Saltwater Fish

A filter, along with a heater, is probably the most important part of any fish tank set up. Without it the water in your fish tank will become much like a stagnant pond and little will be able to live in it except for a nice film of green algae scum. There are two main types of fish tank filters; external and internal. Both of these types of filters can be used in either fresh water or salt water aquariums. When it comes to internal filters there are two basic types. The first is the under gravel filter seen primarily in fresh water tanks. This consists of a raised plastic grate that sits on the bottom of the tank. The gravel or base material is placed over the top and clear vertical tubes attach to...

On the basis of heat emitted by lighting, lighting can be divided into two categories being incandescent lighting and tungsten lights. Fluorescent lighting emits less heat and can help reduce electrical costs since they act as power savers. Tungsten lighting on the order hand emit more heat and consume more electricity. Fluorescent lighting is mainly available in the form of tubes of various sizes while incandescent lighting is mainly available in the form of screw on bulbs. Another difference in the two types of lighting is that uncolored fluorescent tubes emit white light while incandescent lighting emits yellow light. The cost of fluorescent lighting is comparatively more expensive than...

One of the most attractive conversation pieces that you can realistically have in your own home is an aquarium. Many satisfied aquarium owners have already discovered the almost magical drawing power that these displays can have on even the most cynical, "seen it all" people. It seems that no matter how world weary, or tired or stressed out you are, the glorious sight of a tank full of vibrantly colored tropical fish is enough to instantly whisk you away into a mystical underwater world where the world's cares, no matter how urgent or pressing just don't seem to matter very much. Honestly now: who can normally resist the charms of a several finned beauties traversing the gentle currents concerned...

Aquarium ornaments are great idea in improving the appearance of your aquarium. However, you need to be very careful in choosing any ornament to be placed in your tank. Make sure that you are choosing products that are specifically designed for aquarium use, so there will be no bad effect brought by the ornaments to the ecosystem in your tank. In this article, you are going to find more about what to consider before choosing a certain aquarium ornament. You can also find some idea in decorating your freshwater or saltwater aquarium to make it has beautiful appearance. The most important thing in placing aquarium ornaments is making sure that the product does not contain any toxic substance for the...

What should I know about tap water for my aquarium? There US standards for tap water quality (and I am sure other nations such as the UK have their own regulations too), but that does not mean that these allowed levels are safe for fish (or humans for that matter). This article will discuss the effects of allowed substances in tap water on fish. CHLORINE AND CHLORAMINES: To start with most city tap water has chlorine, which is an oxidizer (A chemical substance that gains electrons in a redox chemical reaction), but this can kill fish by burning their gills and poisoning their blood. Some municipalities use chloramines because they are more stable than chlorine. Chloramines are a chemical compound of...

Aquariums have been around for decades and in Old England, the royalty kept aquariums as a real luxury and a symbol of wealth. Obviously back then, aquarium tanks were very rudimentary and their knowledge of tropical fish limited. Today, home aquariums are as easy as 1-2-3 to set up and even maintain and even if you have no previous experience, you can do it. There are many great uses for having an aquarium tank, but here are just 3 ideas. 1. Pets Fish make great pets. Why? Well, they are beautiful to look at and require very little attention. Anyone family that is stuck for space or who just can't bear the work involved with a dog or a cat can opt for a fish tank. Kids love it and it's a perfect...

When you have found the perfect spot for your aquarium and you have decided how big you want it to be, you now need to decide what shape you want and what sort of lighting you want to display your aquarium. Have you thought what fish tank light you are going to use? What Type of Fish Tank Light Do You Need? The fish tank light that you choose will ultimately depend on the fish tank that you choose. There are lots of different types of fish tank light options available and each one has its own uses, and the life of the bulb can vary enormously. Choosing the correct lighting system can go a long way to helping to make your tank look great. A hexagon fish tank light looks stunning when it is in the...

