marinescape

BLACK FRIDAY INSTANT OCEAN SALE

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 21:39:11 GMT

INSTANT OCEAN BLACK FRIDAY SALE STARTS TODAY!! PRE~ORDER YOUR SALT TODAY. DELIVERED NEXT WEEK TO MARINESCAPE.

INSTANT OCEAN REEF CRYSTALS~$76.50 PLUS TAX

INSTANT OCEAN SEA SALT~$63.75 PLUS TAX

ORDERS MUST BE PAID IN FULL, E~TRANSFER OR IN~STORE PRE~ORDER. OFFER VALID WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.

MARINESCAPE ONE YEAR CUSTOMER CELEBRATION DAY

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 02:39:07 GMT

MARINESCAPE ONE YEAR CUSTOMER CELEBRATION

Marinescape is celebrating all are amazing customers on APRIL 28th for our ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION DAY!!

We can not believe that a year has passed already. We have a whole line-up of amazing prizes. Every customer gets a prize. Full prize details can be found on our facebook page & web site. Patrick Foster & Trina will be at Marinescape to chat with Salty Sundays. There will be a FREE BBQ, refreshments & goodies. We are so thankful to each & everyone of you for your love & support over this past year. Marinescape will always strive for premium products. We have some exciting new lines available at Marinescape, and we are the ONLY authorized dealer of Fauna Marin in Ottawa. Please join us this Sunday to celebrate a wonderful year at Marinescape from 12-5pm.

How many fish is too many fish?

slatter.lisa@yahoo.ca (Lisa Slatter) — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 16:38:22 GMT

First as a quick disclaimer about any views I express in this post, they are NOT SUGGESTIONS about how every aquarium should be stocked; considerations such as budget for equipment/filtration, frequency of feedings for the tank inhabitants, time dedicated to system upkeep, or even the artistic image the reefkeeper has in mind about what their aquarium should look like, are all aspects of the hobby that are personal choices that everyone will have to make which will affect how they approach stocking levels. Therefore, coming up with a one-size-fits-all answer to this question isn’t really possible, nor would I even want it to be, since the unique ways that everyone approaches this question is what makes this hobby so unique, individual and expressive. So without further ado, let’s explore by answering some common questions many aquarists have when they first start introducing life to their tank!

“How many inches of fish per gallon?”

Odds are this is the first angle any beginner aquarist approaches this topic, and they get informed of the classic 1 inch of fish per 1-3 gallon “rule”. In my opinion, this is only a useful guideline when thinking about the related chemistry that occurs when we increase the number of organisms we add to the aquarium. With more mouths to feed comes the responsibility to add more food to the aquarium, which inevitably results in more waste produced that has to be removed from the system. Depending on how we set up the system, this can range dramatically. While a system can certainly be sustained on a HOB filter and water changes, it won’t be as robust of a system that incorporates a sump packed with a protein skimmer, algae turf scrubbers and an automated carbon dosing system (to name a few ways of reducing waste buildup).

Adams, J. (2016, July 26). Vertex supra C+ filter is a hyper-engineered reef sump: Reef builders: The reef and saltwater aquarium blog . Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog. https://reefbuilders.com/2015/10/13/vertex-supra-filter/

We have to then play a balancing act of adding things to the system while monitoring and maintaining nitrate and phosphate levels (or in the case of a brand new system, ammonia and nitrite levels) to see what our system is capable of and making adjustments as needed.

“Does this fish do well alone?”

Almost certainly it doesn’t. While there are a few notable exceptions for this such as a pair of clownfish, or certain species of predator fish, most of the fish we keep are social creatures that live in diverse and densely packed ecosystems, and will feel more comfortable in an aquarium that reflects that. In this context, “alone” doesn’t just refer to having multiples of the same fish but other tank mates as well, as schooling or shoaling behavior is quite rare to see in this hobby. For example, while an aquarium large enough to have a school of a dozen or more Hippo Tangs ( Paracanthurus hepatus) is well beyond the reach of all but the most elite reef keepers, we can certainly add other small, active fish such as wrasses, chromis, blennies or even other species of tangs that can give these fish the feeling that they are a part of a complex social structure.

The reality is that many of these animals will be more active and behave more confidently when surrounded by other reef organisms, and when kept alone will usually find a cave or other hiding spot and stay out of site, or worse, refuse to come out during feedings partially because they associate the idea of being alone with the presence of a predator nearby (seek further information on dithering for more on this phenomena)

“What’s the biggest fish I can put into my tank?”

This is probably the most divisive question here that will raise the most controversy, but we’re this deep anyways so let’s take a stab at it!

There is certainly more to providing a stimulating environment than just tank size; Large angels such as the pomacanthus genus enjoy a combination of open spaces to swim and large caves to dive into, hawkfish will appreciate a perch that oversees the reef in front of them, chromis and damsels will swim in and out of branching structures and SPS colonies, and some species of gobies are perfectly content to make a hole in the sand to live in with a symbiotic shrimp. This is to say, the volume of the aquarium is just one of many considerations when thinking about housing any particular fish, as is almost akin to giving yourself a playground to build an ecosystem inside of it. If we have failed to provide these niches to the fish, it may not be as simple as not providing a big enough playground, it could just be a matter of poor choices when aquascaping or coral placements.

Revisiting the idea of bioload in the system, if we add a big predator fish like a Volitan Lionfish ( Pterois volitans) into a relatively small aquarium, we face the challenge of adding fish that are at the same time big enough to to become expensive snacks, while also not producing so much waste that we can’t keep up with the necessary husbandry. It’s unfortunately a law of nature that “big fish eat small fish”, and if we’re forced to add other large fish into the system as tankmates, we have to be sure that the system we built is capable of processing the amount of waste we are demanding it to.

