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]

Submersible underwater colour changing waterproof LED Aquarium/Fish Tank Lighting/Lights/Lamp

Submersible underwater colour changing waterproof LED Aquarium/Fish Tank Lighting/Lights/Lamp

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How to Set Up a Reef Aquarium

How to Set Up a Reef Aquarium

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Fish Tank Water Change

Fish Tank Water Change

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Is Your Fish Aquarium Too Salty?

If you have know-how about fish aquariums then you won’t have much difficulty in maintaining it. You can keep any type of fish in your aquarium if you know how to take care of it. There are small points which you need to know to improve your skills of fish keeping.

An important point is to help the osmosis-regulation system of the fish. It is the system by which the fish’s body maintains a balance between salt and water concentration.

If you can’t seem to figure out the reason for your fish’s deteriorating health then you need to check the pH and salt concentration of the water in the aquarium. The concentration of salt determines the degree of osmotic pressure. A high concentration results in a higher osmotic pressure. This makes the fish to work more in order to regulate salt level in its body.

The ecosystem from where the fish belongs, determines the degree of osmotic pressure it can withstand. A fish from salty water can bear more osmotic pressure as compared to the one from fresh water. Some fish can live in both kinds of water, like the black molly.

After you have finalized about the shape and size of the aquarium and the types and numbers of fish to be put in it, start looking for ways to maintain pH and salt level of the water. By doing this, you’ll make a swift transition from a temporary tank to an aquarium.

Therefore, you should keep a check on the water to make sure that its not too salty or if it has too little salt in it. The water should be suitable for the fish so that they grow up and become healthy. The fish are very delicate organisms and if not taken care of properly, can die even before they mature.

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How to Set Up a Reef Aquarium

Reef Tank Artificial Coral Reef Aquarium setup

Reef Tank Artificial Coral Reef Aquarium setup

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Taking Care of Acrylic Aquariums

For fish hobbyists, plastic aquariums were one of the biggest technological advances in the hobby. Coming shortly after the invention of silicone adhesive made metal-framed glass aquariums all but obsolete, acrylic aquariums haven't completely replaced their glass counterparts, but are the material of choice for many fish owners. Thanks to manufacturing techniques such as injection mold design, plastic can be formed into a wide variety of fascinating shapes. This holds true for plastic fish tanks, which have been made into everything from gum ball machines to furniture such as coffee tables.

While acrylic does offer benefits over glass, such as being lighter and more forgiving of bumps, there are some minor down sides that need to be taken into consideration as well when bringing an acrylic aquarium into your home. After all, this is a much bigger investment than a Ball Qube, and displaying living creatures always requires much more care than simple collectibles.

While acrylic allows a great view of your finned friends due to a high transparency, it also scratches more easily than glass. Care must be taken when cleaning acrylic aquariums. Avoid using paper towels, as well as abrasive or harsh cleansers, as they mar the pristine surface of the acrylic. It's recommended that you use cleansers specifically designed for plastic. On the plus side, acrylic die cast display cases can be repaired if they are scratched, unlike their glass counterparts. Acrylic repair kits are fairly easy to find online, as well as in brick-and-mortar hardware stores or pet stores in your neighborhood.

If you are purchasing your first acrylic aquarium, you might find yourself a little overwhelmed by the wide range of choices available, as well as the number of places that they are sold. Both general pet stores and specialty fish retailers will commonly have a variety of aquariums available. Many options can be found online as well. Many aquariums are sold as "starter kits" that come with filters, lighting, and/or substrate. Where you buy your aquarium is less important than purchasing the right size for the fish that you intend to keep in it.

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Acclimating Corals

Fish Tank Water Change

Fish Tank Water Change

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Saltwater Fish Tanks : Lighting for a Saltwater Fish Tank

Saltwater Fish Tanks : Lighting for a Saltwater Fish Tank

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How to Set Up a Marine Fish and Live Rock Aquarium (Part 1)

How to Set Up a Marine Fish and Live Rock Aquarium (Part 1)

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Fresh Water Aquariums Should Be In Every Home - 17 Reasons Why

There are many benefits from having a freshwater aquarium. Not just the 'having' but also the process of setting one up, choosing and buying your fish, maintaining it, looking after your pet fish and trying to keep them healthy. To support my statement above, in this article I give you 17 benefits you will get from owning the best fresh water aquarium.

1 . Your beautiful fresh water aquarium will be the center of attention in your room and a talking point with all your visitors. Stand out from the crowd and be an aquarist.

2 . Keep your brain active and continue to develop it as you increase your knowledge through learning all about your new pets.