Copyright (c) 2009 The Greatfishing Company Guatemala is well known for its prolific billfish fishery - but many other opportunities exist for sportfishing off the Pacific Coast of Guatemala. In fact inshore fishing can be a perfect day that offers the prospect of sub-tropical saltwater fish as well as what would be normally considered bluewater only billfishing. At times the warm ocean eddies can push in as close as two miles from the dock in Guatemala, so while your main quarry may be aggressive amberjacks in nearshore waters, it is possible at the same time to come across the sail of a billfish languishing on the surface within plain view of the marina. Most inshore fishing is done from local...

Discus fish prefer large tall tanks and I would recommend a minimum of 55 gallons (200L). As for the setup, it entirely depends on the purpose. If for breeding, it is best for the tank to be bare bottom, meaning without any gravel. However, if you want a show tank then it is best to emulate the natural habitat of the Discus fish by provide hiding places, open swimming areas, driftwood, fully planted aquascape and some floating plants to diffuse the light. A heavily planted tank may also need CO2 injection for the plants to do well; in an upcoming post we'll be showing you how you can make a CO2 unit yourself out of household items. Discus fish flourish in water with conditions similar to their...

Fish care is extensive, since it depends on the type of fish you have. If you have damsels, which are saltwater fish then you should have a large reef tank, or marine tank. Damsels are resilient, which the fish are capable of withstanding harsh water conditions. In addition, the fish do not fuss over what they eat. Damsels however are not in distress; rather the fish can be aggressive. It is recommended that you put no more than two damsels in the same tank. If you add, more damsels or different fish prepare to lose money. If you intend to add other types of fish, make sure the creatures are aggressive also. Otherwise, purchase a new tank to store less aggressive, or delicate fish. If you haven't...

DISCUS  FISH Discus Fish is a fish with many different looks and shapes.  They come in amazing color combinations Making them one of the most desired fish to have in your  fish aquarium .  They are beautiful in color And easy to care for.  Discus Fish is fast becoming one of the most popular of fish. Caring for them properly will result in numerous ohs and ahs from you friends and family..  There is Nothing like viewing a beautiful healthy Discus Fish.  There is a White Diamond that is unbelievably Beautiful.   There are  Pandas, Chocolate and Fire Green.  They are remarkable and make wonderful Pets. Solid Discus fish add a vivid color blast to the Freshwater Aquarium. They carryover from...

History The process of osmosis through semipermeable membranes was first observed in 1748 by Jean Antoine Nollet. For the following 200 years, osmosis was only a phenomenon observed in the laboratory. In 1949 the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) first investigated desalination of seawater using semipermeable membranes. Researchers from both UCLA and the University of Florida successfully produced freshwater from seawater in the mid-1950s, but the flux was too low to be commercially viable. The future of RO is promising. By the end of 2001, about 15,200 desalination plants were in operation or in the planning stages worldwide. Process A semipermeable membrane coil used in desalinization...

Do I Need A Quarantine Tank? The often dismissed but very necessary part of the tropical fish hobby, the infamous quarantine tank. Do you really need one to be successful in this hobby? For freshwater fish you may be able to get by without having one. Freshwater fish are generally more suited to captivity because they are usually tank raised and don't seem to break out in disease as readily as their saltwater counterparts. However, if newly acquired fish do come down with something, you will surely wish that you had one ready to go. One newly bought fish that is introduced to your main tank can easily wipe out the entire tank population. Better safe than sorry, right? For saltwater aquarium...

Cloning your fruiting plants can be beneficial in many ways. First you get a plant that you know exactly how it responds and how to treat it. Secondly you will never need to purchase that plant ever again. Most people think it is very difficult to clone a plant and they are completely wrong. There is just a lot of misunderstanding out in the world on how to clone a plant. Most people consider plant cuttings very fragile which is the farthest thing from the truth. There are many products out there from rooting gels to humidity domes and starter cubes out there that you just don't need. I do my cloning indoors; I purchase a small fluorescent light to use as a grow light. I just use an outdoor light...

