From Microcosm Aquarium Explorer

FEATURES: Breeding the Green Mandarinfish

SPECIES PROFILES: Frontosa Cichlid, Great Aquarium Species.

HELP!LINE: Building A Dream Reef

FEATURES: New Ambon Anglerfish Discovered

TRAVEL: Where the Whale Sharks Swim

[edit] Welcome to Microcosm Aquarium Explorer

The all-new resource for adventurous, involved aquarists and eco-travelers.

Microcosm™ Aquarium Explorer is the creation of an international team of leading aquarium authors, marine biologists, underwater photographers, and tropical naturalists.

Launching with more than 6,700 pages of content, Microcosm Aquarium Explorer is a new world-class resource for a community of demanding enthusiasts looking to:

• Create Vibrant Marine & Freshwater Aquariums
• Keep Fascinating, Healthy Fishes, Invertebrates & Aquatic Plants
• Stay Current with Reef, Rainforest & Aquarium Ecology
• Explore Tropical Waters & Destinations
• Find Sources of Aquatic Information, Goods & Services

Our goal is to inspire and inform those with a passion for replicating coral reef and tropical freshwater ecosystems in their home aquaria — or exploring them in the wild and during their travels.

Stay Inspired, Stay Informed, Stay Connected
with Microcosm Aquarium Explorer

[edit] Where the Whale Sharks Swim

Located in sunny downtown Atlanta, this is the world’s largest aquarium. It houses three specimens of the world’s largest fish, the whale shark...Read more...

[edit] Tank Setup in 10 Simple Steps

Knowing you want a marine aquarium is not enough. You wouldn’t go into a car dealership and buy a new vehicle without first making at least a mental checklist of the features you absolutely need, the options you might like, and an idea of how much you want to spend. Read more...

[edit] Model Aquariums

To start the thought process for planning a new community aquarium, and to highlight some combinations that expert aquarists have found to work, here are some models that can easily be replicated using readily available species, all profiled on this site.

Marine Communities | Freshwater Communities

[edit] Palau: Blue Heaven for Big Fish

The current is strong, so you attach yourself to a line and hook and then attach the hook to a lump of dead coral, relax and watch. The first thing that overwhelms you is the sheer density of fish around you... Read more...

[edit] New on Microcosm Aquarium Explorer

[edit] The Wild Side: No Vacancy, No Evolution

"Why aren’t there more insects in the sea? Insects, after all, make up the bulk of all known animal species — most animals are insects — yet hardly any insects live in the sea.

It’s not because of the water. Many insects live in freshwater for at least part of their lives. Read more...

[edit] Stopping Extinctions?

[edit] The Aquarium Ecologist

Endangered species issues have engendered some of the most bitter political disputes in American history. Mention the endangered Snail Darter (Percina tanasi) or the threatened Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) in a crowd, and someone is likely to get his or her political toes stepped on, regardless of the position you declare. Biodiversity issues are particularly touchy, I think, because preservation may require altering or suspending some of our cherished notions of personal property rights. Read more...

[edit] Just Published

Reef Fishes Volume 4 by Scott W. Michael.

Damselfishes & Anemonefishes

The much-anticipated fourth volume in Scott Michael’s landmark Reef Fishes Series brilliantly profiles hundreds of the species that are among the most popular among marine aquarists of all skill levels. Covers the sprawling Family Pomacentridae—the brilliant damsels, chromis, sergeants, demoiselles, and gregories in all their amazing colors and diversity, as well as the many species of alluring anemonefishes (clownfishes) and their host anemones. Read more...