Saltwater Fish: Compatibility Issue When Stocking Your Marine Aquarium

In the first three series of marine aquarium for newbies, I gave a basic overview of the marine ecosystem, its parameter requirement, and the proper equipment needed to sustain a good environment for your saltwater fish.

Now with these in hand, let’s talk about the basic guide for the proper selection and care of the fish that are commonly available to the marine hobbyist. It is mandatory for marine hobbyists to learn as much as they can about different fish species before investing in them.

Compatibility and Aggression Issues

Compatibility Issues: Compatibility between the inhabitants you are choosing for your aquarium, especially concerning diet and aggression, is a key issue. Most marine fish are predators, eating only meat. Some eat invertebrates and corals, while others are algae eaters and most are omnivorous and can be trained to eat frozen meaty food or even dried seaweed and pellets.

Aggression Issues: Many marine fish are territorial and will respond very aggressively when they feel threatened or overcrowded. On the other hand, some species live in social groups and only do well if there are others of the same species present. One way to prevent overcrowding is to keep fish that will occupy different areas of the aquarium. For example, have some fish that swim in the water column, some dart among the rocks, and some that live on the substrate. Also, do take note which species are likely to make meals out of their tank mates!

Basic Tips on Stocking Your Marine Aquarium

A common pitfall is overcrowding the aquarium. Marine fish require more space and better water quality than most freshwater fish. This means having fewer fish in the aquarium, and resisting the temptation to add to your stock.

Keep about one inch of fish for every three to five gallons of water. This means that a two-foot-long tank should only contain three to five fish that are each no more than 2 inches in length. A heavier fish will eat more and produce more waste than a then-bodied fish of the same length.

The number of fish you keep being directly related to your filtration system’s ability to deal with the waste products produced. Overcrowding not only threatens the water quality, but may also stress the organisms, making them more susceptible to parasites and disease. This is especially true for some fishes like Tangs.

Acclimatization: Because the water temperature, salinity, and pH of the water at the local aquarium shop may be quite different from that in your fish tank, it is essential to acclimatize your fish for about 20 to 30 minutes to reduce shock and stress to these sensitive marine creatures.

Do not pour the water from the bag containing the fish straight into your tank as it may contain harmful medication like copper or even parasites.

Instead, pour away one quarter of the bag’s water and replace it with an equivalent amount of tank water. Repeat this every 10 minutes until the water in the bag are similar to your tank’s. Check for stress symptoms and prolong the water change if necessary. If everything seems all right, scoop the fish out and place it gently in the tank.

Choosing and Buying Livestock: Choose fish that are alert, curious, of strong color, swimming strongly, and eating well. Check for parasites like ich and avoid such fish to prevent your aquarium from being contaminated.

Livestock Compatibility: There are some fishes that are impossible to keep in the same aquarium because of their different feeding habits, aggressive, and space requirements. remark: Long Sentence species may require specialized systems dedicated to housing them.

Common species that are easy for new hobbyists to care for:

• Clownfish
• Damsels
• Chromises
• Blennies/Gobies
• Groupers
• Hawkfish

Species for intermediate hobbyists:

• Anthias
• Basslets
• Tangs
• Angelfish
• Butterflyfish

Fish to avoid due to their poor or fussy feeding requirements:

• Mandarin fish
• Sea horses
• Pipefish

Fish to avoid due to their poisonous/venomous nature:

• Stonefish
• Lionfish
• Puffer fish
• Box fish

Fish to avoid due to specialized housing requirements:

• Sharks
• Eels
• Stingrays

The above list is by no means comprehensive. Please read as many marine hobby books as possible and also go to credible websites or forums for further research.

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