Links in this video: Go Plus One: Bump it up a notch
Mr. Saltwater Tank TV Friday AM Quick Tip #11: It’s Not Organic, But It Is Good For Your Fish
Give you fish food a boost and help fight dying, dull colored fish
Links in this video: https://www.mrsaltwatertank.com/selcon
Mr. Saltwater Tank TV Friday AM Quick Tip #10: You’ve Been Fed a Lie
I get asked this all the time and it’s time it gets put to rest.
How to Select an RODI Unit w/tips for those of you who already own one)
Using only 0 TDS RODI water is a foundational element of keeping a saltwater aquarium.
With all the choices on the market though, how would you decide which RODI unit to buy? And wouldn’t the unit you can buy at Home Depot or Lowe’s work just as well? Once you have an RODI unit, you’re set right?
This episode of Mr. Saltwater Tank TV answers these questions, gets up close and personal with RODI units, and includes tips for those of you who already own an RODI unit.
The Tap Water Plus Conditioner Myth Debunked
One of the most detrimental mistakes you can make to a saltwater tank is to use tap water that has been treated with a water conditioner.
I could tell you why this mistake is costly to you and your tank. Instead, I put this myth to the test to see how “conditioned” tap water fares out in my test.
Mr. Saltwater Tank Exposes Secret Reefkeeper Training Camp
The internet is home to lots of information, but I never thought I’d stumble across something like this.
Mr. Saltwater Tank TV Friday AM Quick Tip #8 : Don’t Pollute
You have to feed your fish, but you don’t have to trash your tank while you are at it.
Mr. Saltwater Tank Exclusive Review: Tunze 7092 Wavecontroller
Mr. Saltwater Tank TV Friday AM Quick Tip #7 : Less is More
Think you don’t have time for a water change? Think again.
Disaster Planning For Your Saltwater Tank
We all think and hope that an emergency with our tanks will never happen. The reality is that at some point in your tank career, something unexpected will happen with your tank. Here’s how to be prepared for a tank disaster as well as a special offer from Mr. Saltwater Tank
Mr. Saltwater Tank TV Friday AM Quick Tip #5 : Try Before You Buy
Can’t decide what bulb temperature to go with? This quick tip will let you try before you buy.
How to Give Soft Corals a Nip/Tuck
Last week’s episode of Mr. Saltwater Tank TV was all about fragging hard corals. In this week’s episode, I’ll show you how to frag my favorite soft coral: zoanthids.
Don’t miss the safety tip as well as the bonus feature in this week’s episode of Mr. Saltwater Tank TV.
How to Give Your Corals a Nip/Tuck
Keeping corals is one of the best reasons to have a saltwater tank. They are pretty, relaxing and can provide a decent side income if you know what you are doing.
When it’s time to give your tank a nip/tuck – a.k.a.- fragging, there are a couple of steps to follow. Just make sure you don’t miss the biggest pitfall of all that can spell disaster for your tank.
Mr. Saltwater Tank Friday AM Quick Tip #3
Fall means cooler weather and lower temps in your tank but don’t overlook this tip for the safety of you and your tank.
How To Use the King of All Saltwater Additives Safely and Effectively
Of all the supplements available for your saltwater tank, the one that is king amongst all them is kalkwasser. a.k.a. “kalk”.
Kalk is highly effective in keeping your tank’s parameters as stable as possible and it is very cost effective. It is also part of the hidden secrets on how to keep a thriving reef tank.
Be careful though – using kalk incorrectly can ruin your saltwater tank. Lucky for you, in this episode of Mr. Saltwater Tank TV, I take you through what kalk is and how to use it safely in your tank.
How to Pickup Women at the Fish Store
Everybody wants to meet a special someone in their life. Between internet sites, speed dating nights and blind dates, there are numerous ways to meet people.
But the best way to meet someone AND to make sure they have the same interests as you do is to meet them at the fish store.
In this episode of Mr. Saltwater Tank TV, I show you 3 easy tips to meeting women at your local fish store. And if you’ve been following my tank maintenance workout, you are in the perfect position to use these tips effectively, starting today.
A Personal Tour of Mr. Saltwater Tank’s 90G Mixed Reef Tank
You asked for an inside tour of my 90G reef tank and here it is!
In this episode of Mr. Saltwater Tank TV, I show you the ins and outs of the equipment side of my 90 gallon reef tank. It takes a lot of equipment running in unison to have a great reef tank and I show you what equipment I’m running and why I chose what I did.
And, I ask for a special request from my viewers so watch the show and help me out!