Everyone knows that canister filters are the most efficient fish tank filters around today. It is true that they will cost a lot initially but if you can afford to install one, they will save you a whole lot in terms of time spent maintaining them and of course money. But for those who already have a canister filter in their aquarium, the next question that always comes to mind is should they now install two filters and will this be beneficial to the overall filtration of the fish tank water? Honestly, no two fish enthusiasts will ever agree on whether it is a good idea or not to have two canister filters in one tank. This topic has been discussed numerous times since the invention of the canister...

Hermit crabs are classified into land and marine according to their choice of habitats. The amazing fact that connects the land and marine crabs is that both of these are born in a marine habitat. Those that are land dwellers slowly leave their marine dwellings to go and live on land and those that are marine dwellers continue living on their native marine environment. The marine hermit crabs have several distinct characters that separate them from their neighbors in land. Of the many hundreds of marine hermit species, only a few have bonded with human beings to live their adult life in the captivity of an aquarium. Each of these species is different and individualistic in their choice of shell and...

ou looking to purchase a new acrylic fish tank for your home or your office? If so, have you decided on which particular acrylic fish tank style you would like to purchase? If you have yet to make a decision, you may find that making one isn’t as easy as you originally thought. This is because of the selection of acrylic fish tanks that you will find available; they are, literally, unlimited. When it comes to purchasing a fish tank, including an acrylic fish tank, there are a large number of homeowners and business owners who are concerned with space. If you are limited on the amount of space that you have, but you would still like to purchase an acrylic aquarium, you are advised to examine in...

ou looking to purchase a new fish tank for your home or office? If so, have you thought about what type of fish tank you would like to purchase? If you have yet to examine the selection of fish tanks that are available to you, you may want to think about doing so. After a close examination, you will likely see that you have an unlimited number of different options. When shopping for a new fish tank, you may want to examine acrylic fish tanks. Acrylic fish tanks are great because they are not as heavy as most traditional fish tanks, of course, the heaviness will all depend on the size of the fish tank in question. In addition to being lighter, acrylic fish tanks are clearer and stronger. This is one...

There is no getting beyond it. As far as care for the humble Goldfish is concerned boy have times have changed and how have they changed. OK Hands up those who if asked who would know what a biOrb is? Well the answer would be is that a biOrb is the future as far as a home for our domestic friend the Goldfish is concerned. No longer content with a simple bowl made from simple glass with the odd throw away from Grannies house clearance lurking in the bottom no sirree, the Goldfish has moved on to bigger and better things and a closer in section of what exactly a biOrb does will give us a clearer understanding of why. Firstly you have to consider the technology involved here and it has to be said that...

Fish are cold-blooded, meaning the temperature of their body is the same of that of their environment. Since fish can't change their body temperature it is up to the aquarist to maintain proper aquarium temperature. All fish are different in the temperatures that they are used to, it will depend on where they are from. If the water temperature changes by only a few degrees this can be lethal for your fish. Keeping your fish happy requires you to know what temperatures your fish are used to. Temperate fish will probably not need a heater as they are from cooler regions of the world. Most fish are tropical though and need warmer waters to survive. These fish tanks will need a heater. If you are...

So you have outgrown the pet super stores basic offerings and less than stellar aquarium knowledge of many of the employees. You dream of a better shopping experience and higher quality merchandise. Well, the answer to your problems is a www dot away! Since the dot com boom there have been web based businesses designed to supply consumers with a variety of aquarium equipment, most of it of very good quality catered to demanding aquarium hobbyist. Acrylic aquariums for example are superior to glass in both strength and clarity and because of these attributes ship very well. Imagine your next hand crafted dream aquarium complete with true furniture quality cabinetry (not the knotty pine flimsy...