3. Use your newly found fish breeding knowledge as valuable 'birds and bees' lessons during your children's upbringing.

4. Treat the sense of responsibility element involved in looking after your fish as another lesson in life for your children.

5. The pleasure you will get from selecting your fish and looking after them will be an extremely powerful emotion.

6. People who spend time watching and looking after fish in a fresh water aquarium usually have better health than couch potatoes.

7. You will have better blood pressure, better eating habits, better sleeping, more relaxed and a better feeling about your life.

8. You can place your freshwater aquarium in many interesting places; in a table, a wall, a wall partition, a bar or it can be a living picture.

9. Enjoy the friendships you will make as you join aquarist groups to pass on or gain knowledge from fellow members.

10. All the equipment and accessories you need to set up and maintain your aquarium are readily available at reasonable prices from internet retailers and local pet stores.

11. You can go on vacation and relax knowing that your aquarium can be set up with automatic feeders for your pet fish.

12. Lack of choice is no excuse as you have a wide range of aquarium sizes and capacities to choose from to suit your domestic situation.

13. It should not take up all your time to keep your aquarium running smoothly and your pet fish looking healthy.

14. You don't need to be an expert aquarist to maintain your fish and equipment in good condition for several years.

15. There are plenty of excellent freshwater aquarium guides available along with online forums to answer your queries.

16. Owning a beautiful freshwater planted aquarium with beautiful fish is within the financial ability of practically everybody.

17. Having a freshwater aquarium is not difficult as you might think, though it does require more maintenance than some people first think.

I bet you did not realize you could get some of the benefits mentioned above.

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#1 - HOW TO SET UP A MARINE NANO REEF TANK

How To Properly Introduce New Fish Into Your Aquarium

There are two areas of introducing new fish into an aquarium that you must be aware of:

1. Fish Quarantine

Fish quarantine is one big, singular factor that must be observed strictly before you can be sure that your new fish is of good health and not an apostle of doom for the other inmates. Most new fishkeepers don’t take consider this very important factor.

For the benefit of intending aquarists, quarantine in the fish world refers to the physical and chemical treatment of new fishes (either imported or caught from the wild) to rid them of disease and restlessness before introduction into a new environment,

A small quarantine tank (30x20x25cm) is advisable for any serious aquarist. The alternative is to be sure that your pet shop has a functional quarantine section to cater for bacterial, fungal and viral diseases.

This is a sure guarantee against fish deaths. The unfortunate thing with most shops in the country is the lack of space and inadequate expertise to build and administer the prophylaxis procedure on new fish, as the procedure is sure to last at least nigh days! To the average aqua-investor, this is an unnecessary tie down of capital and you know what that means.

Admittedly, the expense incurred on quarantine by way of chemical purchase e. g. copper sulphate, wescodyne, malachite green, teremycin etc) is high. This is more or less reflected on the final sales price of the fish, which is slightly higher in our shop. But , this would pay you off in the long run, as it is unlikely that you will complain of fish deaths any longer.

I am quite sure, some fish farmers reading this column would be more concerned about the application of this procedure to solve their farm problems especially those with hatcheries or those who stock with post fry and fingerlings.

2. Feeding New Fish

When you just introduce a new fish to aquarium tank it’s necessary to feed the fish. Though this will not be instant because no matter how carefully you add the fish to your aquarium tank they will look very unhappy for a while.

Thus it’s necessary that you turn the flights out, and leave them overnight to get used to their new home first before thinking of feeding them. Then feed fish with aquarium fish food with fish flakes the next day, this will make the fish feel at home.

If you already have an established tank, it is advisable to quarantine new fish before adding them to an existing populated, and the cheapest way to do this is to purchase a plastic tank which will need no gravel or plants.

This can be used solely for quarantine and as a hospital tank.

Leave the fish in this tank for about three days during which any disease harbored by the fish would be evident for which it can be treated using available chemicals from your dealer. The fish can then be introduced into the tank in the same way as before.

When you add new fish to an established community, there will probably be a certain amount of harassment of the new arrivals by the original fish. Try to divert their attention by giving them a good feed when the fish are introduced.

Reef Tank Artificial Coral Reef Aquarium setup

Adding a Sump and overflows to our Reef Tank -- Ep:6 How to set up a saltwater aquarium

Adding a Sump and overflows to our Reef Tank -- Ep:6 How to set up a saltwater aquarium

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Keeping a Clean (Fish-Friendly) Home

My mom has taught me many things over the years, not the least of which is the importance of having a clean house. Not just because it looks nice-but because it helps keep you from getting sick! Not surprisingly, Mom's advice translates to fish homes, too. Good fish aquarium maintenance doesn't have to be a huge time commitment-it's mainly a little elbow grease and a lot of common sense.

