TCMAS : Articles : More Ways To Skin A Cat

The longer we remain in this hobby the more weird stories we hear. The really strange thing is that some stories are true. For example, I always thought that it was impossible to keep fish/inverts in an aquarium without some sort of biological filtration.

I used to debate this issue over and over with someone who claimed he had several small tanks (both salt and fresh) with no biological filtration and yet all of his organisms were doing great! Sounds a little “fishy” doesn't it? Well, I didn't believe him so I decided to visit him to see for myself. I found that he had two large 60 gallon vats, one with freshwater and one with saltwater. He said that approximately every other day he did 30% water changes on each tank. I know this sounds like a lot of work, but it seemed to be effective because every different kind of his organisms were doing great.

I also had a friend who adamantly believed to have a successful saltwater tank you had to have a protein skimmer and a wet dry filter. He would say, “that's the secret to my success.” The problem was, he had no success, everything he bought died within a month because he screwed everything else up! Now, don't get me wrong skimmers and wet drys are good pieces of equipment, I use them myself. My point is “there is more than one way to skin a cat.” Some of the most successful tanks I have ever had were equipped with undergravel and sponge filters.

I have also heard from people and read in magazines that a protein skimmer is a must for a successful reef tank. Not true !! I know people in this club who have beautiful tanks with only good circulation and lots of healthy live rock. One time I read in F.A.M.A. that you cannot keep lionfish with triggerfish, it was simply too dangerous because the triggers will bite at the lions spines causing damage to the lion and death to the trigger. I laughed after I read that article because I have kept the two species together for about 8 years with absolutely no problems at all.

What this all adds up to is don't necessarily believe everything you read or everything someone else tells you. Listen to what others have to say but do what works for you. If things are going good in your tanks, stick with that. If not, then try something different. If you're relatively new in the hobby and confused about which direction to go, listen to your most respected fish friends and go with your best judgment. After all, it's your tank and you are the one who has to look at it. For some of us half the fun of this hobby is trying new things and constantly changing things around!

One more thing, if you have a bad algae problem and someone says to dump a gallon of Clorox bleach in your tank …well I guess it would kill the algae, BUT………….YIKES !!!!!!!!!!!!

Until next time, take care!

Scott Harvieux