Elasmobranch Enthusiasts (Part 3): Modern Husbandry – Filtration
By Paul Poeschl
Carbon reactor plumbed before a large biotower
From the ferocious great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) to the graceful white-spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari), Elasmobranchii are a diverse group of boneless fishes that are circumglobal, inhabiting a diverse array of habitats, temperature ranges, salinity, and niches in the world’s oceans and rivers.
It is no wonder that these unique creatures, while usually boasting relatively bland coloration compared to the typical teleostei reef fishes, pique the interest of pretty much every hobbyist. This group of fish definitely has its challenges but, with proper information and species selection, can be kept fairly easily by a moderately skilled aquarist with a generous budget.
Another elasmobranch curveball
So your system is all coming together. You have the appropriate space and the ability to provide appropriate food and nutrition. But elasmobranchs throw another curveball at aquarists. As with a messy two-year-old, their waste and leftover food are a concern that must be addressed by providing good filtration for an elasmobranch system.
Tap out
It starts with the source water. Reverse-osmosis, de-ionized (RO/DI) water is definitely a great tool in this aspect, but not always necessary depending on your tap water. Be mindful of nitrate, phosphate, nickel, …read more
Read more here: Saltwater Smarts
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