Glass Vs. Acrylic, What Aquarium Is Really Best? by Joe ...

When making a decision to purchase an aquarium one of the first options that comes to mind is, should i stick with traditional glass or venture into the cutting edge acrylic fish tan

There are two materials that aquariums typically built from and a number of advantages and disadvantages to both. Whether it's your first tank or your twentieth their is no clear cut way to choose one.

One large determining factor involved in deciding the material of the aquarium depends on the size and shape of the aquarium that will meet the needs of your desired livestock and your home.

Glass is significantly more heavy than acrylic. Even a small glass aquarium is quite heavy and when you start looking at tanks that are 55 gallons or more they are generally impossible to move with one person. Acrylic tanks on the other hand are quite light. If you intend to get a very large aquarium this factor alone might be enough to make your decision, a 150 gallon glass aquarium will take a whole team of movers whereas two average guys could move an acrylic tank of the same size.

The shape is also very important. Theoretically any shape is possible with both glass and acrylic but in practice that isn't true. Acrylic can be bent in any strange shape imaginable whereas glass is very difficult to bend in convex or concave shapes while maintaining strength so glass tanks come in far less interesting shapes than acrylic, however all the typical shapes are available in both glass and acrylic.

An acrylic tank is 10 or 15 times more durable than a glass aquarium is. Glass is still extremely strong and should last decades with no problems. I have however heard horror stories on aquarium forums about people coming home to find their 300 gallon reef tank worth 30 thousand dollars all over their basement floor. If you choose most often to air on the side of caution acrylic might be the right material for you.

Acrylic has a better view ability quality than standard glass but this is only noticeable to a very keen eye. There is also the availability of Starfire glass that can be added to the front panel of your aquarium that will give it an even clearer view than an acrylic tank.

If for any reason in the future you wish to drill the tank; for a sump or for any other reason, this is very difficult (although not impossible) with a glass tank and a cinch with acrylic.

There are also many advantages to having a glass tank rather than an acrylic one. Acrylic scratches very easily. Typical cleaning utensils such as razor blades, scrapers, and algae magnets are out of the question. You will need to show the utmost care when adding or moving gravel or decor as not to graze your tank walls.

It is possible to purchase products that will buff out light scratches in the acrylic but they are costly and require your aquarium be completely empty and dry.

Another very considerable difference between glass and acrylic aquariums is price. This is also a factor that may flat out make the decision for many people. Glass is simply cheaper, how much cheaper depends on the size of the tank in question. Glass can be up to or even more than half the price for small tanks. You should look into this because with larger more standard shape aquariums the prices start to even out.

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55 gallon Salt water Reef tank

Aquarium Lighting System For Saltwater Aquarium by Albert Andrasz

Many people who like the aspect of having piece of natural habitat in their homes want to place beautiful saltwater fish tank or freshwater aquarium in their living room. However, they often do not realize that they need to work really hard to maintain the aquarium and its inhabitants. The water needs to be changed regularly. They need to arrange food for the fishes on a daily basis. Apart from that, one needs to decorate the aquarium as well.

Aquarium lighting is very important aspect of the successful aquarium and many people do not give it that much importance. The fishes, plants and corals need specific amount of light for their growth. That is why you need to arrange proper aquarium lighting.

Aquarium lighting should be designed in the way to mimic natural daylight. You need to keep it on for 8-10 hours a day. You also need to check whether the light is increasing the heat of the water in the aquarium. If that is happening then you need to take care of that by installing aquarium chiller. The water temperature needs to be comfortable for the fishes and other aquarium animals and plants and you need to do that properly by regulating it as close as possible to the natural water temperature. Aquarium cooling fans can be a useful tool in managing water temperature without a high cost of aquarium chillers. Aquarium cooling fans are usually installed within aquarium canopy and work in the way of moving hot air from the inside of the canopy.

There are several different types of fish tank lighting used in the modern aquarium setup.

