SaltwaterSense

Mixing Dwarf Angelfish Species in a Saltwater Aquarium

Centropyge angelfishes, commonly referred to as dwarf angelfishes by hobbyists, are known for their beauty AND their territorial behavior. The former is often the reason why aquarists choose to add one to their aquarium, and the latter is why many aquarists often add only one. While this may be a prudent course of action, there is, however, no reason that the thoughtful aquarist can’t keep multiple species of angelfishes from the genus Centropyge in the same aquarium.

Let’s keep in mind the big picture concepts. The reef is a highly competitive environment, and establishing and maintaining territory on the reef can be cutthroat. For a small fish, like many dwarf angelfish species, this can mean that the fish has evolved into a scrappy little tyrant. It’s not that the fish is “mean,” rather it is that the animal is simply genetically programmed to survive the competitive environment of the reef, and this behavior will carry over into the aquarium.

What does this territorial behavior look like in the aquarium? Chances are that a dwarf angelfish will be most aggressive with any fish that poses a threat. A threat may be perceived as any fish that naturally occupies the same niche on the reef, utilizes the same resources, (e.g., food) and may compete for reproductive mates. One can easily extrapolate from this that dwarf angelfishes of roughly the same size, shape and color, that exhibit the same feeding behavior, will be least likely to get along.

So let’s apply these concepts to stocking procedures in your aquarium. Because the dwarf angelfish is often scrappy and territorial, it should be added last (or close to last) in your stocking order. This gives all the other fishes in your aquarium a change to become established first. Unless the aquarium is very large, two dwarf angelfishes of the same species should usually be avoided by all but the most experienced aquarists. Likewise, angelfish species that are very similar in shape, size and color should be avoided.   

If you are going to add two dwarf angelfishes of different species, add them at the same time if at all possible. Keep the lights low during acclimation, and be sure the system is “mature” (read: plenty of algae on the live rock). Alternatively, add two pieces of live rock that are covered in algae at opposite ends of the aquarium. If you can’t add the two fishes at the same time, make sure that the second dwarf angelfish added to the system is the larger dwarf angelfish. For example, I would add a cherub dwarf angelfish (C. argi) to my system and then, several weeks later, consider adding a flameback angel (C. aurantonotus) or a flame angelfish (C. loriculus).

In general, the proper environment makes a difference when trying to house multiple Centropyge angelfishes of different species in the same aquarium. Basically this means the larger the aquarium the better, and the more live rock in the aquarium the better. Be sure the aquarium is not too “clean”, as providing algal growth on the live rock at which the fish may pick will occupy its time.

A large aquarium with loads of live rock and sufficient algae growth should be able to support two or more dwarf angelfishes of different species with no problem, if you follow the advice given here.

The Other Side of the Banggai Story

This morning I received my May / June issue of CORAL Magazine. The issue features mouthbrooders, and it is, as you would expect, beautiful. The thing that makes me the most pleased, however, is that it is the first major magazine to look at both sides of the Banggai cardinalfish issue. Now, granted, I’m biased, as I have an article in the issue, but I think we all should be pleased that at least one marine aquarium publication has stepped up and attempted to provide objective, unbiased coverage of an issue that is so central to both the hobby and the industry at large.

As I have written here before, I become concerned when we only look at one side of a story—any story. I’m not suggesting that the Banggai cardinalfish is not in dire straits as a species, and I’m not encouraging you all to run out and buy wild-caught Banggais, but I am encouraging you to educate yourself about the issue looking at both the hobby side and the supply side of the issue.

My article in the May / June issue of CORAL Magazine features an interview with Gayatri Reksodihardjo of Yayasan Alam Indonesia Lestari (LINI), and it the first time we are hearing from a person on the ground in Indonesia about this Indonesian species. Reksodihardjo believes a boycott on wild-caught Banggai cardinalfish is the wrong move at present, and, for a variety of reasons, she believes that a sustainable fishery for Banggai cardinalfish is not only possible, but important. I will be bringing more of her perspective to you here in future entries.

