By Scott Cole
For many people thinking about setting up an aquarium, the immediate thought is to avoid saltwater tanks because they are to complicated. Saltwater or marine aquariums once setup can be as complex or as simple as you want them to be. You don’t have to have a tank full of corals and delicate invertebrates to enjoy the vibrant colors found in saltwater tanks. Whether you are new to the aquarium hobby or have kept tropical fish in the past, anyone can have a saltwater tank. To be successful doesn’t mean you just throw some water into a tank and head to the local pet store however; some preparation and thought do need to go into setting up your tank.
Without getting too complex, the basic equipment you will need in addition to a tank will include a good quality filter, a heater and lighting. Saltwater tanks will also require that you purchase a hydrometer to measure salt levels in the water. I don’t want to give you the impression that this is an all-inclusive list; this is just the basics to get you up and running. Most local pet stores sell aquarium starter kits that include all the basic equipment. Some larger pet stores will even have kits setup specifically for saltwater fish.
When selecting which equipment to purchase there are a couple things to keep in mind. The most important item you purchase is not the tank or the lights it is the filter. The filter is the heart of your tank. A poor or inadequate filter will quickly lead to the demise of your tank inhabitants. There are a number or different types of filters on the market from canisters and wet-dry to the cheaper “waterfall” types that hang on the back of the tank. For a fish only tank, any of these will work. I recommend getting a filter that is sized for a tank slightly bigger than the one you are setting up. By upsizing the filter, you are not maxing out its performance and it will easily handle the biological load of the tank provided you follow the manufacture recommended cleaning cycle.
Next let’s discuss the tanks lighting. What good is it to have beautiful, vibrant saltwater fish if you can’t see them? Before you go out and buy an expensive light fixture there are a couple of things to consider. Look at the location of the tank in your home and consider how much natural sun light your tank will receive during the day. A tank that receives good natural lighting through out the day may not need to be artificially lit until the evening hours. Consider next the needs of the tanks inhabitants. Most fish do not require high intensity lighting to be happy and healthy. A lighting fixture utilizing compact florescent tubes should be adequate. Since this article deals with a simple fish only marine tank, specialty lighting for corals and invertebrates is not needed.
Once you have setup your tank and filled it with water, it’s time to add the salt. Your local pet store will most likely carry a couple of different brands of salt mix for your tank. Most commercially available mixes contain the same components and will work just fine. Slowly add the salt to your tank until the reading on your hydrometer shows a specific gravity in the range of 1.020 to 1.023. You can typically begin to add fish in a couple of days but it is a good practice to allow the tank to “cycle” for the next two weeks prior to adding fish. Before adding any fish it is a good idea to recheck the specific gravity of the water and make sure your water temperature is comfortable for the fish your planning to add. When adding fish to a new tank it is a good practice to start with heartier fish species like Damsels. Damsels are cheaper and can adapt to harsher water conditions typical in a new tank. After a couple of weeks, you can begin to add more fish.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Information you should know about salt water aquariums
by Roger Gordon
Anyone who has had an aquarium knows that algae is unavoidable. It is just one of the things that fish owners, both salt and freshwater, have to deal with on a regular basis.There are four main variety's of algae; green algae, brown algae, red-brush algae, and blue green algae.
The truth is that while the nitrogen cycling process is a complex one it is not by any means impossible for the average citizen to understand. James Kostich of Aquatics Unlimited took the time to gather together a thorough, day-by-day explanation of the processes which are occurring during the thirty day cycling process in a manner that is simple for even the amateur aquarium designer to understand. This explanation can be found at http://www.bestfish.com/newtank3.html
Once the aquarium has been properly installed it should be filled with saltwater. You can either purchase an already made saltwater solution or make your own. Once you have filled the tank you should let all of the equipment run for 24 to 48 on a test cycle to ensure that everything is working properly. Take this opportunity to test the temperature, salinity and pH of the water to ensure that the conditions are optimal for the breed of saltwater fish which are going to be inhabiting your aquarium (it is best to research this ahead of time-not all saltwater fish thrive in the same conditions).
By the fifth day these first stage bacteria will have begun to metabolize the ammonia into nitrite. This process will be well established by the end of the first week. At the end of the second week ammonia levels will be completely safe for the fish and nitrites will be at their peak. From here until approximately day 27 the second stage bacteria will be working to begin metabolizing the nitrite to nitrate. By day 30 ammonia and nitrite levels should be all but non-existent as nitrate levels reach their peak and the bacterium are well able to handle maintaining the chemical composition of the water.
This is an example of minimizing Mother Nature's perfect filtration system in order to provide your fish with the perfect habitat. Hopefully you have chosen to artificially stimulate the cycling process so that it is well established prior to inserting your fish. If you have not it is very important that you keep a very close eye on them while the tank is undergoing its cycling process. The spikes in ammonia and nitrite levels can be severely harmful to fish if they are exposed to it for too great a period of time, and they will likely begin to show signs of distress during these periods of the cycling process. If this becomes severe their conditions can be aided by changing a portion of the water in order to dilute the concentration of these products.