One of the most important pieces of equipment in your range of aquarium equipment is your testing kit. This crucial kit allows you to ensure that the water in the aquarium is clean and has the right balance of chemicals needed to keep the fish healthy. There are a number of different things you might need to regularly test for, depending on what types of fish live in the aquarium. An aquarium for saltwater fish and corals will demand a more rigorous testing routine than a standard freshwater tank containing less sensitive fish. The standard testing kits are those that test the pH balance of your aquarium. This is extremely important to know so that you can maintain the right pH balance for the...

v> For starters, be aware that statistically fish tend not to survive long transits - so be prepared for the eventuality of losing some of your fish. Having said that, if you are an aquarium enthusiast and are willing to take the risk here is some advice for minimising it. Moving an aquarium involves quite a bit of work, and as a rule of thumb, the larger the fish tank, and the more fish inside it, the more work it will involve. So if you can, try to donate some of the fish before moving, especially if you have shoals of identical fish. Careful planning is the key to success in moving an aquarium. Step 1: Transporting your fish Although you should do all this the last minute before moving house...

Aquariums for sale are one of the best things to look for if you do not want to stress yourself over hard paperwork during office hours. Because it is a known fact that colourful fishes relieve people of the stress of work, more and more office workers and even students are adapting fishes as part of their daily remedy from the heavy loads of the day. And since fishes wouldn't be able to live long in an ugly environment, it is important that people finally look for the freshwater aquariums for sale in local hardware stores and pet stores. Aside from the fact that having aquariums with fishes relieve people from the stresses of the day, aquariums and fish tanks are also great decorations in every...

The wall mounted aquarium hangs like a framed piece of art but encompasses live fish. It is easy to see and enjoy your fish as they are mounted at eye level. With its ingenuity and eye pleasing design as well as limited maintenance the wall aquarium will become the centerpiece of conversation. Your home will receive a vibrant kick to the aesthetics from this moving picture on your wall. We are just beginning to understand how stress affects our health and how important it is to relax. One of the many benefits that a wall mounted aquarium provides is its effect on a persons mind, body and spirit. Tranquility and harmony takes over and will help reduce your stress and improve your health. The aquarium...

Many people make the mistake of thinking that having a healthy aquarium is about having healthy water and good looking, healthy fish. Most people think that this can be accomplished by finding the right balance when it comes to cleaning the tank and making sure that fish eat the right amount and type of fish food. While these things are certainly very important, proper aquarium lighting is one facet of a healthy aquarium that is often overlooked. Proper aquarium lighting serves many purposes, and depending on the type of aquarium you are dealing with, there are different types of lighting that are necessary. Even so, the variety of aquarium lights is endless and shopping for the right lights can be...

Choosing the right fish tank for your pets is not easy. There are so many options out there, how do you select the right setup for your situation? We take a look below at the mid-sized BiOrb 60 16 Gallon tank below, which has some interesting features for all levels of fish enthusiasts. BiOrb is an aquarium and fish supply manufacturer that takes a different approach to fish tank design, incorporating more stylish and contemporary elements into their aquariums. So what's the good, bad and indifferent about the BiOrb 60? Read below to see if it's an aquarium that is right for you and your fish. About the BiOrb 60 16 Gallon Fish Tank BiOrb expands on its successful and highly popular 8 gallon fish...

Nothing is more fun to watch than aquarium freshwater fish. That's because you can choose many different types of fish that will live happily together in a community. Some will be bright, others more darkly colored, some small and some large, many will move very fast and just fly through the water while others will be extremely slow swimmers. Fish community When you are choosing fish for your aquarium, you need to consider many different options. The worst thing you can do is to walk into a pet store and just choose a group of fish because you liked the colors or the way they looked. Just as all people cannot get along together, neither can all fish. Not doing a little research beforehand is a...