Am I suggesting we should all agree with her? Not at all, but I think we have a responsibility as aquarists to listen to what she (and others in Indonesia) has to say. I hope you get a chance to read the interview, and I hope you will continue the discussion about the Banggai issue here, in the Saltwaterfish.com forums, in the forums on my website, at aquarium club meetings, and at the local fish store. We don’t all need to agree, but we do need to be having the conversation based on accurate, objective information.

I will now step off my soapbox. Thanks for listening.

Aquarium Chillers Provide Insurance Against Summer Heat Waves

It’s May and, for many people, warm summer weather is just around the corner. Are you ready?

For the marine aquarist, warm temperatures outside can increase the temperature in your tank enough to, at best, cause unwanted algae blooms and, at worst, harm to your animals. While most of the animals we keep come from the Tropics, the temperature of a reef tank under metal halide lights can easily exceed the temperature of the tropical ocean. While some gamble during the warm summer months, hoping a heat wave doesn’t strike, the responsible thing to do is to have a plan for keeping your marine tank temperature stable regardless of the ambient air temperature.

Fans Can be Effective at Keeping Your Aquarium Cool

The simplest and least expensive way to cool a tank is to use fans. A fan (or fans) directed at the surface of the display tank or the surface of the sump can effectively dissipate heat. On my 135-gallon tank, I run a fan off my aquarium controller. When the water temperature hits a pre-set number, the fan kicks on and brings the temperature down. If the temperature continues to increase, the controller then shuts down my lights. While this strategy is effective, the downside is that the fan increases water loss due to evaporation making it necessary to top-off with more RODI freshwater than usual (absolutely essential to keep the specific gravity stable).

An Aquarium Chiller is the Best Insurance

While a fan or fans can effectively handle many tanks' temperature during the summer months, it is often best to have an aquarium chiller plumbed and ready to go. An aquarium chiller operates much like a refrigerator and cools your water to keep it within a pre-set range. Different chillers operate in different ways, but the two most common set-ups are drop-in chillers and external chillers. A drop-in chiller operates by using a coil that is submerged within your sump, while an external chiller requires water to be move through the unit and then back to your system.

Chillers are highly effective and offer insurance for summer heat waves. While they may at first seem expensive, the cost of a chiller is often negligible compared to the amount of money most aquarist have spent on their animals. There is no doubt that their operation will increase your electrical bill, but for most of us (in a well planned set-up), they will only be necessary in the summer.

Like all pieces of aquarium equipment, you get what you pay for, so be sure to spend a little more and get a reliable, energy efficient chiller. With the proper maintenance, it should provide you and your animals years of service. Check out the chillers on the site, especially the ones from AquaEuro USA.

Stay cool!

The Importance of an Unbiased Marine Aquarium Hobby Press

I am a writer. That is what I do for a living, and, thankfully, I often have the opportunity to merge my profession with my passion for marine aquaria and marine ecosystems. Like every other writer I know, I am also a zealous reader. I read everything I can get my hands on, both online and off, but I must admit that I have a big soft spot for print magazines. For one, it was magazines that gave me my start as a writer, but I am also continually inspired by the breadth of topics and perspectives represented when standing in front of the magazine rack in the typical newsstand….until recently that is.

A Broad Array of Opinions or a Narrow View?

In addition to writing about the marine aquarium industry, I write for several other industries that are represented to the public with a multitude of magazines. Take food, for example. There are countless magazines representing all sorts of different cuisines, diets and geographies, right? Next time you are at the newsstand though, take a look at the mastheads of many of those magazines, and a somewhat disturbing trend may reveal itself to you. Notice some of the same names and addresses? What appears to be a broad swath of opinions and experiences is, in reality, a pretty narrow message crafted in-house and inspired by, at best, a couple movers and shakers and, at worst, advertisers.

Readers' Expectations

I’m not suggesting here that all the marine aquarium magazines with which we are familiar are owned or edited by the same people—they are not. What I am suggesting, however, is that we, as readers need to expect more from these magazine in terms of presenting an unbiased view of the industry we love. We don’t want to see our magazines become as one-sided as many magazines have become in other hobbies, especially since the survival of the marine aquarium industry may depend on it.

Unbiased Supply-Side Reporting?

