Species Spotlight- Spotted Mandarin

It is easy to see why the spotted mandarin (Synchiropus picturatus) is sometimes referred to as the psychedelic mandarin.  It's incredible color combinations, small size, and availability make it a fairly common addition to the home aquarium, but it is also one of the species that often doesn't survive past a few weeks after bringing it home.  This isn't because they are disease prone or especially fragile, but rather due to inadequate human care.  In their native western pacific reef habitat, they spend their time continuously foraging for copepods, worms, and other inverts.  Though some individuals can successfully be weaned onto frozen foods, many won't and they are best kept by someone committed to ensuring a sufficient quantity of live copepods.  But if you do your research and provide proper care, this fish is an incredibly interesting addition to a reef system.  Their beauty and habit of "climbing" around the rocks and corals make them fascinating to watch for hours.  

Patio Pond Shell- By Sara H.

After a fair amount of shopping both online and at hardware stores and garden centers, I found quite a few different places to start with my new patio pond.  Most of the retail options were a little more expensive than I was hoping for and I didn't want to completely build something from scratch.  I opted to start with a simple molded plastic pond liner and fountain pump.  It will be smaller than I originally anticipated, but I've decided to start small to be sure I'm comfortable with the maintenance.  If so, I plan to add another larger pond on the opposite end of my patio.  I purchased a MacCourt 20 gallon polyethylene liner from Lowe's for under $20.  I placed it on the patio against the building wall.  I plan to either creatively cover the shell or build it in with a retaining wall creating a raised planting bed around the pond.  I've still got some decisions to make regarding my next steps, but I'll post pictures soon.  

RO Unit Clearance

Pure water at home means significant cost savings and convenience for the aquarium hobbyists.  Though not a required expense to get started in the hobby, a reverse osmosis or RO unit is a great piece of equipment to invest in.  If you've considered this option but not yet made a purchase, Doctors Foster and Smith have a 200 gpd AquaFX Dolphin RO unit on clearance 34% off for only $153.13 found HERE.  While we don't currently own this model, based on the product details, this is a very good value and could be just the right opportunity for you to start taking advantage of having your own RO unit.  For more information about the use of an RO unit, check out Doctors Foster and Smith's FAQ page HERE.

New Patio Pond II

Choosing My Pond Type- By Sara H.

I've had some time to think about where to begin with my patio pond.  I originally planned to build the structure of the pond with pavers and liner (similar to pictured left), but found so many interesting options for prefabricated patio ponds.  I love this option (pictured right) by pond boss for sale on Amazon.com HERE.  I decided the look was a little more modern than I wanted.  Aquascape Inc. has many excellent options on their site.  I would like a look that is either more natural, or even a rustic container such as a livestock water trough or steel tub which was suggested by a follower.  I'm going to go with something simpler than building from scratch, but perhaps with a do it yourself element that won't be as costly as a pond purchased from a retailer.  I'll be shopping in the next two days.  I'm excited to get started and to share pictures.  Please visit us again soon.

Species Spotlight- Zebra Pleco

Though it is a type of the freshwater algae eaters so common in the freshwater aquarium, the zebra pleco (Hypancistrus zebra) looks like it would fit right in with the most exotic looking reef fishes. It was originally over-harvested from its natural range in Brazil and its habitat is threatened due to human construction.  Fortunately it can be successfully raised in captivity.  It's stunning stripes and small size (they reach only about 3 inches) make them very desirable, but their difficulty to procure also make them very expensive.  If you'd like to add one to your tank, be prepared to spend between $400-$600.  They can be purchased on liveaquaria.com for $499 plush shipping.  None of the group at Tampa Bay Aquatics have kept this species and we'd love to hear from you if you have.  Please feel free to comment on this post or contact us at tampaaquatics@gmail.com.

Aquascaping Fish Only Marine Tanks

Though corals are an essential part of natural marine environments and are also some of the most beautiful and interesting additions to a saltwater aquarium, not every aquarist is up for, or interested in, the level of care they require.  And in a confined artificial environment, many species are not compatible with live corals.  As such, fish only tanks are very popular with home hobbyists.  Creating fish only or fish only with life rock tanks allow us to display some of the most beautiful specimens available such as butterfly fish, wrasses, angelfish, and countless others without risking the wellbeing of corals.   

The copper-banded butterfly is not 100% reef safe.  But it is a favorite of Tampa Bay Aquatics and a good candidate for a fish only tank.  Be sure to research whether they are right for you before adding them to your aquarium.  They can be difficult to feed and have specific requirements regarding compatibility with other fish species.  

It can also be a fun challenge to make the environment interesting and aesthetically appealing without being able to rely on the beauty of the corals.  We'd like to share ideas and photos from our followers about creating beautiful aquariums using only live rock.  We'll discuss artificial reefs soon in another post. Please contact us at tampaaquatics@gmail.com to share your tips and pictures.  

Starfish are another interesting and beautiful species to display.  Many starfish species are not reef safe and are better suited to a fish only with live rock tank.  

New Patio Pond

Indoor/outdoor living is more popular now than ever, especially in Florida's climate.  Rare is the home that doesn't have some type of designated outdoor living space. Many people designate significant time and resources to making their outdoor spaces just as comfortable and aesthetically appealing as the inside.  In addition to staples such as comfortable outdoor furniture, pleasant landscaping, insect control, etc., aquascapes are a fantastic way to add interest to your outdoor design.  Even in an apartment or condo, often neglected patio space can be made much more inviting because of the ambient sound, aquatic foliage, and even animal life a patio pond adds.

Sara H. is one of our experienced marine aquarists that doesn't keep freshwater fish and has never had a pond.  She is planning a makeover for her condo's screened lanai and wants to include a water garden.  She's planning one very small table top container water garden, and a roughly 2x3x2 above ground water feature with aquatic plants, fish, and a small waterfall.  With the help of a Tampa Bay Aquatics' aquaculturist and suggestions from our readers, she plans to get started this weekend.  Please feel free to contact us at tampaaquatics@gmail.com and share your thoughts, tips, and pictures of your aquascapes. We look forward to hearing from you.  

New updates

After a brief blogging hiatus in order to develop some new content, the group at Tampa Bay Aquatics is ready to begin sharing regular news, tips, expert advice, and much more aquatic hobby related information.  Visit us regularly for upcoming posts about a recent Costa Rica scuba diving trip, species identification in gulf waters, building easy to maintain patio ponds, tips for moving fish tanks, and more.