The Reef Aquarium - Supplements, Chemicals & Care - Some Work and Some Are A Waste Of Money!

I started in the Reef Keeping hobby in in 1988. I washowever, the ones I still use are the most effective
in college and wanted to have a really neat andand cost effective ones on the market. There are
unusual pet in my dorm room. I had always keptmany products that I recommend greatly and many
tropical fish when I was younger and this seemed likeothers that I steer people away from. It has cost
the answer. I ventured out to a local pet store andme thousand of dollars to come up with the recipe
began looking at tanks and fish. I had planned tofor my tank and what products to use. It has also
spend about $100. Somehow I began looking at thetaken years of constant study and documentation to
saltwater fish and corals. Everyone said it was waybe able to make these recommendations.
too hard and I should not try it. At the time itUnfortunately there are many products, both
seemed like a challenge and I was hard headedchemicals and equipment, that are out there on the
enough to try it. I bought a tank, some crushedmarket that are complete wastes of money and
coral, the dried bacteria starter, some sea salt, atime. They are sold as "hope" to the reef keepers to
power filter a heater a hydrometer and a fluorescentmake their tanks looks better and stay healthy.
hood. I went back to the dorm and with some helpThere are also some great products out there that
was able to sneak the tank and supplies into myare unadvertised and hardly used. Some have a high
dorm room. I spent the next few hours setting updosing rate that will empty the product quicker than
and filling my tank. I was majoring in biology andneeded to encourage more sales of the product.
chemistry in college, little did I know that theSome chemicals work well with others and some
aquarium hobby would be as close to actually usingcombinations will cause problems in your tank. These
my education as I would ever come.are all things that trial and error, along with a bunch
To no surprise of everyone, I had problems keepingof time, money and experience have taught me.
even a damsel alive in the early days of my reefThere are also many combinations of fish and inverts
keeping. If I made it a month with a fish I was doingthat have been rumored to be incompatible for
well. I would spend my free time asking questions atyears. I have broken many of those rules and have
pet stores, reading books and getting informationhad no problems. I have kept multiple dwarf angels
online. It became more of an obsession for me to betogether with out any aggression or coral munching. I
able keep fish than an actual hobby for awhile duringhave kept several tangs together with no issues. I
those days. Eventually I became very knowledgeablehave kept Butterflies and coral together with no
about the water chemistry, filtration, waterissues as well, including the Racoon and Copper
movement and lighting. I read about natural filtrationBanded Butterflies. I will discuss my feeding regiment
from a sand bed being the hot topic overseas in reefand menu as well as why I believe that these
keeping. When I spent time in pet stores I knew ascombinations of fish and corals work under the right
much or more than the supposed saltwater expertscircumstances. Keep what you want no matter of
they had working for them.compatibility as long as you meet certain
As time went on and my income become morerequirements and follow certain guidelines.
substantial, my setups became more intricate andIt is my hope to help you better enjoy this hobby as
elaborate. I had huge overflows, refugiums, sumpswell as save money and headaches. I have compiled
and such before it was widely used and accepted aslists of do's, don'ts, chemicals to use, equipment to
a great practice. I also used high amounts of wateruse, fish to keep, inverts to keep and much more. I
movement. During this time I worked as a Golfhave a detailed recipe for the water that will make
Professional and had lots of time and money duringcoralline grow like crazy and make your corals and
the winter to spend on the hobby and gainingother inverts thrive as well. Almost eliminate fish
knowledge. I spent time in a few different specialtydeath for good with the exception of age. Spend the
stores every day and eventually even began tocorrect amount of money needed and stop wasting
work for them. I would work for the discount andmoney on poor advice and poor quality products.
for the access to the knowledgeable owners andThis is a proven regiment of chemicals, supplements
managers of the stores. Eventually I would end upand additives that will make your life easier and keep
with 2 separate 250 gallon reef set ups and 1 100your wallet healthy as well.
gallon fish only tanks. I had every immagineableI will detail all of my findings, studies, recipes, menus
apparatus and gadget available for reef set ups. Iand equipment lists as well as all of my knowledge in
also had purchased and used every immagineablethis ebook. I feel it will make your hobby more fun
chemical, slat mix, additive and supplement availableand allow you to better keep the inhabitants in your
to man. I kept very detailed results and studies ontank. It will also cut down on the senseless money
the products I used. This was the height of myyou spend and waste each month on ineffective
involvement in the hobby.products and chemicals. You will have the tank you
Eventually I changed jobs and was married. Alongalways dreamed of and at only $10 you can't pass up
with these changes I was also limited to only 1 250this opportunity. Please email any questions to and I
gallon reef tank. This is what I still have to this day.will return you email as quickly as possible. Payment
My corals propagate in my tank, coralline covers thewill be accepted by either money order, cashiers
back glass completely, fish thrive, my water quality ischeck or paypal. Please email me for my paypal
almost perfect all of the time and the tank is aaddress and instructions. Good luck and I hope you
complete enjoyment. My spending level on chemicalswill enjoy the information and it will help you to
and supplements is way down from previous years,better enjoy your hobby!