440 Gallon Monster Tank Build, Part 2
After a summer of setbacks, lighting that didn’t work as expected and constant fiddling, the 440 gallon monster tank build is complete…for now.
Stephen from Hydro Innovations takes us through his tank, showing us what’s changed and where the sits now in it’s semi-completed state. And he quietly admits how the tank has affected his productivity.
P.S. Don’t try this at home.
Got a Baby? Why You Need a Saltwater Tank
People think having a baby takes you away from your tank. I say that’s a load of fish…poo…and in this episode of Mr. Saltwater Tank TV, I show you the top 3 reasons why a saltwater tank is good for your baby.
Mothers, Dads…anyone who watches babies, or anyone with a tank, this video is for you
A Tour of Austin Aqua Farms
The Internet has provided for an explosion of online retailers in the coral market. And one of the best is right here in my back yard, Austin Aqua Farms.
In this episode of Mr. Saltwater Tank TV, I tour Austin Aqua Farms and get to see what makes this place so special.
Did I mention I happened to walk out of there w/out breaking out my mastercard?
A Reef Junkie Profile
A Reef Junkie’s life revolves around their tank. The tank is part of the family and they are proud of it.
In this episode of Mr. Saltwater Tank TV, I go to my friend Mike’s house, a die-hard reef junkie, to check out his 120G tank and all the glory that goes with it.
4 Ways to Remove Bubble Algae From Your Tank
Nuissance Algae is always a real drag to find in your tank. And bubble algae is among the hardest algae to get out of your tank. Any pest can be defeated and I show you 4 ways to remove bubble algae from your tank
Deep Cleaning a Protein Skimmer
Protein skimmers, like any piece of equipment in your tank get dirty – real dirty. Cleaning the neck is important, but every 6 months, your skimmer should be taken out and given a deep cleaning.
In this episode of Mr. Saltwater Tank TV, I show you how to deep clean your skimmer is a cleaner that is probably already sitting in your house.
In the Spirit Of Friday Night: Mandarins Mating
I picked up a male Green Mandarin last week and to my delight, he paired right up with my female and they mated last night.
The mandarin’s mating dance is quite the sight to see as the male darts around the tank, looking for the female and when he finds her, the dance begins at the bottom of the tank and continues to the surface. Once on the surface, the dance is broken off and quickly begun again.
So in the spirit of Friday night, here are my mandarins mating in full HD:
Monster Tank Build with Liquid Cooled Lighting
How to Turn Your Tank Maintenance Into a Workout
Fine Tuning a Protein Skimmer
Part 2 of Setting Up a Protein Skimmer
How I Caught My 6-Line Wrasse
(don’t miss the victory dance)
How to Mix Your Own Saltwater
Cleaning a Protein Skimmer
Setting Up a Protein Skimmer
High Performance Diet
A Tour of Frags n More’s Show Tank
The Morning After Red Bug Treatment
Curing Red Bugs in a Reef Tank
Mr. Saltwater Tank TV Episode #5: Nuisance Algae and Phosphate Reactors, Part 2
Mr. Saltwater Tank TV Episode #4: Low pH issues solved
Mr. Saltwater Tank TV Episode #3: Nuisance Algae and Phosphate Reactors
Mr. Saltwater Tank TV Episode #2: Auto Top Off Systems Explained
Mr. Saltwater Tank TV Episode #1: A Cheap Alternative to a Chiller
{ 53 comments… read them below or add one }
Next Comments →
Why do my candy cane coral always die , 29 gallon bio cube , 5 gallon water change every week, supplement reef fuel, buffer, marine snow, purple up , aaahhh. Help
new lights
John
How do they die? Do they bleach out? Is there any brown jelly looking stuff on them?
Hi Mark, I’m new to the saltwater hobby and I find your videos very helpful. I noticed in older videos you had what looks like a euro reef (reef dynamics) skimmer. I’m considering one for my 65 gallon tank so I wanted to get your take on this skimmer. When it comes to skimmers, I’m lost (with so may out there to choose from). Any help will definitely be appreciated.
hey man been talking witha local forum and would like to see how you have a quarantine setup for your tank or someone you know with a good one. All the ins and outs about quarantining or not and some helping pointers for it along with maybe a first aid kit of meds to keep on hand for hospitalizing. like to see a video in the near future while the topic is still hot on my mind would be cool. Thanks.
PS your videos have always been helpful and keep them coming
HUUUUUUUUUGE FAN
GREAT WORK BUDDY!
