Guppies require large groups to thrive

Fan Tail Guppy
If you have kept guppies you know they do much better in larger groups. This is especially true if you have multiple males. Having a male guppy and just one female is really a bad idea. Doing well in groups is actually something guppies have evolved to be good at. First off, guppies have a natural tendency to spar and when the group is large this is spread out so that no one individual gets too mu...
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Education on Aquarium Trade

little yellow fish
National Geographic has created a great web site that explains the aquarium trade. How the corals and fish get from the sea to the local store to your fish tank. It's an amazingly long journey. When I buy a new fish, I instantly stress over getting it right home, acclimated, and into the tank. I do this with such great care. I sometimes forget that little fish has journeyed several thousand miles ...
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Breaking News: Indonesia Halts Coral Exports

No Indonesian Corals or Fish
Coral Magazine received a letter from the Indonesian Coral Shell and Ornamental Fish Association (AKKII) in Jakarta which, "...outlines the developing situation in Indonesia and appears to confirm a rumor that exports of both wild and aquacultured corals are being closed indefinitely." Though there are often ecological reasons for doing this it also can come from political pressures. But there ...
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CAUTION: Bloodworm Allergies Can Sneak Up On You

Blood Worms
The below linked article from Reef to Rainforest Media is about something that is not all that common in the hobby but something we hobbyists should look out for. Things live in our tanks that can be dangerous. We recently talked about palytoxin which comes form a type of soft coral that is a great beginner coral. There are also types of bacteria that live in our tank that can be harmful. It's rar...
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Hang on the Back Overflow: If you Can’t Drill

Hang on Overflow by Popko
When I first decided to set up a marine tank after only having done freshwater I pretty much did things like I had before. It worked pretty well. As I learned more though I came to appreciate the value of a sump. However, I didn't have a drilled tank with an overflow and couldn't afford one. So I hit the forums and found someone local who had a used hang on the back (HOB) overflow for sale. I set ...
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