Hi Everyone

I’m very excited to announce that, at long last, we have finished revamping our

company website www.ecosystemaquarium.com.  We have added some new

features, such as:

1) The “Article of the Week,” a section on our home page where we will post general reef (aquarium) related articles that will help you in your endeavors to make your aquariums

more successful;

2) An “R & D” section, in which we will regularly post our ongoing research

projects and the associated links; and,

3) The “Aquarium Portraits,” where we will feature successful aquariums that use

the EcoSystem Method and/or related products.

Enjoy!

Here is the first update of the tanks that are housing exactly the same corals and fish and utilize the same lighting and equipment other than filtration method for each tank. Water parameters are recorded weekly and the health and growth of the fish and corals will be documented both in a log and via pictures and video.

1. These tanks are set up the same and utilize the same equipment with only the mud substrate being different. These three mud substrates are Miracle Mud from EcoSystem Aquarium, Mineral Mud from CaribSea and Fiji Mud from Walt Smith.

2. We have also set up four equivalent tanks, each of which uses a separate filtration method. The systems include a Berlin tank, a tank using both a protein skimmer and Miracle Mud ( Paletta method), a modified Paletta method tank where the skimmer is only on for 6 hours each day and a tank using only the EcoSystem method.

Like many of you, I came into the marine hobby back in 1987 (my junior year at UCLA), because of the vibrant colors of marine fishes. My goal was simple: I wanted to keep the coloration of my fish as vibrant as the day I bought them and also wanted them to remain disease-free in my marine fish-only tank.

This is a typical marine fish-only tank from google images of Sergio Domingue’s tank from 2005.

Simple idea and goal…but it was a constant struggle and full of heartache! It took me almost 15 years to achieve, but not without much frustration, money and yes, a lot of heartache (watching my fish die) as I experimented with countless fish-only aquariums. I came to the realization that it was a losing battle to achieve this simple goal long term unless…(watch this video)

What I came up with is this 400-gallon marine/reef aquarium. Note the specially selected corals and invertebrates in the aquarium. I am able to keep any type of marine fish I want in this aquarium, even if they are considered unsafe to keep in a reef tank! Indeed, this should be a new trend in marine fish-only aquariums, as all the fish being maintained are quite healthy and very long lived! This aquarium is even more special…until next time.

Right side of tank (simulates shallow reef)

Front of tank (shows both simulations)

Left side of tank (shows deeper reef)

The grey bin in the middle (sitting on it is a refugium with 20 lbs of Miracle Mud) is used as a common reservoir sump (in which we grow soft corals) for the 95 gallons saltwater planted tank to the left, the 150 gallons surge and tide pool tank in the middle and the 400 gallons marine fish-only tank to the right. The total volume of this combined display aquariums is approximately 700 gallons. These display / experimental aquariums are very unique. Perhaps they exist the first time ever in our marine aquarium hobby / industry. More detail on these aquariums…later.

But here are some facts:
1. EcoSystem Aquarium salt is used throughout our display / experimental aquariums
2. Approximately 5 oz of EcoSystem calcium A, calcium B and calcium C base on the Balling Method is added to the system daily
3. Weekly water change is approximately 4-5 gallons for this 700+ gallons system – siphoning the detritus from the bottom of the grey bin
4. One UV40w is used
5. No protein skimmer is used.

Just want to update you of what is going on at EcoSystem Aquarium. Welcome to our new showroom. Here we are setting up some display and experimental aquariums that are unique and very likely not seen before.

Left Side of Showroom

Right Side of Showroom

Does anyone know the difference between a refugium filter and the EcoSystem Method? Let me explain clearly here. The EcoSystem Method has three distinct functions to a filter.

1. The EcoSystem Method takes proteins (food, fish feces, etc…) and breaks it down to ammonia then to nitrite then to nitrate and then to nitrogen gases. A complete breakdown of protein!

2. The EcoSystem Method will continuously release minerals and trace elements contained in the Miracle Mud substrate into the aquarium water making it a comprehensive filtration system.

3. The refugium is just 1 of 3 main function of The EcoSystem Method. The EcoSystem Method provides complete filtration by answering all the needs of the aquarium.

What type of filter system do you want to use on your reef now?