Ethan Cole

Who I Am

I’m Ethan Cole and have been devoting my time to aquaristics for more than eleven years already. My area of specialization is saltwater aquariums and reef tanks because even slight adjustments in equipment, aquatic organisms, maintenance, and water composition have a great impact on the whole system.

The reason why I am still enthusiastic about marine aquariums is that one will always find something to investigate. A reef tank is not just a container filled with fish, water, and corals; it is an interconnected ecosystem that combines filtration systems, biological activities, water movement, lighting, and feeding as well as the aquarium maintenance process.

To have an understanding of marine aquariums, accept that aquariums come together and work as a whole rather than as just separate compartments.

The whole point of my writing is to obtain knowledge about very technical and complicated subjects so that I can provide an easy-to-grasp guide for an aquarium owner.

My 11+ Years of Experience With Marine Aquariums

The knowledge of aquariums that I possess has developed through more than eleven years of research, observation, writing, and studying the day-to-day struggles of saltwater fish keepers.

My initial focus was on tackling the basic principles behind setting up a saltwater aquarium, but I have since moved on to more advanced subjects with regards to the care of reef aquariums.

This includes learning how biological filtration actually works, understanding how live rock helps create a marine environment, knowing what protein skimmers are for, recognizing the importance of water flow, realizing how the level of nutrients has an effect on a system, and determining when consistency is actually preferable to constant changing of equipment and chasing numerical values.

Moreover, I have been spending lots of time studying the interplay between livestock needs and aquarium conditions. None of the organisms that live in the sea, whether they are marine fish, soft corals, LPS corals, SPS corals, or any other reef species, act the same way in the same tank. Good aquarium keeping is based on having the knowledge of such distinctions instead of believing that the same universal solution works for any reef.

This experience shapes how I approach every article I write.

What I Write About

My chief writing and research interests are saltwater aquarium management, reef tank upkeep and maintenance, marine fish care, coral management, aquarium filtration, live rocks, protein skimmers, and water quality.

I routinely discuss related issues:

• saltwater aquarium setup and cycling
• reef tank filtration systems
• aquarium sumps and filter media
• salinity and specific gravity
• ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and phosphate
• pH and reef aquarium stability
• aquarium lighting and coral requirements
• reef tank water flow and circulation
• nutrient management
• fish compatibility and stocking
• feeding marine fish and corals
• algae problems
• routine water changes
• reef tank troubleshooting
• equipment selection and maintenance

I note that these subjects are interrelated rather than unrelated since this is how a real aquarium functions.

Here is an example. The water quality issue usually involves feeding, livestock number, biological filter, maintenance routines, water supply, or nutrient removal rather than a particular piece of equipment.

A good example of the same point is coral health. Coral health depends on water parameters, lighting, water flow, stability, and placement, not just on only one thing.

My Approach to Reef Tank Water Quality

I write quite often on the topic of water quality since it affects everything that is involved in the functioning of a marine aquarium.

In my pool of aquarium limiting factors, I always try to stress that it is not enough to find certain values of these parameters and that one must understand what these parameters say about the tank.

My main goal is to provide the readers with an understanding of the meaning of all the parameters, such as salinity, temperature, pH, ammonia, nitrates, phosphates, alkalis, calcium, and magnesium, in their aquarium.

When it comes to reef keeping, I am convinced that any operation is tied to consistency. Sudden moves can create new issues; hence, I recommend that aquarists be aware of the cause of any change before they start using some additive or equipment.

Proper water quality is also vital for coral ecosystems, as seen in the NOAA tips and recommendations regarding corals.

Live Rock, Filtration, and Protein Skimmers

The process of filtering is very important to my work since it is an area in which many new saltwater aquarium owners encounter many terms.

I cover the details of live rock, biological filtration, mechanical filtration, chemical filtration, sumps, refugiums, and protein skimmers, and I emphasize what each element contributes to aquarium efficiency.

Protein skimmers are a prime example. I prefer explaining how the equipment works so readers can figure out which device will work for them rather than telling them that all reef tanks require some sort of device.

Protein skimmers are widely used in reef aquariums since they help to eliminate organic substances before they are broken down in the system, plus they can also be involved in gas exchange.

It is better to have practical knowledge of how things work than just go through a list of equipment with no idea why it is on the list.

Marine Fish Care and Responsible Stocking

Taking care of marine fish involves a lot more than just selecting aesthetically pleasing fish.

Before introducing a fish into the tank, it is important for aquarists to consider the fish’s size once fully grown, its diet, its behavior and swimming habits, its compatibility, and the type of habitat ideal for it.

I refer to these factors because many problems with the aquarium can be avoided right at the beginning.

It is important to select livestock based on their match to the aquarium habitat since a healthy marine aquarium results from choosing livestock that are suitable for the tank.

The same is true for corals. Knowing the requirements of corals regarding light, water flow, space, feeding, and stability provides a much stronger foundation for aquarists as opposed to relying solely on their visual appeal.

Why I Write About Saltwater Aquariums

I write due to the vast amount of information regarding reef keeping, some of which is not very helpful when one is standing in front of their tank and trying to think about what the next step should be.

My objective is to aid others in this area.

I am looking for my posts to both answer the question of interest and clarify why this is the answer. Whether I speak about protein skimmers, coral placement, live rock, marine fish, reef filtration, water parameters, or aquarium maintenance, I always strive to provide what can be used outside particular situations.

I am also convinced that good aquarium writing should recognize that reef tanks are different. The size of the aquarium, its age, species kept within it, equipment used, ways of maintenance, and objectives matter greatly when one is defining what can work.

That is the reason why I would opt for practical writing rather than a tried-and-true formula.

My Work on Stardexa

On Stardexa, I write about the subjects of saltwater and reef aquariums that I know best and give useful information to aquarists out there.

I want to help both new reef keepers and experienced aquarists in learning how to make informed decisions regarding their aquariums.

It has been over eleven years since I started working with aquariums, but I still approach the subject with the same thinking: know the system and the animals, look for the cause and not just the symptoms, and keep learning.

That is my understanding of responsible reef keeping as well as aquarium writing.

Contact me: [email protected]