There is perhaps nothing more pleasing to the eye than the sight of a tank full of colorful fish and myriad sea creatures drifting lazily along whatever path they choose. If you haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing this wondrous sight yourself, you owe it to yourself to pay a visit to a local public aquarium or perhaps to a friend who is lucky enough to have one of these breathtaking displays in his own home and see just what it is you are missing. After all unless you are one of the fortunate ones who are blessed to be living in close proximity to the ocean—or are wealthy enough to be able to afford regular ocean going cruises—it is likely that many months or even years have passed since...

Congratulations on the purchase of your new aquarium! If this is your first time to pursue this highly enjoyable activity you are in for a treat. You will soon discover for yourself what many hundreds of thousand of people the whole world over know already; that aquarium ownership is one of the most rewarding hobbies that you can take up. Aquarium care and maintenance is hardly rocket science; even children of a very young age have been known to take care of fish and various other marine life in their very own home aquarium systems…and not just the simple “goldfish in a bowl” ones either; some of the aquariums that young children maintain display a sheer breathtaking beauty that belies their...

p>Keeping an aquarium can be a fun filled experience that most people can do. Hobbyists especially love fish and having a lot of good times with their fish. It makes you feel relaxed especially when you see fishes swim freely in their tank. Fish like other pets also has names you can fondly called for. A number of people find it amusing to keep an aquarium but it should be taken with extra car and caution. There are a lot of things to consider setting up an artificial aquatic ecosystem. Here are some guidelines to follow and important fresh water aquarium information to help you get started. Aquarium Size Size matters in all aquariums set up. Beginners are strongly advised to start with bigger...

It would be a very unusual aquarium that did not contain at least some decorative elements other than the fish themselves. These decorative elements are usually added to add color and life to the tank. In some cases these items may even be large enough for some marine life to explore their interior or depend on these items to provide shelter. However before anything is placed in the tank make certain to exercise caution to be sure you are not accidentally inviting problems. Some organic material such as driftwood or rocks with an acidic content would definitely pose problems. Any metallic items or rocks with a metallic makeup would be a disaster in a saltwater tank. Probably one of the most common...

When it comes to finding fish tank accessories there is just about everything you can imagine. Deciding what to put into your fish tank to make it look natural or just fun to look at can take a little bit of planning. You also must remember that there are several items that every fish tank needs. There are three mandatory things that just about ever fish tank needs and these include a filter, a heater and lights. The filter is important because it is the thing that keeps the water in the tank clean and clear. Without a fish tank filter your fish will suffer from disease and even death and the water will turn cloudy and start to smell. A heater is necessary because in most cases people put tropical...

Fish tank filters are available in all types and in any shape you need. The purpose aquarium filtration is to provide high water quality for your fish and keep the water clear and free of any debris. Aquariums are closed systems, and that fragile eco-system relies on you to thrive and grow. To achieve this you will need to select the right type of filter and the correct size for your tank. 3 Types of Fish Tank Filtration:o Mechanical: The most commonly used. It removes waste, excess food. These filtration systems usually pump the water through some kind sponge, pad or membrane. These filters should be replaced regular based on manufacturer's recommendations. Some of the more common types are:o...

Corner fish tanks can be the ideal shape when you have a bare corner in your living area and no other piece of furniture will function well in that particular space. Nowadays you can even have complementary aquarium stands and hoods with all the lighting and filtration systems built in that will streamline the whole appearance of the aquarium setup. For a lot of keen aquarists, and more so those who are living in a small flat perhaps, if living space is a scarcity the corner fish tank makes the perfect space saver. The keeping of pet fish has always been a popular hobby for a huge number of folk around the globe and nowadays with corner tanks being obtainable gives the opportunity to many more folk...

Tips for the Serious Hobbyist Marine fish can find a suitable aquarium habitat with the addition of naturally artistic saltwater live rock. This colorful aquarium addition can be added to a saltwater fish tank or alone as a beautiful coral garden. However, this special rock requires proper care and attention since it is a living habitat for a number of organisms. Saltwater live rock is not a rock at all. It is a piece of coral that has broken off from a reef and settled to the ocean floor. Over time algae, bacteria and small organisms find refuge in the porous habitat where they make home. It is retrieved by diving or farmed by dropping coral pieces in select areas of the ocean. The bacteria, algae...

