing things right from the beginning by selecting the correct species and introducing them in the proper sequence will prevent problems from occurring and result in an aquarium you can enjoy for years to come. READ THIS ARTICLE! Setting up your aquarium The Financial Considerations - How much does it cost? Some Special Considerations- Concerning Invertebrates The Biological Considerations Suggested Reading The Ethical Considerations Symbiosis No one can duplicate the natural environment that is provided in nature, but if we understand the basic physiological requirements and assume the very serious responsibility of caring and maintaining these delicate creatures, it is possible to enjoy a very interesting and rewarding hobby. *The Clown Fish *The Sea Anemone *These Pages were written by Members of Andre's Aquarium We suggest you ORDER THIS BOOK TODAY Most of us are very anxious to get our marine world started.   One of the best reference books available that I can recommend is, SIMON & SCHUSTER'S COMPLETE GUIDE TO..............   FRESHWATER AND MARINE AQUARIUM FISHES A guide for beginners and experts alike, Simon & Schuster's Guide to Freshwater and Marine Aquarium Fishes is the most useful book an aquarium enthusiast can own. Whether you are interested in goldfish, guppies, or the most exotic marine species, the opening section on starting an aquarium covers everything you need to know. Illustrated in color throughout, the 295 entries cover plants, amphibia, reptiles, and invertebrates as well as aquarium fishes. Each entry provides the common name, scientific name, and family; distribution of the species in the wild; a description of shape, color, and size; information about sexual differences, feeding habits, reproduction, compatibility with other species, and much more. Next to each entry are easy-to-read symbols that indicate the proper water temperature, pH, and illumination. This comprehensive guide gives you all the information you need to maintain a beautiful, balanced, and thriving aquarium. N The Aquarium Doctor The Aquarium Doctor is a Member of Andre's Aquarium Club. If you have any aquarium related questions check out the Aquarium Doctor. The Aquarium Doctor HOMEPAGE AQUAPAGES Members may ask questions on any aquarium related subject and look for information returned on their own personal email faster than most can look it up. If you are really serious about this hobby, check out Andre's Aquarium Club's SPECIAL MEMBERSHIP Click Here TELL ME MORE If you live in an extremely hot area you will n The Technology of the Aquarium Dale Barger, member of Andre's Aquarium Club is a professional diver and has won awards for his reef aquarium. Winner,   Florida State Fair Aquaculture Reef Tank. M NEXT PAGE Setting up the Saltwater Aquarium B PAGE 2 If you like what you see!! THE FISH Store Recommended Products Click HERE 1. Specially formulated salt must be added to the water intended for the marine aquarium and mixed thoroughly before placing it in the aquarium. Any major brand will work as well as another. Measured with a hydrometer, specific gravity should be between 1.020 and 1.025. This is about 1/2 cup per gallon. 2. To keep the hardness and calcium at higher levels, crushed coral and/or aragonite should be used in a marine aquarium. Also, the marine aquarium decorations can be coral skeletons, shells, and other calcium containing objects. 3. The number of fish that can be safely kept in a marine aquarium is 1/3 to 1/5 that of freshwater, or about 1 inch of fish for each 5 gallons of aquarium water 4. When replacing evaporated water it is not necessary to use saltwater, you should always use a dechlore in the water. Marine Antichlorine and Antichloramine safe for use in both freshwater and saltwater aquariums. Marine Antichlorine and Antichloramine by Marine Enterprises International is economical and is buffered and safe for use in both freshwater and saltwater aquariums. Marine Antichlorine and Antichloramine uses only one drop per gallon to removes chlorine instantly, and uses only two drops per gallon to breaks down chloramine so the ammonia may be removed by a carbon system. # Safe for Use in Both Freshwater and Saltwater Aquariums # Buffered for Safety and Stability # 500 ml W Hagen Optima Air Pump The Hagen Optima Air Pump is recommended for aquariums over 30 gallons. 1 outlet. 5000 cm³/minute. 4.0 P.S.I. 4.5 Watts/hour. 1 extra diaphragm. In order to maintain a tank of healthy fish, the water must contain oxygen. The process in which oxygen is introduced into the water is known as aeration. Fish "breathe" through their gills. They use their gills to extract oxygen from the water that's then used and converted into carbon dioxide (just like humans) and then discharged back into the water. To ensure that there is sufficient oxygen in the water for the fish to "breathe", the carbon dioxide needs to be replaced by oxygen. This process is commonly referred to as "gas exchange" and is generally done by aerating the water. A good aeration system is essential to a healthy aquarium. o rld Pets