I found out that Im a tank dabbler who wants to slowly and intelligently convert to a reef enthusiast. Can u help me? can u dedicate a future video to how that transition should be done. Im sure there are plenty of mistakes I could make that might cost me money and heartache. Ive got a 30 gallon Fowlr:
Got a Banggai cardinal
Copperband
Figure 8 puffer …yes yes I know not a saltwater fish
Dragonet manderin
ocellaris clownfish
three stripe damsel
and a valentini puffer
Im sure ive overstocked my tank but its the reason why Im upgrading to a 90 gallon tank in a few months.
Im also purchasing a RO/DI unit…thanx to u
and I watched every single video u’ve put up to learn as much as I could.
Thanx again Mr. Saltwater Tank!
Omar
Hi!
So your site is a great resource for a newbie saltwater tanker like myself. I have been researching it for a few months, still antsy about a few things, but am so excited! I was curious what you would recommend newbies look at before physically setting up the tank (I have all of my equipment already, just been gun shy about pulling the trigger and getting the show on the road- I do think this weekend is THE weekend though). I am a enthusiast for now, I am looking to get a 55g and start it as a FOWLR for a while to see how I do before making a big jump to the other personality.
Any advice is welcomed, I live in MS and there isn’t many LFS around me to get a multitude of opinions to compare.
Thank you and keep churning out the awesome videos/articles!
O oops, and by enthusiast I mean that I am a dabbler but want to invest time and money ( not going over board with stuff I don’t need yet ). So I guess that’s why I put enthusiast even though I won’t have coral for a good time, I wanna commit the needed time to my tank.
Thanks again!
Syd…here are some quick things to think about before setting up your tank:
Location:Make sure you don’t put it right in front of a window where it will get directly sunlight. Also, leave at least 4″ behind the tank and the wall.
Also make sure your floor will hold the weight of your tank.
Extra Money:I think this hobby is really more of an addiction so get ready to be taken over by it! It’s always a good idea to have extra cash around in case you need something for your tank that is necessary that you haven’t thought of. There is nothing worse than looking at an empty tank while you wait to get more gear.
Omar…make sure you get that damsel out of there when you upgrade!
And please upgrade sooner than later. That’s way too many fish in a 30g tank in addition some of those fish (the copperband in particular) needs a bigger tank to really feel comfortable.
Hi Mark-
Huge fan and I really appreciate all of your videos and how you take the time to articulate to all levels the do’s and don’ts of this great hobby!! Currently I have a 75 gallon salt with fish and coral and next week I’m going to set up a 155 gallon bowfront with fish and coral as well. I’m going to have about a 3 in live sand bed, and have Figi live rock for the cycle process… along with the refugium. My questions are since I plan on adding a phosphate reactor should I install it before or after the tank cycles? Also how long should my tank cycle before I start transferring my fish and my clean up crew into the new tank?
Thank you in advance and for your help!
Devin
Hi Mr Saltwater, long time watcher first time poster here. I love your vids, especially the Friday quick tips, and have watched your vid on auto top ups which was useful but it doesn’t help with my situation.. As my RO DI top up unit is above the tank even when the top up is disengaged the freshwater continues to flow into my tank due to gravity.
How can I prevent this from occurring? My tubing is only 1/4 inch so adding air holes in the piping above both water lines to prevent the siphon would probably not work? Is there another quick fix? Is there some kind of valve out there to stop this?
Nick…I’d move your top off reservoir so that it is at the same level or below your tank. Then run the top off tube to the top of your tank. That way when the top off stops, gravity will push the RODI water back into the reservoir instead of into your tank.
Hey Mark,
You have me sold on getting a Ro/Di filter. That being said I have a 37 gal saltwater tank that has tap water in it now. So my question is how do I go about switching to Ro/Di water when I get the unit?
Mark,
I am thinking about getting a controller for my new 75 gal tank and some thing I would like to know is can I use the controller for my a.t.o and can I use any float switch with it?
Daniel…you can use it control float switches. The best float switches for it are from autotopoff.com
@Jed what up buddy I have a 10 gal in my basement for QT it works out great u can get one at petland or petco for @ 10$ and a little hang On filter for it with some carbon and that will be fine. Also you can use your water change from display for the Qt if u want to leave it setup full time( as I do), so there is less work also as far as medicine copper is the best for most cases but remeadies are case by case basis meaning different meds for different illness. I hope this helped ya I’m no expert but this has worked for me for @ a year now so don’t flame me as a know it alll I’m just helpin with what I know take it for what it’s worth. BTW I usually QT my fish @ a month. Mark u rock buddy love your work thank u
Daniel…as you do water changes, you’ll eventually get all the old water out.
Can you explain more about the three days without light?Does that mean moonlights also?And if the tank has natural light coming in should I put something over it.