Here are some simple tips to keep your fish happy and healthy:

Keep the water clean. Water is a fish's air, and when it isn't clean it's very difficult for them to get the oxygen they need. A water filtration system helps keep it the water pure on a day-to-day basis, but to really ensure a good environment for your fish, change 20% of the aquarium's water twice a week.

Clean the tank monthly. Once a month, do a complete deep-clean of your aquarium. Completely replace the water, wash the gravel, change the filter and thoroughly clean every inch of the tank. Do not use soap or detergent to clean the tank-hot water works just fine and won't make your fish sick.

Check the temperature and pH regularly. Too much fluctuation in water temperature can be very stressful for fish. Make sure your aquarium is in a stable place away from A/C vents or direct sunlight. Test the pH of the water when you're doing your twice-a-week replacement, and if it's off, you can add chemicals to balance it (you can find them at your local pet store).

Watch your fish. If your fish are sick, they'll show it. Watch for patches on their scales, sliminess, clamped fins, erratic behavior... just about anything that doesn't look normal. If you have a fish you think is sick, quarantine it while you figure out what's wrong with it. There are a lot of good websites out there to help diagnose fish diseases and appropriate treatments. And of course, be sure to feed your fish regularly!

Finally, don't get suckered into buying expensive chemicals or treatments that you really don't need. The best way to keep your tank clean and well-maintained is by doing it yourself using the steps above.

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Marine Aquarium Advice Selecting Fish (Full)

How to Perform a Saltwater Aquarium Water Change

How to Perform a Saltwater Aquarium Water Change

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Aquarium Decorations Creating Homes for Fishes

Aquarium decorations----Creating Homes for Fishes

Aquarium decorations are not only beautiful to look at they also have an important purpose. They provide fishes with homes---- hiding places and natural borders resembling their natural habitat. There are many different types of decorations, for instance Cave dwelling fishes love aquarium decorations that structure like caves, holes and crevices. Whereas Fishes that live in dense vegetation prefer plants and other types of tiny hiding places. Decorations are crucial for a happy and healthy aquarium they also keep fishes from getting bored.

Tanks: There are many variants of tanks big, small , quadrilateral or polygonal. The size of an aquarium should be according to the size and the number of fishs you plan to keep.

Also tanks come in a variety of tinted glasses.

Plants: They are the the most beautiful, inexpensive source of decoration for your aquariums. Fishes love the aquatic plants as they are part of their natural habitats. They come in all varieties, costing anywhere from a few bucks to hundreds. Plants are very useful as well; they bind carbon dioxide and oxygenate the water. They also use organic waste products as nutrition and remove potentially harmful compounds from the water. Plants can also be used to keep a check on the water quality of an aquarium; the plant will start dieing before the fish if the water suddenly becomes toxic.

Wood, Rock and Coral: An aquarium can be like a miniature true habitat for the fishes with these decorations. Drift wood and mangroves can create a beautiful effect in the aquarium, plus some fishes particularly thrive on Drift wood. But be careful as Drift wood might lower pH levels and the hardness of the water. So it is best used in aquariums with soft slightly acid water. Stones and rocks make excellent decorations. But again caution is needed; you should never use rocks that affect your water’s pH levels or stones that might contain toxins. There are also fake rocks that resemble real rocks, but these are pretty expensive. Rocks can be used to create caves which many fishes are passionate about. Coral are a beautiful addition to marine aquariums; in fact they may prove necessary for a healthy marine habitat. But can be dangerous to fresh water aquarium and should not be used as they be harmful.

Gravel or sand: Both are great both come in a variety of color. Gravel comes in white, brown and black, or blue, red, green, yellow the whole rainbow spectrum. Sand again also has a plethora of colors white, black, blue, yellow, red, green. Both of these can be layered in multiple colors.

Glass marbles, Ceramics, Plastic: Ok all are unnatural materials and might look slightly tacky, but fishes don’t give a fig for this, they enjoy them enormously. Glass marbles though are not a good bottom substrate out of a biologically as flora does not thrive on them, can add beautiful colors to the aquarium. It’s best to use them sparingly or add another more functional substrate below. Ceramics are excellent aquarium decorations. All sizes and shapes can be used as long as they do not have sharp edges. However ceramics tend to grow algae that might be hard to. Plastic they are cheap, colorful and yes tacky, but can be found in a variety of fun shapes. Treasure chests, skulls, divers, pirates, plants and ships you name it and stores have them.