M "For in the end we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught." --B. Dio   I will put on my snorkel and personally guide you... TO THE MARINE WORLD Nathan's Mini Reef Aquarium Let Us Start Now!! 2. The next thing you must decide, is how large of an aquarium you are going to need. The larger tanks are better to maintain a marine environment. I suggest at least a 55 gallon tank. A plexiglass or acrylic is best. The glass aquariums a less apt to scratch, however they are more inclined to leak. I suggest that you get a self contained aquarium. The self contained tanks have a lighted hood, a wet dry filtering system, aeration, and a built in heater thermostat. Try to get a stand with doors, it is great to have a place to store things. The Aquarium Click Here Responsibilities of a Saltwater Aquarium Owner   A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY MAY BE SAVED BY ORDERING YOUR SUPPLIES ON THE INTERNET We are working with the industry leaders in online aquarium supplies retailing and they are providing our members and viewers with outstanding selection, coupled with world-class customer service. We have found the best dealers on the Internet. Recommended Products and suppliers Click HERE M CHECK OUT GREAT SPECIALS, ON INVERTEBRATES also CLICK HERE All livestock shipped, overnight delivery. Our club is environmentally conscientious and we only deal with organizations and companies that adhere to international and domestic policies that protect our beautiful oceans and reefs. 4. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU MUST UNDERSTAND Read this page about the  Nitrogen cycle In the natural environment, large bodies of water provide the cleansing action necessary to disperse the waste substances produced by fish. In the closed confines of an aquarium, fish depend on the aquarist to provide an efficient system to purify water. Biological filtration is a natural means of removing toxic ammonia based wastes from the aquarium. The establishment of a well balanced nitrogen cycle is paramount for the health and success of any aquarium. The establishment of a well balanced nitrogen cycle is paramount for the health and success of any aquarium. Read our page on the nitrogencycle, it is the most important thing you can read and understand about caring for all saltwater fish. To avoid nuisance algaes growing in your tank, it is recommended to get Reverse Osmosis De-Ionized water. You can often times buy this kind of water at the fish store where you found your saltwater pet. You can also buy RO water at your supermarket. What you don’t want to use is tap water from the sink. It contains elements that are detrimental to your saltwater tank. Chlorine, Phosphate, Nitrate, Fluoride and more are readily detectable in tap water, but your saltwater tank needs pure water to keep your fish healthy.       In the closed confines of an aquarium, fish depend on the aquarists to provide an efficient system to purify the water.    Biological filtration is a natural means of removing toxic ammonia based wastes from the aquarium.   The establishment of a well balanced nitrogen cycle is paramount for the health and success of any aquarium. Read the article on the The Nitrogen Cycle "nitrosomonas bacteria" This is the most important life in your aquarium!  Requiring oxygen to survive. Many bacteria must have a suitable supply of oxygen to be able to survive and thrive. Bacteria such as nitrosomonas and nitrobacter are aerobic and must be supplied with a constant flow of oxygen in the water to create suitable populations able to remove the ammonia and its by-products produced within the aquarium. it is the most important thing you can read and understand about caring for marine and tropical fish.      If you choose not to get a self contained aquarium you will need a heater thermostat, a air pump for aeration, a undergravel filter system with a power head equipped with a foam filter, for reverse flow action. We like the reverse flow system. You can rinse the foam filter with aquarium water. In reverse flow, water is pumped down the undergravel system and forced back through the substrate. This allows bacterial growth from the bottom up. Reverse flow also keeps the substrate cleaner by keeping debris nearer the top of the layer, rather than drawing through the gravel, as in standard filtration. This is especially important for digging fish such as damsels and marine gobies. Their excavations may cause channeling of water through the plate without passing through most of the gravel layer. Corals and live rock also create areas in conventional undergravel systems where water cannot pass. Since water is forced evenly through the unobstructed plate, the possibility of dead spots becoming anaerobic is reduced. Aquarium Filters  Now you need equipment .  