Anyone into saltwater aquariums

[YoungMoney]

woa thats tight. ive heard of mantis shrimp theyre crazy. i hear some of them have lifelong mates. how big was the one u found? was there like an egg stuck to a coral when u bought it or what?

[rlugo29]

It was about half the size of my pinky finger. I have no idea how it got in my tank. I think he hitchhiked his way in on some live rock that I purchased from Fiji. I'm just glad I found him before he destroyed my tank. Here's an awesome vid of a mantis
YouTube - Mantis Shrimps in Action
YouTube - Mantis Shrimp Creature Feature

[YoungMoney]

wow they sell live rocks from fiji? r they expensive? do u have links to any good websites for this

[rlugo29]

Here's a bunch

[YoungMoney]

do they collect these safely so they dont mess up reefs?

nvm i read a listing. cool! i want an aquarium now. what is the upkeep ont hese?

[rlugo29]

I'm glad to hear that you are interested in my hobby. The upkeep on a saltwater aquarium is like everything else. You get out what you put in. If you want a tank that looks like Sonny Harajly's, you, can't be lazy. You need to put some effort into learning. I am writing a series of articles that pretty much walk a beginner through the steps of getting started in this hobby. I'll post the first two here over the weekend.

[YoungMoney]

i googled sonny harajly. is he like an authority on aquariums? the only pix i found werent that big

[rlugo29]

I wouldn't say that anyone is an authority, but Sonny is very experienced and knows his $h!t. The hobby is pretty much too new yet and there are way too many factors for anyone to be an authority. If you want to get started go to reefcentral.com They have a great beginners forum that should get you started. Once you get there send me a PM my user name is Aqua Keepers. Sonny is also a member there, and goes by sunny x. Sorry, I didn't have the time over the weekend to post the first two articles I mentioned, but hope to do so this week.

[YoungMoney]

aiite good to know. ill check out reef central

[rlugo29]

YoungMoney,

Here's the first article that I wrote:

Benefits of Owning a Saltwater Aquarium

The fact that you are reading this article tells me that you are thinking of starting a saltwater aquarium. In this article I will discuss some of the benefits and joys of owning a saltwater aquarium. Some of you may have heard that saltwater aquariums are very complicated and expensive to start up and maintain. That may have been true back in the 70's. However, because of advances in equipment and knowledge, combined with the fast growing popularity saltwater aquarium keeping, it has quickly become just as easy and cheap as keeping a freshwater aquarium. In fact, aquarium keeping altogether has grown to be the second most popular hobby in the U.S.

I am not sure if you have ever seen an actual saltwater aquarium, but I can tell you that there is something quit mystical about the aesthetics of one. Watching an aquarium full of fish and invertebrates is not only fascinating and exciting, but it is a very enjoyable and relaxing pastime. Many studies have been done, and their findings show that the vibrant colors and graceful movement of fish and invertebrates can actually bring peace, harmony, and relaxation into a home. Therefore, they are great at relieving tension and stress.

Personally, I can sit in front of my aquarium for hours at a time watching not only the fish and corals, but all of the other strange yet amazing creatures that seem to appear out of nowhere. There is always some new life form to discover in your tank. There are inhabitants such as shrimp, snails, crabs, starfish, etc, etc. The list could go on. You will be truly astonished at some of the things you might discover in you tank. Keep in mind that a saltwater aquarium is an ecosystem. This means that it is basically its own little world. In fact, I have been told by other hobbyist that keeping a saltwater aquarium actually satisfies their god complex. Having a saltwater aquarium is kind of like being a kid and having a really awesome ant farm.

Speaking of kids, let me tell you how great an aquarium full of saltwater fish and invertebrates can be for kids. First of all, kids get mezmorized by the beauty of saltwater aquariums. So, the tend to stay out of trouble (and your hair) because they quickly develop an interest in learning how to care and appreciate for their new pets. This means less time being brainwashed by TV. Also, keeping a saltwater aquarium will teach both kids and adults about chemistry, biology, mechanical know how, and even compassion for life. To most kids, these subjects are boring and dull to learn, but once you add the excitement and fun of this hobby they tend to develop an interest in learning more so that they can apply it to keeping their pets alive. Scientific studies have proven that students who own fish score higher on SAT's than their counterparts.

As you can see, there are a lot of benefits of owning a saltwater aquarium. Other than it's aesthetic appeal, saltwater aquariums can help you and your family live healthier and happier lives. It is a wonderful hobby and I encourage that everyone try it. However, before you buy a fishtank, there are some things to consider when choosing an aquarium.