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Advanced Education

There is no particular litmus test to conclusively determine what makes one an “advanced aquarist.” If there was a test of such a kind, it’s hard to say what the criteria might even be. Certainly, that oft-used “numbers of years as a hobbyist” yardstick doesn’t mean too much, since it is difficult to ascertain one’s actual level of involvement in terms of relevant research hours, hands-on experience, etc. Level of formal education is almost as inadequate for this determination, as it is hard to really know how much of the training pertains directly to core, much less advanced, aquarium husbandry.

Undoubtedly, there are some reasonably objective measures that apply here. Years of employment with a successful company in the aquarium industry, for example. Completion of an intensive aquarium- or aquaculture-specific training program certainly counts. Personal achievements such as breeding/rearing of numerous or challenging species from one’s home might even “count.”

But what ultimately matters here is the attitude of the aquarist. Above all, an advanced aquarist is reasonably confident (i.e. sufficiently competent) to take on big, and especially novel, challenges and does so with a sense of adventure. This usually means thousands of hours with hands in the water. It almost certainly involves many, many failures and disappointments. As such, a truly advanced aquarium hobbyist (“professional” or not) finds more satisfaction in sharing knowledge than in boasting of their own experience or accomplishments.

In this section, you will learn all sorts of advanced aquarium science, particularly in the areas of live foods and natural water quality maintenance. And perhaps pass along some knowledge down the road yourself!

41 Posts

3 Most Expensive Saltwater Fish

Certain fish species are considered to be "Holy Grails" in the marine aquarium hobby. These are hardly ever seen in tanks around the
Read More about 3 Most Expensive Saltwater Fish

Corals in a Box of Water: Creating a Natural Reef Tank

We’ve come a long, long way in advancing natural marine aquarium keeping. Those of us who started out in the 80’s with barren
Read More about Corals in a Box of Water: Creating a Natural Reef Tank

Reef Now: Financing Your New CADE Aquarium System

No one said that reef aquarium keeping is a cheap addiction (hey, at least it’s a healthy one!). The hobby is rife with stories of
Read More about Reef Now: Financing Your New CADE Aquarium System

Copepods under high magnification

Gutloading Live Microcrustaceans

In the sense that very, very few animals specialize to eat only one thing, all animals are omnivores, and prefer live foods. For
Read More about Gutloading Live Microcrustaceans

iodate atomic weight

Dosing Iodine in the Reef Aquarium

Reef aquarium hobbyists already have enough on their plates trying to keep levels of minerals such as calcium and magnesium levels up
Read More about Dosing Iodine in the Reef Aquarium

A Closer Look at Carotenoid Pigments

Meeting the dietary requirements of a reef aquarium--a delicate microcosm filled with diverse organisms with varied nutritional
Read More about A Closer Look at Carotenoid Pigments

Aquariums like this are very tuned for Coral Growth

Correcting Nutrient Instability

Oh, the paradox of algae. They have ruined many tanks--even caused some frustrated aquarists to leave the hobby forever. Yet, our tanks
Read More about Correcting Nutrient Instability

A Refugium without substrate.

Getting to the Bottom of Refugium Substrates

These days, it seems as though a pretty solid majority of reef aquarium systems include a refugium. The growing popularity of refugia
Read More about Getting to the Bottom of Refugium Substrates

No, not this kind of cryptic zone!

Cryptic Zones in the Refugium

What are Cryptic Zones, Anyway? The planted refugium and its associated cryptic zones have gained a lot of traction among reef
Read More about Cryptic Zones in the Refugium

The machinations of Microbes

Comparing the Metabolic Modes of Aquarium Organisms

Few, if any, of us get “into” aquarium keeping to become marine ecologists, or become experts in metabolic processes. But it does
Read More about Comparing the Metabolic Modes of Aquarium Organisms

A Closer Look at Coral Tissue Necrosis

Whether you are a dedicated, full-time coral farmer or a moderately invested hobbyist, reef aquarium keeping is risky business. This is
Read More about A Closer Look at Coral Tissue Necrosis

R. palustris: The Do-All Aquarium Bacteria

The art of reef aquarium keeping has come a long way in a surprisingly short amount of time. These days, big developments in the trade
Read More about R. palustris: The Do-All Aquarium Bacteria

A coral beauty marine angelfish covered with marine fish disease crypotocaryon irritans

Why You Need a Quarantine Tank

Most of us invest a lot into our aquarium systems. Not just financially, but also time, sweat, and dedication. The best means of
Read More about Why You Need a Quarantine Tank

Enhancing Coral Nutrition with Purple Non-Sulfur Bacteria

Most people who are familiar with corals--whether admiring them in the wild or displaying them in a glass box--understand quite well
Read More about Enhancing Coral Nutrition with Purple Non-Sulfur Bacteria

Be Prepared for a power outage if you have a maarine aquarium!

Power Outage Preparedness

Some aspects of this hobby are often overlooked until problems actually arise. Marine aquariums require a lot of time and dedication,
Read More about Power Outage Preparedness

Culturing Vital Bacteria for Marine Aquariums

Purple Non-Sulfur Bacteria and Natural Aquarium Filtration

Bacteria are, to say the least, ubiquitous. They are in our guts. They are in just about every breath of air we take. They most
Read More about Purple Non-Sulfur Bacteria and Natural Aquarium Filtration

Advanced lab equipment for testing trace elements

Advanced Testing and Trace Elements

Starting out in the aquarium hobby, most people simply buy test strips (which I do not recommend whatsoever) or “master” liquid test
Read More about Advanced Testing and Trace Elements

A beautiful filefish in the wild.

The Anti-Aiptasia Trifecta: Decimating Glass Anemones with Peppermint Shrimp, Molly Millers and Aiptasia-Eating Filefish

A lot of us are pretty careful to avoid introducing pests like aiptasia when building and adding to a reef aquarium or refugium. This
Read More about The Anti-Aiptasia Trifecta: Decimating Glass Anemones with Peppermint Shrimp, Molly Millers and Aiptasia-Eating Filefish

Tig Pods: A Food for Many

The reef aquarium hobby continues to reach new heights. This is most evident by the extraordinarily beautiful systems we see on display
Read More about Tig Pods: A Food for Many

Thalassiosira: Big, Brown and Beneficial

There are a multitude of uses for live phytoplankton in aquaculture and marine aquarium keeping. These uses can be nearly as varied as
Read More about Thalassiosira: Big, Brown and Beneficial

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