You must have a thermometer, a hydrometer,(to measure salinity) a set of nets,(one large net and a small net with fine mesh, for live brine shrimp) a soft sponge to clean the algae off of the insides of the aquarium, a water testing kit,  (most marine fish need alkaline water ).  Natural seawater is a "living" substance, containing living organisms with which it interacts. Many commercially available sea-salt preparations will adequately sustain marine life.They also contain trace elements which essential to many biological functions. The salt mixture should be dissolved in a clean container, mix in the declorinater, then check with a hydrometer,  it should read between 1. 021 and 1.024 specific gravity ( use a SeaTest specific gravity meter). We  recommend Coralife Marine Salt Mix Coralife Scientific Grade Marine Salt sets the standard for synthetic sea salt mixes in the aquarium industry. It's made from pure, raw materials with broad spectrum biological activity. Dissolve the mixture completely before adding it to the aquarium. Make sure the temperature is the same as the aquarium water.   Recommended Reef Tank Parameters -Calcium...................380 to 450 mg/L -Magnesium.........1000 to 1320 mg/L -Alkalinity........................8 to 11 dKH -Ammonia..........................< .2 mg/L -Nitrites..............................< .2 mg/L -Nitrates.............................< 10 mg/L -Phosphates........................<.03 mg/L -Specific Gravity.............1.022 - 1.024 -Water Temp..........................78f to 80f -Water Flow > 5 times tank volume per hour Live Rock Live Rock 20 lbs is "uncured", porous live rock that contains coralline algae. This is farmed live rock so it does not damage natural reef systems. Live Rock will benefit reef aquariums and fish-only aquariums. Live rock provides a natural food source for some marine fish. Live rock aids in the breakdown of waste produced by marine fish. Perfect place for live corals to attach themselves to. Caribbean Live Rock 20 lbs can only be shipped Next day Air and 2nd Day Air to your door. Live Rock cannot be shipped to International Destinations, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam or the Virgin Islands. Caribbean Live Rock 40 lbs can only be shipped Next day Air and 2nd Day Air to your door. Live Rock cannot be shipped to International Destinations, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam or the Virgin Islands. Availability: Usually ships the same business day. liverock40lbs This is the best choice for aquarium water. Fresh water or saltwater.. 1 a : Osmosis, is the movement of liquid from one solution through a special membrane into a more concentrated solution. 2 b : There are two primary types of drinking water systems available: Reverse Osmosis and Carbon Filtration. Reverse Osmosis, referred to as R.O., uses a combination of carbon filters and microporous membranes to flush dissolved impurities using an absorption process. The water treatment system gives water that is virtually free of lead, aluminum, chlorine, sodium and other impurities. We recommend the:   Stingray 2 Stage Reverse Osmosis 100 GPD The Stingray 2 Stage Reverse Osmosis 100 Gallons Per Day, Filter Systems incorporates high flow and high rejection TFC membranes, a high activity 10" granular activated carbon filter (it works as both carbon and sediment filter). This is the best choice for aquarium water. Fresh water or saltwater.. DISCLAIMER These pages are written as a Information pages and can be copied and redistributed for NON Profitable use. All the images and information on these pages has been given and submitted FREE as a free service to all the Fish Keepers, but remains the property of the owner. No person on these pages, nor the webmaster, accepts any liability for any losses, damage whatsoever being done by using advise given. When browsing these pages and/or submitting your information you agree to the above.

Received from the diver himself

Dale Barger, member

Gulfview Marine     Live Rock ,    We have four classes of Live Rock...   Gorgonians & Sponges,    based on availability...  Gulf Sand , Taken next to natural reefs... Inverts, Crabs & Snails, etc...great algae janitors

Gulfview Wholesale Marine specializes in Aquaculture, Live Rock, Gulf Sand, Gargonian, Coral, Sponges, Snails, and Crabs. Since 1988, Gulfview has been a live rock harvester and established a solid reputation for the quality to which they are committed. We strive for quality... not quantity. Gulfview is one of the few aquaculturalists permitted by the government to harvest rock specifically grown for the marine aquarium in the Gulf of Mexico. Members will receive a 10% discount off their purchase.