Over the many years I’ve kept marine aquariums, guests in my home have more than occasionally noted the relatively low number of specimens, particularly fish, in my tanks. You could say it’s been a hallmark of my fishkeeping career to understock my aquariums, sometimes to the point that they look rather sparse. But there’s a method to the madness of my modest stocking levels. Here are five benefits that I derive from stocking sparingly—and you can too: 1) Fewer compatibility issues While I’ve seen my share of piscine pugilism, most of my aquariums have been fairly tranquil. This is due in part to careful specimen selection and introducing species in the proper order (least aggressive to most aggressive), but I’m convinced that giving the fish plenty of elbow (fin?) room so they can stay out of each other’s business has played a big role in promoting the peace as well. 2) Decreased demand on filtration In a lightly stocked aquarium, the biofilter (if well established), protein skimmer, and any chemical filtrants used can easily keep pace with the nitrogenous wastes and dissolved organic compounds, providing a good margin of error against ammonia spikes and other water-quality issues. 3) Reduced maintenance Having a lower level of dissolved pollutants translates into slower algal growth, slower accumulation of nitrate, etc. As a result, it generally takes less “elbow grease” to keep a lightly stocked aquarium in good health and looking its best More: 5 Reasons to Understock Your Marine Aquarium… More:
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