New Website

[jmg5297]

Hey everyone. I've looked around at a lot of the aquarium websites on the net. I decided to start working on my own, just for marine aquariums. I've just finished a great deal of text for beginners, and I'm trying to stream-line my media before I move the site to a big domain name.

My new site is located at http://marinejournal.0catch.com/index.html -- Take a look and tell me what you guys think. Here's your chance to be a big part of a new beginning. Make sure you leave your peace on the forum I started for the site, I'll be sure and get back to you.

If anyone is interested in donating content to my site, I would certainly not reject a good writer. I will be implementing a lot more content beyond beginner's information on the front page in the future and intermediate-expert aquarists deserve more than one humble opinion when reading about ideas for their tanks.

In the future I'll be adding an extensive species profiler, which will be as much for me as for you guys - I have been wanting to do some hardcore research on individual species for a while now.

BTW I know that the two fish in the logo are Danios and not marine fish, I just wanted to put whatever on there until I got the text worked out. More graphics and pictures are to come.

 

[OrionGirl]

It covers quite a bit, but a) ignores fishless cycling completely, b) indicates damsels and tangs as good beginner fish to cycle with, and c) discredits medications without any justifications or specifying why you feel they are not as advertised. There are a few other problems as well--you speak of 'we' without identifying who 'we' consists of, what experience or authority you may have to speak from, and use an awful lot of all-encompassing statements without anything to back them up.

Some suggestions--do identify who you are, what your experience with marine tanks is, and anyone else that is involved.

Offer links to images of the items/fish you talk about. It's easier than trying to describe something, and reduces confusion if you can also give a scientific name and picture for any animals.

Indicate that the setup guidelines are what you've done, but are not the only ones out there, and link to sites that cover some of those other options.

I'd also encourage you to review the filter options for SW. Bio-wheels are generally avoided in SW setups simply because they increase evaporation and salt creep, and become require frequient maintenance to prevent normal salt creep and algaes from clogging them.

There are many, many ways to successfully setup an aquarium--and selling one as the only way to go just isn't very responsible.

 

[Corax]

"The Filter - You cannot afford to skimp here. There are many types of filters for aquarium use. You will most likely end up using more than one kind of filtration in your marine tank. You should start with a power filter or optimally a bio wheel if you can afford it. You will want the big filter first, and then you can add other smaller filters later as needed. Make sure and ask your aquarium store for the best filter possible within the cost range that you can afford. Whatever they offer you use the following magic words: "I want a filter, or combination of filters that will offer me biological and mechanical filtration, with chemical filtration if at all possible." If you've chosen a good marine store they will at that point hand you a power filter rated for your appropriate tank size. The filter should cost around $100."

I found this laughable.. That works, almost, for freshwater. But not for marine.

 

[Corax]

"Salt - You can't just use any salt in your aquarium. You're either going to have to use rock salt or aquarium salt. Aquarium salt is good because it is made to dissolve instantly and therefore can be added with short notice to any tank. This stuff is special and not particularly cheap - expect to spend about $30 for every 50 gallons. Buy in bulk. Salt does not go bad and eventually you are going to use it during water changes. You can buy water with premixed salt, but at 50 cents to the gallon it is pretty much a rip-off. Mixing salt is easy. More about that in the section about salt water basics. "

wtf? rock salt? There is a reason Instant Ocean costs so much. We aren't giving horses something to lick here..

I'm gonna stop reading now, before I become violent with these people..


Ok, I lied......

"Live Sand - Live sand is a lot like live rock. It's still be experimented with however, so we won't recommend it to beginners."

Live sand is the easiest thing you can add to a saltwater tank! It's SAND with bacteria (and some bigger stuff) living on the grains.. You dump it in, it sinks to the bottom, compacts itself over a couple weeks and voila, it works..

Ok, I closed the page.. Hold me back Onion =)