There are a million different types of aquariums on the market, and with the number of choices available and the fact that there is no guaranteed formula for success for creating a saltwater aquarium it can be very difficult for individuals to choose which type of aquarium they should purchase. There are a number of factors which should be considered before the would be biologist ever sets foot inside a pet store.
Live rocks, rocks which are covered with both micro- and macroorganisms which help to digest the waste produced by the fish, are a vital part of every natural ecosystem. For that reason it makes sense that they would be an important part of an aquarium environment as well. It is not as simple as dropping a rock into an aquarium and allowing all manner of things to grow on it, however. There is a process that must be followed to ensure optimal benefits for both the large aquarium and the live rock.
Another consideration is materials. Glass and acrylic are the two choices most widely available on the market at the moment. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Glass is by far the more popular of the two due to the fact that it is less likely to scratch, allowing the sides to maintain their clarity. It is also considerably less expensive, an important consideration as it can cost a great deal of money to establish a saltwater aquarium and every advantage should be taken. Finally, the nature of the silicone sealant used in glass aquariums allows the tank to expand more readily when water is added.
Purchase the largest, strongest algae glass cleaning magnet you can find and then use it. If you use the magnet each and every time you clean the water your tank the glass on your tank should stay algae free. Be sure to clean the magnet after each use. For particularly stubborn algae spots, you will have to use a razor blade. Don't forget to clean the overflow pipes.
My name is Roger Gordon, I hope you found my article informative. For more information on aquariums please visit http://aquariummania.info/
Anyone who has had an aquarium knows that algae is unavoidable. It is just one of the things that fish owners, both salt and freshwater, have to deal with on a regular basis.There are four main variety's of algae; green algae, brown algae, red-brush algae, and blue green algae.
The truth is that while the nitrogen cycling process is a complex one it is not by any means impossible for the average citizen to understand. James Kostich of Aquatics Unlimited took the time to gather together a thorough, day-by-day explanation of the processes which are occurring during the thirty day cycling process in a manner that is simple for even the amateur aquarium designer to understand. This explanation can be found at http://www.bestfish.com/newtank3.html
Once the aquarium has been properly installed it should be filled with saltwater. You can either purchase an already made saltwater solution or make your own. Once you have filled the tank you should let all of the equipment run for 24 to 48 on a test cycle to ensure that everything is working properly. Take this opportunity to test the temperature, salinity and pH of the water to ensure that the conditions are optimal for the breed of saltwater fish which are going to be inhabiting your aquarium (it is best to research this ahead of time-not all saltwater fish thrive in the same conditions).
By the fifth day these first stage bacteria will have begun to metabolize the ammonia into nitrite. This process will be well established by the end of the first week. At the end of the second week ammonia levels will be completely safe for the fish and nitrites will be at their peak. From here until approximately day 27 the second stage bacteria will be working to begin metabolizing the nitrite to nitrate. By day 30 ammonia and nitrite levels should be all but non-existent as nitrate levels reach their peak and the bacterium are well able to handle maintaining the chemical composition of the water.
This is an example of minimizing Mother Nature's perfect filtration system in order to provide your fish with the perfect habitat. Hopefully you have chosen to artificially stimulate the cycling process so that it is well established prior to inserting your fish. If you have not it is very important that you keep a very close eye on them while the tank is undergoing its cycling process. The spikes in ammonia and nitrite levels can be severely harmful to fish if they are exposed to it for too great a period of time, and they will likely begin to show signs of distress during these periods of the cycling process. If this becomes severe their conditions can be aided by changing a portion of the water in order to dilute the concentration of these products.
There are a million different types of aquariums on the market, and with the number of choices available and the fact that there is no guaranteed formula for success for creating a saltwater aquarium it can be very difficult for individuals to choose which type of aquarium they should purchase. There are a number of factors which should be considered before the would be biologist ever sets foot inside a pet store.
Live rocks, rocks which are covered with both micro- and macroorganisms which help to digest the waste produced by the fish, are a vital part of every natural ecosystem. For that reason it makes sense that they would be an important part of an aquarium environment as well. It is not as simple as dropping a rock into an aquarium and allowing all manner of things to grow on it, however. There is a process that must be followed to ensure optimal benefits for both the large aquarium and the live rock.
Another consideration is materials. Glass and acrylic are the two choices most widely available on the market at the moment. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Glass is by far the more popular of the two due to the fact that it is less likely to scratch, allowing the sides to maintain their clarity. It is also considerably less expensive, an important consideration as it can cost a great deal of money to establish a saltwater aquarium and every advantage should be taken. Finally, the nature of the silicone sealant used in glass aquariums allows the tank to expand more readily when water is added.
Purchase the largest, strongest algae glass cleaning magnet you can find and then use it. If you use the magnet each and every time you clean the water your tank the glass on your tank should stay algae free. Be sure to clean the magnet after each use. For particularly stubborn algae spots, you will have to use a razor blade. Don't forget to clean the overflow pipes.
My name is Roger Gordon, I hope you found my article informative. For more information on aquariums please visit http://aquariummania.info/
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