While the major magazines in the aquarium hobby provide us with inspiration and critical, cutting-edge husbandry information, they don’t necessarily do as good a job when it comes to helping us understand how the marine ornamental trade operates. Informed, responsible hobbyists will be essential if the marine aquarium hobby is to continue to be supported by a robust and sustainable industry, but where does the hobbyist go to be informed about supply-side industry issues?

Opinion, Editorial and News

When major issues arise such as the Banggai situation or H.R. 669, we should look to the hobby press for clear, unbiased information looking at the totality of these issues. Unfortunately, what we often get are myopic op-ed pieces posing as news. Don’t get me wrong—I love op-ed pieces, and I want to see them in the hobby magazines (shoot…I’ve written more than a couple rants myself over the years). But I also want to see the hobby magazines go out of their way to help educate all hobbyists about the issues that may well make or break the industry in the years to come.

Where is the Other Side of the Story?

There are, for example, two sides to the Banggai story, but what hobby magazine has done its due diligence to publish both sides? I have not seen one. I’m not suggesting there is not a major issue here, and personally I have called for caution as we move forward and until more data is available, but all the impassioned articles talk about the problems on the supply side of the issue without ever once going to the supply side to report the story from that angle. This is not journalism, people.

Your Job as a Reader and a Hobbyist

Magazines need readers, and as readers we can shape magazines by expecting excellence in all aspects of journalism. Why not a write a letter to the editor of your favorite marine aquarium magazine today?

Top 5 Ways You Can Improve Your Saltwater Aquarium Husbandry Today

It’s easy to get into a rut, is it not? When it comes to maintaining a tank, we can get stuck performing the same old husbandry tasks we have always performed without ever taking the time to reassess our overall approach. Approaches to husbandry in the hobby are always changing, and the dedicated hobbyist makes sure to stay abreast of the latest information regarding new husbandry techniques by spending time in the forums, reading the hobby literature, attending conventions and conferences, and speaking with other hobbyists.

I encourage you to keep up with the latest, but I also want to suggest you seriously consider the following five fundamental improvements to your husbandry practices. All five are widely touted as being important, yet they are all frequently overlooked.

Replace Your Bulbs Every Nine Months – Do you replace your bulbs in the lights over your tank every nine months? You should. Over time, the light spectrum produced by bulbs changes. This can have two negative effects on your aquarium: 1) nuisance algae blooms and 2) damage or death to photosynthetic corals. Keep a log and change your bulbs every nine months.

Top Off Your Water Daily – Do you top off your tank with freshwater daily? You should. Not topping off your tank daily causes the salinity to increase. While this increase may happen gradually and not have a noticeable effect on your animals, suddenly replacing several days or a week’s worth of evaporated water with freshwater can rapidly decrease salinity and create massive stress to corals and other invertebrates. Top off with freshwater daily.

Bolster Your Clean-Up Crew Annually (or as Needed) – Do you ever bolster your clean-up crew? You should. Sure you may have added that big clean-up crew package back when your tank was new, but two things have probably happened since then: 1) some of your clean-up crew has died as a result of predation and natural causes, and 2) your tank has changed (e.g., increased bioload). Know what each animal in your clean-up crew does (e.g. herbivore, detritavore, sand stirrer) and add more of that type of animal when needed over time.

If You Have Not Done So, Start a QT / Hospital Tank – Do you have a separate small (say 10-gallon) tank set-up as a quarantine / hospital tank? You should. Having this tank on hand is essential to good husbandry. All new fishes and corals should be quarantined before being added to an established system, and many parasites and diseases are best treated in an isolated environment. While you can plan for new arrivals, you can’t plan for when parasite outbreaks or diseases will strike. Set up a QT / Hospital tank today.

Set-Up a Refugium – Do you have a refugium plumbed to your display tank? You should. Many fishes and other animals benefit from a refugium, which cultivates foodstuff that would not survive in the display tank. Healthy pod populations and macroalgae growth can prove critical to successfully keeping many hard-to-keep species, but almost all animals will benefit from a mature refugium. In addition to direct benefit to your animals through diet, a refugium on an alternate light cycle (refugium lights on at night) can help to stabilize daily fluctuations in pH and can provide a mechanism for nutrient export.