It is imperative that you only use aquarium decorations that are safe to use in aquariums. If you have salt water aquariums they should be saltwater-safe also. If you don’t take this precaution your fish will die due to the organisms and toxins released by the decorations

Decorations have both practical and aesthetical use if done tastefully and carefully you can create a miniature aquatic ecosystem that both you and your fish can enjoy.



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Protein Skimmers

Breeding Clownfish � A short description

Thanks to Disney’s Motion Picture "Finding Nemo", almost everybody knows about Clown fish since they introduced Nemo to the world.
Clown fish, or Anemone fishes, from the family of Pomacentridae, are one of the easiest tropical marine aquarium fish to breed. Clown fish regularly lay eggs in aquariums. They have pretty large eggs and larvae, and since the larvae easily eats cultured live foods, raising them is somewhat simpler then it is with many other marine species..
You need to get a pair if you want to breed Clown fish and you need to sex the fish. And that’s a quite an interesting part – believe it or not, Clown fish are all born as males! When they are adults, the largest and the most dominant fish of the group will undergo a sex change, and become a female. The second largest usually becomes the breeding male, while all the other fish remains juveniles and gender-neutral. If the breeding female disappears, the breeding male will change to a female, and so on. Buying an established pair maybe a reasonable way to go, but it is often better to have a group of juveniles growing up together. If you choose to buy a pair you should look for a pair that goes around together. Sometimes you can be lucky enough to get a pair already spawning. Anyhow, establishing an adult pair can be a little tricky; and you need to keep your eyes on them to ensure that the female doesn't kill the male.
The next thing is about setting up the tank. The tank should be large enough, approximately 200 liters for the breeding pair. It is better to let the pair be alone in an aquarium when trying to spawn Clown fish.
The rest of the aquarium should be decorated with a nice anemone, a few live rocks, and other rocky substance with a vertical surface, a layer of coral sand on the bottom, bright lighting, good filtration, and protein skimmer. The aquarium and your Clown fish should be stressed free which means no aggressive tank mates and good water quality. As for the feeding, Clown fish need a mixed diet of fresh raw seafood and vegetable. A good diet includes prawns, mussels, and squid. It is best to feed small bits at regular periods.
Spawning can begin 1 to 12 months after the fish have settled into their new home. When the fish are ready to spawn, they become very aggressive. The male Clown fish will dance up and down in front of the female (also known as “Clown fish waggle”). They will also start to clean their selected rock by robustly biting it. The spawning itself usually occurs in the afternoon or early evening. Once the spawning is complete (within several hours) the male takes on responsibility for attending them, whereas the female acts as protector of the eggs and supervisor of her male.
The spawning is likely to occur again at intervals of 12 to 18 days. The eggs should be left in their care and not removed, except if the parents are known to be egg-eaters. At first, the eggs are a bright orange color, which after a several days diminishes and the eyes of the fry appear. Hatching usually takes from 6 to 15 days, depending on the temperature. The most critical stage of the fry is the stage they undergo in the first 10 days of their larvae span. If you can get your fry to survive this period the rest of their raising should be more easy.

Saltwater Fish Tanks : How to Start a Saltwater Fish Tank

Introduction to Clownfish

Clown fish are known technically as Anemonefishes. Anemonefishes are a subfamily of damselfish, in the pomacentridae family. There are 26 unique species of 'Clownfish', 25 of them being in the Amphiprion genus and only 1 in the Premnas genus. They are typically a small fish, mature males only growing anywhere from 2 to 5 inches in length.

Habitat

Clownfish are only found in the tropical waters of the Indian or Pacific oceans, and the Red sea. These climits provide a suitable environment for enemonefishes due to their warm temperatures. Clownfish tend to be bottom dwellers, and most notably reside in inshore reefs, specifically inside sea anemones. The anemone provides protection for the Clownfish both by enabling the fish to hide, and with it's poisonus tenticles, keeping other fish away. There is no definite information why the Clownfish is not stung by the anemone, but many theories exist.

Prey or Preditor?

In nature a clownfish will attract it's pray by swiming around it's anemone and displaying it's bright colors. Once the victim, all the time thinking that he is the preditor, begins to aproach, the clownfish will recede into the anemone with his prey following closely behind. The sea anemone once in contact with the 'preditor' will sting, kill, and begin to eat the prey. This leaves the leftovers for the Clownfish to snack on. Other forms of food are planktonic crustaceans and algae that may develope on coral or nearby rocks. Anomenes themselves may provide food as the clownfish will pick at and consume dead tenticles.

