Aquariculture: A Hacker's Guide

For nearly twenty years, my friends, colleagues and family have been gently pushing me to write an “aquarium book.” I suspect the push was gentle because they knew I was resistant to the idea of devoting the time and energy to a project with so little potential for an adequate return. I have always been passionate about the aquarium hobby and the availability of scientifically sound and tested advice. I have always been concerned about the plethora of aquarium books that present themselves as solid information sources when they are, in fact, often no more than a reworking of the same old and inaccurate information. I have often paraphrased Stephen J. Gould in this manner, “the advance of aquarium knowledge is hindered less by factual lacks than by conceptual locks”. Conceptual locks are all over the aquascape.
Instead of a book (which may eventually happen) I have chosen to create this blog. Throughout this blog, I intend to present a wide range of topics, all of which are related directly to aquarium art and science.

In 1979, I coined the term aquariculture to describe this art and science of aquarium keeping: The term was used as the title of an international, scientific journal covering aquarium science and technology that I edited and published along with my wife. The original title was The Journal of Aquariculture but was eventually changed to Journal of Aquariculture & Aquatic Sciences. JAAS ceased publishing in 2000.

I have been an aquarium hobbyist for the majority of my life and I have been involved in the aquarium business for more than half of my life. To create this blog on a subject that is an integral part of my life is to finally layout, for all to see, my principles and beliefs, and to invite criticism. I will keep the exposition of my personal beliefs to a bare minimum, but I will included them as necessary to make points about the practical art of aquarium and pond keeping.

I will always try to lay out the hard, provable science for those aspects of aquariculture that are in little doubt. Unfortunately, these simple facts are often the most frequently misunderstood and endlessly speculated upon by aquarists and pond keepers. Some of this blog’s content will be viewed by some readers as too technical, or too scientific. The field of aquariculture has suffered from a plethora of books, magazine articles and, of course, internet postings that have glossed over, dumbed down, or incorrectly presented its underlying principles. For those aspects that have been little studied by science I have provided the blog followers with as much information as possible to guide conclusions or, at least, to give the push needed to further study. Those aspects of aquariculture that are not prone to study and quantification are what I call the art. One only need read and study to become a successful aquarist or pondkeeper. The basic science is known, and can serve as a simple recipe for success. To become an accomplished aquarist or pondkeeper one needs experience in the application of the science and art. First, be a scientist and then an engineer. As with most endeavors the scientist and engineer working together produce the best results.