Before you buy an aquarium and fill it with fish, you need to find out what is involved in freshwater aquarium maintenance. One thing you cannot do with success is buy a group of fish, place them in your tank and then think that all you have to do is feed them. Aquariums are a lot of fun but they are not maintenance free. You need to do everything you can to keep your fish healthy and happy. One of the things you can do to limit freshwater aquarium maintenance is to start out by equipping your aquarium with the best equipment and the right types of fish. For instance, a power filter is the answer to making your tank the most user-friendly. With one of these filters, you do not have to worry much...

The Blue Tang (Paracanthurus Hepatus) enjoys the distinction of being one of the five most recognizable maine fishes along with the percula clown-fish, flame angel, yellow tang and the royal gramma . It remains the sole species under the genus Paracanthurus. Its body is a stunning bright blue while it has thick black markings that stretch out from its eyes to its tail. It was also featured in the hit animated film, Finding Nemo. Its common names include the Regal Tang, Palette Surgeon-fish and the Royal Blue Tang. Along with the yellow tang, this fish is the most popular surgeon-fish in the hobby. One of the most heavily collected fishes from the Indo-Pacific, they are very affordable. Juveniles...

king a decision to purchase an aquarium one of the first options that comes to mind is, should i stick with traditional glass or venture into the cutting edge acrylic fish tank. There are two materials that aquariums typically built from and a number of advantages and disadvantages to both. Whether it's your first tank or your twentieth their is no clear cut way to choose one. One large determining factor involved in deciding the material of the aquarium depends on the size and shape of the aquarium that will meet the needs of your desired livestock and your home. Glass is significantly more heavy than acrylic. Even a small glass aquarium is quite heavy and when you start looking at tanks that are...

Sometimes i think collectors just get their hands on anything from the wild and hope some aquarium shop will take them. I' have seen the strangest fish being imported that i know will probably never sell. Fish like the flying gurnard and the crocodile fish. Unfortunately they also bring in some very common fish that do extremely poorly in our aquariums. The three listed are the scooter blenny, the mandarin goby and members of the filefish family. Scooter Blenny While somewhat drab looking with their overall white and brown markings on their bodies, they are still brought in with great regularity. The problem with the scooter blenny is the fact that it has a very narrow dietary range in the wild...

For those of you who are beginners you might feel like you can buy an aquarium and stick any sort of bulb into it and hence you will have aquarium lighting. But then there's more to it than meets the eye. When you get the aquarium light, make sure that you do not focus solely on the price or the amount of discounts offered. The different tanks need different lighting, for example a freshwater aquarium will need fresh water aquarium lighting and so on. You can ask fish keepers who are experienced for help when it comes to the lighting. Lighting is a vital part of the aquarium. This is because the plants in your aquarium will depend on the lighting. A wrong choice of lighting might just stop the...

For many people aquarium lighting is a waste of money. But is it true? In fact, you should make your fish comfortable in the aquarium by providing the best conditions. Appropriate aquarium lighting is one of them. The aesthetic sense is also important. Your fish as well as other livestock and decorations look great with proper lighting arrangements. The beauty of your aquarium cannot be appreciated in the dark. If the fish you intend to keep are multi-colored, their colors will glow with the help of reflections of light. If you are prepared to spend big money on pet fish, other livestock and corals, you should get enough lighting to enhance their beauty. A good lighting theme transfers the aquarium...