Final thoughts

So how many fish is too many? Well, it depends. If you have a system you can trust to keep waste from building up, an aquascape that can provide homes for all the fish you want to keep, and perhaps most importantly the diligence to pay attention to all of your inhabitants and the cleanliness of the water they swim in, I’d say the more the merrier! Obviously I wouldn’t advocate going out and tripling your fish population in a single trip to your LFS, but ideally a reef tank should house a healthy diversity of fish and other reef organisms that complement each other in the spaces they inhabit. I would even go as far as to say that, if chemistry weren’t a limiting factor, my ideal reef would be far more densely populated than most reef tanks I see. Strictly speaking on the psychological aspects of keeping fish happy and healthy, a busy reef is a more favorable environment than a sparsely populated one.

What's New

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 20:15:31 GMT

WHAT IS NEW AT MARINESCAPE

COME AND VISIT US

WOW!! What a month....First of all I would like to thank Keith & Mark for guiding us over the past month, introducing us to wonderful suppliers, teaching us the day to day operations at Marinescape. Keith & Mark dedicated nearly 24 years to Ottawa Reefers. A huge CONGRATULATIONS for a successful 24 years. Marinescape has made a lot of changes over this last month as some of you may have seen pictures of our renovations. Renovations include decor changes, system updates, the updated coral showcase with all new Radion lighting sumps & filtration installed. Marinescape has been working with NEW SUPPLIERS as we want to provide Ottawa unique livestock on a weekly to bi-weekly schedule. The weekly inventory will be uploaded to Marinescape FACEBOOK page weekly, it provides an overview of our new inventory...but not all are posted as we want you to see our new lines in store. We have extended the hours Tuesday to Saturday 12-6 PM & OPEN ON SUNDAY 12-5 PM. We have introduced new lines of product, & will continue sourcing quality products to carry at Marinescape. FAUNA MARIN is now being SOLD at Marinescape including Salt, food & additives. We are happy to have the opportunity to help Ottawa Reefers obtain the quality products of Fauna Marin. We welcomed James Liston to the Marinescape family. We are excited to have James with us Stay tuned reefers as we be are on many social media platforms to keep you up to date with amazing corals & fish. REMEMBER to sign up to our email system as each month on the 28th, ONE LUCKY customer wins a $50.00 gist certificate to be used within the month. ( Monthly winners are to use their gift card within 30 days of Marinescape announcing winner). It has been truly amazing the support you have shown us over the last month. It has been amazing to meet everyone that has come into the store. So keep joining us in this adventure reefers as we have so many exciting new changes coming to Marinescape!

The Top 6 SaltWater Fish To Begin Your Aquarium

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 20:08:14 GMT

Saltwater aquariums are a beautiful and fascinating addition to any home or office. They provide a glimpse into the incredible world of the ocean, and can be a great way to relax and unwind after a long day. But for those new to the hobby, choosing the right fish can be a daunting task. With so many species to choose from, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. That's why we've put together a list of six saltwater fish that are perfect for beginners.

Clownfish

Clownfish are one of the most recognizable and popular saltwater fish in the aquarium hobby, and for good reason. They are hardy, easy to care for, and come in a variety of colors and patterns. They are also known for their unique behavior, including their symbiotic relationship with anemones. Clownfish are a great choice for beginners because they are forgiving of mistakes and can adapt to a wide range of water conditions.

Hippo Tang

Made famous by the movie Finding Nemo, the Hippo Tang is a beautiful and colourful fish that is perfect for beginners. They are hardy, easy to care for, and can add a stunning pop of colour to any aquarium. Blue Tangs are also active swimmers and can provide hours of entertainment as they dart and play around the tank.

Goby

Gobies are a diverse family of small, colourful fish that are perfect for beginners. They are hardy, peaceful, and don't require a lot of space. They are also known for their unique personalities, and can often be seen perching on rocks or other aquarium decor. Gobies are also great for smaller tanks and can be paired with a variety of other fish.

Royal Gramma

The Royal Gramma is a beautiful and peaceful fish that is perfect for beginners. They are hardy and easy to care for, and can add a stunning pop of color to any aquarium. They are also known for their unique behavior, including their tendency to perch on rocks and other decor. Royal Grammas are also great for smaller tanks and can be paired with a variety of other fish.

Firefish

Firefish are a beautiful and active fish that are perfect for beginners. They are hardy, easy to care for, and can add a stunning pop of colour to any aquarium. They are also known for their unique behavior, including their tendency to dart around the tank and hide in crevices. Firefish are also great for smaller tanks and can be paired with a variety of other fish.

Cardinalfish

Cardinalfish are a beautiful and peaceful fish that are perfect for beginners. They are hardy and easy to care for, and can add a stunning pop of color to any aquarium. They are also known for their unique behavior, including their tendency to hide in caves and crevices. Cardinalfish are also great for smaller tanks and can be paired with a variety of other fish.

Saltwater aquariums can be a wonderful hobby, and choosing the right fish is key to success.

The six species listed above are hardy, easy to care for, and can provide hours of entertainment for beginners. As always, be sure to do your research before adding any fish to your aquarium, and make sure you provide a healthy and stable environment for your new aquatic friends. We at Marinescape are ready and able to help you with all the questions you have about starting your saltwater tank! Don’t hesitate to reach out and contact us to learn more!