Mark,
I was wondering if you could email me what you charge for the apex controller?
Thanks Daniel
I was wondering what you charged for your frags . How much is your shipping and handling fees.
hi mark,,,, I love your videos. My question is I have a 120 reef with crushed coral for my substrate. Should I change this to a type of sand? Please let me know!!!!!!! Thanks mark.
How do I stop ick in my 55 gallon saltwater tank? Also I have more of an aggressive tank, but I wanted to know what would be a good clean up crew for an aggressive tank.
Hi Mark
This is Skies, once more on my 55 gallon saltwater tank. I also wanted to know what would be some good Anemones and Corals for a somewhat aggressive tank, what I have in my tank now is >
Lunare Wrasse
Panther Grouper
Niger Trigger
Tomini Tang
Foxface
Ocellaris Clownfish and a Snowflake Eel
i wold love to see one on t5 vs metal hilde b/c i have t5 on a 100gallon and i was thinking on going with metal hilde so i would like to see one on that thank you
i have stsrted a new 40 gallon out of an aqurium that was a 25 gallon aqurium and used all of the water from the 25 gallon and all of the live rock tand in setting it up I noticed that I had more room from the rocks to where
the water could flow through them and areated the rocks in the water with the powerheads as much as possible. I am undecided on how I want to build the wet and dry can you shead some light on this for me. The perimiters in the aqurium are all good I still have 4 hermits crabs living in there.
Mark,
I am setting up a 180 gal. reef tank. 61″ wide x 31″ front to back x 24″ deep. The supplier I have been talking with recommends not going with metal halide lighting and using fluorescents instead to avoid the chiller. What is your take on this idea? I wouldn’t mind saving the money but do not want to limit what I can have in my tank or regret it in the long run. Thanks for your time.
Dan
I f I were to use calk in my fourty gallon tank about how much would I start off using ?my ph is always 8.3 .
Love your videos! Where do you get all of your shirts? They are great!
Hey there recently i have had a problem with my tank… flame angel, bicolor angel, and a yellow tang. When i went to turn on the lights in the morning i found them dead… i moved all of the other fish to a emergency tank they were all breathing heavy and not moving much, but now that they are in a different tank they are all eating and swimming fine. I’m not sure what caused this to happen no signs of diease just all of the sudden bam
I was wondering can you just use a ro unit on a saltwater reef tank or do you have to use a rodi unit?
do a review on that fish place in lancaster pa i would love to see how you think of it p/z
love your site and took alote to help me build my 40 g nano i see you have a fresh air attatched to your protien skimmer running out side to help with your ph know i live in calgary alberta and it gets cold up here in the winter do you think i would have problems with the fresh air line freezing up thanks
Darren…I think you would be ok.
Do you recommend a calsium reactor on a 320 lt/90g sps reef tank
http://youtu.be/CvflCdjhzHk
i like this the best Purple Coraline Algae Live Rock can you do a show on how to really make it grow and is purple the best algae or is there better what type is good and what not good to have and how to fix it . thanks Mark can’t wait to see it you the best
im also interested in those aqua-mags, do you know whether or not they are able to ship tom australia? plz reply
hello mark i have started looking for an led light for my lps and sps reef aquarium, i do not want to use metal halides because they are too expensive to run, do you know of any led’s that have minimal blue tint but are good for sps/lps.
Hi, I watch the episode about a skimmer called SWC Cone Skimmer. Can you tell me where I could find one of those or can you tell me whats the best skimmer to use? You can e-mail me back. Thank you.
hi, in australia i can’t find an apex controller and ive heard there about 400+ and if thats the case then there probably about $600 here but do you think you could post an apex junior here for less then $350.
Lewis..there is no international version of the Apex currently.
oh…ok,but i am looking for an led fixture,how much was that ecotech marine radion, you got 2 so how much did that add up to, $1000? probably $1300 here, everything is so expensive here in australia
Lewis…the Radions are $750 USD each, so 2 are $1500 USD
thats farely cheap for an led with all that cool stuff on it, i think thats the led i’ll go for.
but why do i need an rodi unit, why not just an ro unit?
and also where did you get your dry rock for your reef tank
I got mine from a local store that carries it Lewis. You can get it online here:http://www.mrSaltWaterTank.com/site/BRS
The DI stages takes the TDS down to 0. Just RO water still has a TDS of 5-8.
i sent an email to bulk reef supply and they said that they could not ship to australia
but what if i want to keep lps corals, like you said, wouldn’t the water be too clean for them?
My green bubble anemon just split in two is that a good thing or a bad thing. I never saw one do that.
Next Comments →