From standard incandescent lighting, Power Compact PC lighting, high output T5 fixtures , Very High Output VHO lighting, Metal Halide lighting, and latest LED aquarium lighting. aquarium lights can be installed in the form or retro kit which is usually installed in the wooden canopy or fully integrated aquarium light fixture.

Freshwater aquarium fish tanks are mostly utilizing fluorescent type of lighting systems like T5, power compact and VHO lights.

Saltwater fish tanks and marine reef tanks mostly utilize high output fluorescent T5 and VHO lights in combination with intense metal halide lights.

Latest technical innovations bring LED lights into the spectrum of interest of marine and reef hobbyists. LED light fixtures offer high intensity light with very low heat output which is prefer for saltwater reef systems where keeping low water temperature is of high importance. LED light fixtures also offer high control-ability when it comes to output and color spectrum of the light.

Nowadays you need to be really specific about your lighting requirement. Doing your homework before making the purchase is a key for putting together a successful fish tank.

Another popular lighting type for both freshwater fish tanks and reef aquariums is aquarium moonlights. aquarium moonlights are usually composed of low voltage LED modules powered by low voltage transformer. Some more advanced moonlight LED systems incorporate sophisticated controllers that mimic natural moon cycles. These aquarium LED systems have been known to promote spawning in both fishes and corals. These aquarium moonlights can create very attractive environment where livestock can be observed after the main lights are off.

Five steps to success with Saltwater Coral Reef Aquariums - free ...

Do you dream of watching the natural beauty of the undersea reef life while sitting in your living room?

Whether your goal is a nano reef tank or a 150 gallon aquarium with an ecosystem of coral and saltwater fish, the following five steps will lead you on your way to success.


1) Commit! Decide you are going to spend the $$ it takes to make a proper go of it. At a minimum, most tanks, (from 10 gal to 55 gal) take between $250 and $500 to get going. Can you do it cheaper? Yes, but usually not your first one. You have to know what you are doing and understand how things can and will go wrong before you can choose less expensive husbandry options and/or equipment. Save up if you have to, but count on that first tank being expensive.

Realize that this is not a short term commitment. And as much fun as it is to collect the coolest coral fragments out there and show them off to your friends, there WILL come a time when you are hauling all of those same 'frags' out of the tank and into temporary storage when your six year old cracks the side of the display tank with a pool ball or some other calamity occurs.


2) Study! Spend time on the internet, in books and watching nature shows on reefs BEFORE you get your animals. Understand the animals that you are going to keep and how they interact with each other. If you count on the LFS (Local Fish Store) or your buddy down the road to keep you out of trouble and don't do your homework.. You will fail. That is the one guarantee in this hobby. DO YOUR HOMEWORK. The only way around this is to be able to afford to pay someone else to set-up and maintain your tank.


3) Mingle! (see 2 above) There are plenty of reef-keeping societies out there with lots of experience to help you along your way and teach you what you need to know. As long as you are doing your own homework, they are usually happy to help!


4) Keep an open mind! There is not just one way to keep a reef tank - no matter how loudly people on the various bulletin boards and forums out there might shout that there is.

5) Share! It is amazing how much help people are willing to give when they realize that you are offering a particularly nice specimen that they have always wanted. Equipment that they didn't even remember they had may magically appear or they might be willing to share a very nice piece of their own reef frag with you.


Trading frags not only is a great way to increase your variety, but it helps maintain genetic strains of corals (frags are also known as 'clones') that might otherwise die out in a single tank struck by the calamity mentioned in 1 above.

You can read 5 more Steps to Success by visiting www.KnowltonsReef.com (archive: June, 2005).

Tips In Taking Care Of Your Saltwater Aquarium by George Adams

If you have decided to keep a saltwater aquarium, you also need to know how to take care of it. Since you have spent a bit of money for the aquarium as well as for the fish inside it, it makes good sense to get some knowledge towards its maintenance and correct upkeep. Maintaining an aquarium and its content is not difficult but mandatory if you wish to do justice to the expenses which you have already incurred.

