Page 214 - Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish, 3rd Edition

212 MARINE FISH: SETTING UP THE TANK

Selecting the decor

It is possible to keep marine fish in a bare tank.
However, even the simplest fish-only setup will benefit BUYING LIVE ROCK
from judicious decoration, which will accentuate the
Live rock is available from aquarium
colors of the fish, provide them with places to shelter suppliers. It is usually shipped in
plastic bags so that it stays moist,
and spawn, and set out territorial spaces in the tank. which keeps its complement of
In more advanced reef aquariums, the choice of decor attached living organisms alive.
Most suppliers hold the live rock
is vital, because it transforms the tank into a dynamic in tanks for a period to “cure” it
before putting it on sale. The curing
ecosystem capable of supporting a diversity of life. process involves repeated, careful
cleaning of the rock. This type of live
rock, which is described as “seeded,”
There is a huge range of tank decor available to the home can be introduced into the aquarium
aquarist. Real and artificial rocks, corals and sea fans, shells, without further treatment.
amphoras, and even plastic novelty items such as shipwrecks
and sharks can be used to provide three-dimensional interest Live rock from the Red Sea and the
in the tank. Decoration is a matter of taste, but it is vital to Caribbean is generally preferred to that
from the Indo-Pacific origins, because it
consider the welfare of the fish when making a selection. supports a wider diversity of life.
Marine organisms are sensitive to pollutants; even traces of
metal, especially copper, may
be toxic. Always buy tank Rocks and corals
SAFETY CONCERNS decor from a reputable The basic component of a naturalistic marine tank is rock.
marine dealer and never be Calcium-rich rocks, such as tufa, are ideal because, like
• Keep rock structures simple tempted to use household crushed coral (see p.209), they have a buffering effect and help
and stable. Collapsing rocks
can crack the glass of the objects or items intended for to control water acidity. Tufa has the additional advantage of
tank. Use large, flat-faced a freshwater setup (such as being soft enough to carve into almost any shape. It also
rocks for the foundations. bogwood). Do not overwhelm provides an excellent surface for colonization by marine
• Wear gloves when the aquarium; every item you invertebrates and algae. In fact, it can be difficult to
handling dead corals and place in the tank displaces distinguish well-colonized tufa from live rock (see opposite).
artificial rocks, such as lava
rock. Some have razor-sharp valuable water. This reduces Rock arrangements should ideally include some overhangs
edges that can inflict cuts. available swimming space and and bridges where the fish can shelter in semi-natural safety;
concentrates dissolved waste. the rocks should not be piled in solid walls, or against the
sides of the tank, because this will impede water circulation,
Porous rocks, such as tufa, are preferred for the marine aquarium which is essential for effective oxygenation. Some aquarists
because they displace less water than solid rocks. Smooth rocks,
such as slate, are used as spawning surfaces by some species, like to add dead coral skeletons and shells to the tank; these
while artificial corals and sea fans add visual interest. can provide useful hiding places for smaller fish and

Artificial Slate Petrified Tufa Calcium-rich
sea fan Artificial wood rock ocean rock
table coral

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