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This article may be republished in printed newsletters,
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attribution is given to the author and it appears with the included
copyright, resource box and live web site link. E-mail notice of intent
to publish is appreciated but not required.
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The 5 Most Common
Mistakes You Shouldn't Have To Ever Make
Mistake #1: Lack of Research
by Eric V. Van Der Hope
Copyright © 2006 ReefKeepingBasics.com
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It's
so easy to get
excited about this wonderful hobby after seeing all the beautiful fish
and corals at your LFS (Local Fish Store). So it's no
surprise that many individuals, without
any thought of taking a step at-a-time, purchase what they
see - almost immediately!
Did you know that a large number of fish enthusiasts have found their way into this hobby exactly this way
. . . ? However, many of them
discovered that they could have spent Less money, Less
time
and Less effort if they
simply did the proper research.
Anyone involved in
this hobby must be well informed of what's involved.
Multiple opinions should be investigated from a good source.
So be careful to not rely on just one source of information!
If you find that you are getting the same advice from 2 or 3
different yet reliable sources - this could be a start of a
good decision. J
The more you research, the more you'll draw from others’
experiences to help materialize
your own version of a saltwater tank or reef aquarium. So do
not be afraid to ask questions as the more you learn the
more you can put to good use. Continually read from
publications you know are reliable. There are many authors
who have written a variety of books on our hobby - they are
priceless. So read, read and read!
Here are some good books to learn from - but put them to
good use, simply just reading them will not do anything for
you! Use and act on the information you learn!
The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" by
Robert M. Fenner
The Compete Book of the Marine Aquarium" by Vincent B. Hargreaves
"The Responsible Marine Aquarist" by Dr. Elizabeth Wood &
Nick Dakin
"Corals: A Quick Reference Guide" by Julian Sprung
"Simplified Reef Keeping" by Robert M. Metelsky
"Coral Propagation" by Anthony Calfo
"The New Marine Aquarium" by Mike Paletta
"Aquarium Corals" by Eric Borneman
"A Pocket-Expert Guide to Marine Invertebrates" by Ronald L.
Shimek
"Reef Keeping Basics - Successful Reef Management" by Eric
V. Van Der Hope
There are also many other authors who've written hundreds of
articles for well-known offline and online magazines such as
ReefKeeping, Marine Fish and Reef USA Aquarium Fish Magazine
and the Tropical Fish Hobbyist. Their names are but are not
limited to:
James W. Fatherree
Terry D. Bartelme
Sanjay Joshi
Steven Pro
Take advantage of the internet. Search for information and
join some saltwater or reef keeping forums. Join a local
club - there is nothing better then meeting people in
person.
Before you
begin setting up your saltwater tank, you need to know what
you are doing. After all, you are going to be providing a home
to other forms of life and that is a responsibility that
must not be taken lightly. You need to (these are the
basics, but not limited to them):
Know the different species and the types of conditions
in which they live.
Know what species can live
together safely in the particular environment you have set
up.
Have the proper lighting.
Have the proper
salinity and temperature.
Have the proper equipment, such as filters, pumps,
heaters, and lights.
Be prepared for the time commitment – saltwater systems
need consistent care and cannot be left for more than two
days without that care. You may need to enlist the help of
friends and family, in case you plan to leave home for any
substantial length of time.
Be prepared for the financial commitment – start up
costs are between $300 and $500 and this is the low end!
Depending on your system (the choice of tank size and it's
inhabitants) it could easily take you well over a thousand
dollars! Then you will need to
continuously replenish supplies which includes the salt, the
replacing of lights regularly, feeding the inhabitants,
replacing and adding the livestock and most important -
simply just maintaining the aquarium which includes paying
for the electric bill that results from the power being used
by your filters, pumps, heaters, ventilation or cooling
systems and lighting fixtures.
How much money can you afford to put into this hobby? This
one decision alone could be the deciding factor to start or
not . . .
The last thing you want to do is put your money and time
into your saltwater tank, only to have your investment and
the life you are caring for suffer due to lack of
preparation.
W-o-w! So much to think of - but don't be discouraged! If
you feel your probably not 'cut out' for this kind of hobby,
think twice! You are. It simply comes down to how you
approach it and using the proper skills to organize your
time and money. There is no greater pleasure than to sit in
front of your aquarium and watch an amazing display of
colors and life before your very eyes! It's the most
relaxing form of medicine and can be enjoyed by all members
of your family and extended family (your friends)!
We've covered research as being a very important aspect to
guaranteeing success within this hobby. But there are other
important things to do as well - that many hobbyists tend to
forget.
You cannot haphazardly throw stuff together thinking
everything will be o.k with your aquarium setup! Without
taking the proper steps after the initial research is
completed - this mistake can surely be eliminated - which
leads us to review how Mistake #2: the Lack of Planning, can
limit the enjoyment you can get from this wonderful hobby.
Stay tuned for the next article, Mistake #2: Lack of
Planning, the 2nd part in the series of 5 articles that'll
be published in rapid succession!
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Eric V. Van Der Hope is the Publisher and Author of
the book "Reef Keeping Basics - Successful Reef
Management" as well as the editor of the popular
and informative newsletter "Reef Keeping Basics -
the eZine/Blog" - A Newsletter For The Serious
Reef Keeping & Saltwater Fish Hobbyist. Would You
Like to Discover Exactly How to Build A Perfect
Aquatic Life Environment For Your Marine Fish Pets -
Without Having to Do It the Hard Way!? Then simply visit his
website and learn how you can:
http://www.reefkeepingbasics.com/
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