To keep your saltwater aquarium in good shape and function optimally, here are a few tips :

• There are a few important tests which you have to do every two weeks. These tests are fairly simple and take only a few seconds to do. Checks on ammonia levels, pH level and the nitrite and nitrate levels. First find out what the normal levels are from the pet store clerk, before buying the fish.

• If the pH level of the water is very high, simply add a tablespoon of baking soda to the water. Just ensure that it is completely dissolved before add more.

• For instance if the salinity level drops, simply add some salt to the water.

• Add dechlorinated water to your tank, if you find the salinity level is high. This is a very common occurrence, as the water in the aquarium is constantly evaporating. Adding this water will balance the salt content of the remaining water.

• Remember to add adequate amounts of iodine and calcium to the water in your tank. To know how much and how often talk to the pet store clerk, since the amounts depend on the type of fish you have kept in the tank.

• Replace one-tenth of the water of your tank with dechlorinated water. Do this once a week. This freshens up the water.

• Replace 25% of the water in your tank with dechlorinated water once every few months.

• Keep the water temperature between 75 and 80 degrees. Check if this is the right temperature as it depends on the type of fish that you keep.

• Always remember to remove the algae from the inside walls of your aquarium regularly. Check the filter pads as well as test the alkalinity levels. Cleaning of the gravel in the tank is also necessary for its proper upkeep.

Undertaking these simple activities will keep your saltwater aquarium in good share and keep your fish active and healthy.


Amazing Saltwater Aquarium

Coralife Or Berlin Protein Skimmer Vs. Refugium

Are you a new saltwater aquarium owner? If yes, then you’re probably thinking about getting a Berlin Protein Skimmer while installing a refugium at same time. If you are, then you might want to read this article first.

Some aquarists really do have both the Berlin Protein Skimmer plus a refugium operating in their tank. However, some are of the opinion that having a protein skimmer means you don’t need the services of a refugium. Hence, let’s look and compare at the differences of these two equipments.

Cleaning

As you know, the protein skimmer gets rid of organic waste material by encasing them in the bubble and transporting them in the collection cup where you can empty them at will. A refugium on the other hand does pretty much the same thing. The debris is transported to the separate tank where it is used as food by various micro organisms. One distinct advantage of a Berlin Protein Skimmer though is that it clean up your aquarium fast while the refugium takes time.

Food Production

As previously mentioned, the refugium is mainly set up to serve as the sanctuary of micro organisms. Think of it as your tank’s very own food factory as well as being a dump site for fish fecal matter. On the other hand, the protein skimmer is in no way responsible for producing food in the tank.

Deciding Factor

Since a refugium pump is required to have a low water flow rate, tweaking the refugium for it to clean up faster is not really an option. Hence, your deciding factor would be if you want a cleaner tank or a food filled one.

Once you’ve decided, start plotting on how to get the best protein skimmer or refugium for your tank. For a protein skimmer, you might want to stick to the good brands like the Berlin Protein Skimmer or Coralife Protein Skimmer. When it comes to the refugium, a nicely engineered one is always the best. Of course, you can also install both in your saltwater aquarium for greater benefits if you want.



Mating Pair of Cin. Clown Fish Salt Water Aquarium Reef Tank Coral Anemone

Some More Great Salt Water Aquarium Tips by Johnny Marquest Salt ...

An aquarium can add beauty to ones home especially if you know how to maintain it. Remember that there are fish in it and there are also things that they need in order for them survive. Just like other pets, fish also need daily care and maintenance.

It is very relaxing to watch fish inside the aquarium. They always seem to be very happy and healthy. What most people do not know is that fish also get sick and suffer from stress. Always make sure that the filters and lights are turned on and functioning well. Daily feeding of the fish is also very important.