Why biOrb? Reef One originally developed the biOrb as a fish friendly goldfish bowl to give fish keepers a compromise between an outdated bowl and a large rectangular aquarium. They updated the design by using the appeal of the bowl combined with the technological advances used in the larger aquariums. It means that a biORb can offer more volume, 5 stages of filtration, excellent, oxygen/carbon dioxide diffusion, lower maintenance and is also much healthier environment for fish than the old style goldfish bowls. The globe is manufactured from Plexiglass acrylic and because of its large water capacity, biOrb provides fish with approximately 10 times more space than a traditional bowl. The filter...

Tioman Island is the largest in a group of 64 volcanic islands, which includes Seri Bulat Island, Sembilang Island, Tulai Island, Chebeh Island, Labas and Renggis Island. Blessed with miles and miles of soft white sand, swaying palms and cool waterfalls, it is located about 80 km off Peninsular Malaysia's east coast. Tioman is a relatively small island measuring only about 12 x 7.3 miles. It is approximately half the size of Singapore. Culminating at 1,040 meters, it is surrounded by reefs, but no roads: with the exception of 2km at the airport. Noted for crystal clear water, as far down as 35 metres, Pulau Tioman is a veritable garden of colourful marine life, offering underwater sportsmen some of...

For finding wildlife in Malaysia you never have to travel far. Not many people relate a holiday to Pangkor island in Perak with a possibility to see wild animals. For most people Pangkor is synonymous with beaches, beach fun, ikan bilis (anchovies), dried fish and fish restaurants. Exploring the animal kingdom is usually not on the program of the average visitors. If you want to see wild life, you visit Taman Negara or other nature parks; that is the common statement. However, like other Malaysian islands, Pangkor has its own wild life and it is not difficult to explore some of it. Land animals Like almost everywhere in Malaysia, Pangkor has its own population of Macaque monkeys and they are not shy...

Among the shrimp family, the many common varieties in the hobby is none other than the scarlet cleaner shrimp. They are a staple in the saltwater aquarium hobby that sees constant collection from all over the Indo-Pacific. The scientific name of this shrimp is Lysmata Amboinensis. Extremely popular with hobbyists, many have had them in the past and probably have a few in their tanks right now. They are reasonably priced essentially because they are easily collected in numbers. It adapts without difficulty to captive conditions. It is their roles in the wild that give them the name scarlet cleaner shrimp. Just like their shy cousins, the fire shrimp, they enthusiastically examine the bodies of fishes...

I've been to Sharm a number of times and its always interesting to see how the place has changed. My last visit was two years ago so the first change I noticed when we arrived that the cost of your visa (on arrival) is down to US15. The visa itself has also changed from the previous 2 'postage stamps' (1 orange, 1 blue) to a larger single sticker complete with hologram. The visa and immigration process, along with luggage collection did seem to be a lot quicker than last time and when we left the arrivals hall, I was also pleasantly surprised to see that the all the old style taxis had been replaced with newer cars. Presumably, the old taxis have been passed on to various science museums. We spent...

Domino damselfish or Dascyllus trimaculatus are classified to family Pomacentridae. This species is a native of the Indo-Pacific with an established presence stemming form the shorelines of southern Japan to Australia. These fish received their names from their distinctive color pallets. They have black bodies just like a domino. There are three large white spots their bodies, one on each side and one on their forehead. They are also called threespot dascyllus and domino damsels. They commonly grow to as long as 5 inches in length and have a life expectancy of up to 10 years in captivity. These fish can swim in depths up to 200 feet. This is one tough and highly adaptable little fish. They can...

Water used within the aquariums is generally tap water, which contains a lot of undesirable ingredients such as nitrates, phosphates, silicates and even chlorine and copper. Nitrates, phosphates and silicates are directly responsible for the promotion of algal growth in the reef tanks. Hence it becomes very important to reduce their concentration in the reef tank. The method used by most aquarium hobbyists for purifying the water in their reef tank and making it resemble seawater is to use a combination of reverse osmosis along with another method known as deionization. In the deionization process, water is purified from all ions present in it, except the ions that are naturally present in water...