In feeding the fish, give them only a fair amount of food, which they can consume within five minutes. The food that they will not be able to consume will become dirt in the tank and will add to the nitrite level in the water.

This is oftentimes the cause of sickness in fish. The pH level and temperature of the water should also be checked weekly. You should know the required levels for the type of fish species that you have. You can ask the pet supply store where you bought your fish.

Another important aspect of maintaining an aquarium is filter cleaning. The wastes that are being excreted by the fish are being collected in the filters. If the filters are full of debris, they will not be able to function properly. When this happens, the wastes are circulated back in the water and the fish tend to eat their wastes.

Filters also serve as an aeration device cycling oxygen in the tank. So when they are clogged, there will not be enough supply of oxygen in the tank. This is very dangerous to fish as it can even be the cause of their death. When the water is already cloudy and has bad odor, it is time to clean the filter. There are filters that need replacement every 2 to 3 weeks or as needed.

Aquarium Tips

You should change only about one third of the water in the tank every one to two weeks.

When adding tap water in the tank, make sure that it is properly treated. Ask for advice from the pet supply store on how to treat the water and how to adjust its temperature.

Use a scrubber to clean the sides of the tank and make sure to remove any moss that may have built-up on it. Be careful in doing this as you may scare the fish. Using a bucket or a vacuum siphon, collect the dirt and debris while removing the water.

You should also cut dead leaves of your aquatic plants. For a better viewing of your aquarium, the outside of the tank including the cover should also be cleaned.

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saltwater tank 75 gallon bow front

Salt Water Aquarium Set Up by Joe Haworth

Salt Water Aquarium Set Up - Type Of Salt Water Aquarium

Aquariums have evolved towards a really popular hobby, with about millions of aquarium as well as tropical fish enthusiasts throughout the world. Starting up around the 1850s (when the forerunner of the modern aquarium were initially being created as a novel curiosity) the ranks of aquarium keeping has grown as more sophisticated systems including lighting and filtration systems had been designed to keep aquarium fish healthy. If you are one of those enthusiast, you will understand that selecting the type of aquarium is the primary step in aquarium keeping. For saltwater aquarium, there are numerous types of tanks to decide from:

The first type of saltwater aquarium is the fish only aquarium. This is probably the simplest to care for of the five types, simply because you are only working with one type of species. Throughout the saltwater fish there are both tropical and coldwater kinds. They cannot be kept together for apparent reasons. The water temperatures differ considerably. Tropical fish are commonly brighter in color, and therefore more appealing to aquarium lovers compared to the fish attainable in the cold water variety. A lot of people are somewhat familiar with a few tropical fish such as the clownfish or the Angel fish. However, very few people have heard of these types of cold water varieties as, the Shanny or the Tompot blenny.

The second type of saltwater aquarium is the invertebrate only aquarium. Such types of aquariums often are made up of shrimp, prawn, hermit crabs and possibly even starfish or sea cucumbers. The third type is the fish and invertebrate saltwater aquarium. They are more difficult to keep than either of the two categories on their own. Several invertebrates feed on certain types of fish, and the opposite is likewise true. As a result, it is important to study the species thoroughly to ensure that you do not placed predator and prey together inside the same aquarium. Ailments could also spread much more easily and tend to be more tricky to prevent and cure in aquariums that contain both invertebrates and fish species.

The next type of saltwater aquarium is the coral reef aquarium. Reef aquariums can be challenging to take care of and must be thoroughly researched prior to attempted. The final type of saltwater aquariums is the specialty aquarium. An example of a specialty aquarium might be an aquarium full of sea horses. Sea horses should not be held along with any other kind of fish or marine life, because they are timid and slow eaters. Their diet source can very easily be taken away by other tank mates. Seahorses prefer to swim vertically rather than horizontally, and should be located in a tall tank. An octopus and a shark or a ray are other good examples of fish that require exclusive needs and would certainly fall into the type of specialty aquarium.

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25G Saltwater Clown-fish Aquarium [Update 3]