Captivity

This fish is a very good first choice for saltwater tanks, which is one of the reasons they have become so popular in the united states and parts of europe. Part of their suitability is found with anemonefishes having a very small territory; which is good for the small area offered in fish tanks. The substrate area of tank, meaning the area on the bottom of your tank adjusted for protruding rocks and sunken ships, is more important then the total volume of the tank. A 20 gallon tank would be considered the minimum recommended size for Clownfish. Living peaceably in your fish tank a Clownfish would require aprox. 14 hours of light and 10 hours of darness every day. These amounts may be adjusted and are only suggestions. Be carefull of high nitrate levels. Mature Clownfish can sometimes tollerate these levels, but the larva and babies will almost certainly not. Include a large variety of food when feeding Clownfish. Feedings should include live brine shrimp, frozen food, algae and the traditional flakes. Being that clownfish will have no preditors in a fish tank a sea anomone is not requird to protect them.

Breeding

Many people believe anemonefishes will not breed without the presence of a sea anemone, but this is not the case. After some time, a particular spawning site will be chosen. This spawning site will remain the same throughout the life of the Clownfish pair. Clownfish will spawn all year round laying their eggs in large batches. In the wild eggs are normally laid on coral or rock that is near the anemone, though in your tank they may be laid anywhere. Once laid by the female, the male clownfish assumes the job of gaurding the eggs until they hatch, typically 4 or 5 days aftwards. When clownfish reach sexual maturity they will strike out on their own, searching for a vacant sea anomone. Clownfish may be expected to live around 3 to 5 years in captivity.

Saltwater Aquarium Fish Selection Advice

Choosing A Saltwater Fish Tank

What to Look For in a Saltwater Fish Tank

The decision to purchase a saltwater or marine fish tank for your home or office should not be taken lightly. Marine fish will have requirements far greater than freshwater fish. However , once you’ve decided to purchase a saltwater aquarium you’ll be rewarded with a stunning range of tropical and reef fish to choose from.

But first you’ll need to purchase your tank. The selection process can be time consuming and confusing because the range of tanks available is large. The best advice is usually to purchase the largest tank you can afford and that will fit in the available space. There are numerous stories of people starting out their fish tank hobby with a small fish tank only to find in a short space of time that they wish they had purchased a larger tank!

A 30-gallon saltwater aquarium is probably the smallest tank you should consider. A fish tank of this size will provide sufficient surface area to allow adequate exchange of oxygen into the water and to provide a comfortable swimming environment for your fish.

The oxygen supply in the water together with the water temperature will determine the success or otherwise of your fish keeping hobby. Tropical saltwater fish require a water temperature of about 75 degrees F. The warmer water in the saltwater aquarium will tend to deplete the oxygen in the water which means that the surface area becomes important. The addition of aeration equipment is usually desirable to increase the oxygen concentration. Aeration can usually be provided in conjunction with your filtration equipment.

Saltwater fish tanks are available in both acrylic and glass. There are advantages and disadvantages to both.
Some of the advantages of glass aquariums are:
* Glass fish tanks are usually cheaper than acrylic tanks
* Glass fish tanks are more scratch resistant than acrylic tanks
* Glass fish tanks won't discolor with age
* Glass fish tanks won’t require as much brace support as acrylic tanks although the stand needs to be able to support a great weight

Advantages of acrylic fish tanks:
* Acrylic fish tanks are lighter in weight than glass fish tanks
* Acrylic fish tanks can be custom made in a shape to suit your home
* Acrylic fish tanks are less likely to break
* Acrylic fish tanks can be purchased online

Setting Up Your Saltwater Fish Tank

Bringing your new saltwater fish tank home from the store is only the first step. Never be tempted to purchase fish at the same time that you acquire your aquarium. There are many steps to complete prior to introducing fish to their new home.

First, you need to install your tank in its desired location. Avoid locating your saltwater fish tank in any spot that receives sunlight. Sunlight will cause algae to grow in your tank and whilst this will not usually harm the fish it is unsightly and spoils the appearance of your aquarium. Also avoid any locations close to room heaters or where the tank will be exposed to drafts.

Many acrylic fish tanks come with a built-in stand. Glass tanks will require a sturdy stand and should have a layer of polystyrene or rubber placed between the tank and the stand to absorb any unevenness. If the tank is unbalanced it will eventually crack.

Check your new tank for leaks. Fill it with water and let is stand for a day or two. Once you have confirmed that it is water tight you will need to thoroughly clean the tank and all equipment. Rinse thoroughly. Do not skip the cleaning and rinsing step just because you’ve purchased a new tank and it appears sparkling clean. Your fish will die if there are any contaminants left in the tank! Don’t forget to wash the gravel before adding it the tank. Add all your other equipment in accordance with the manufacturer’s directions. Your pet store will have provided advice on how to set up your saltwater fish tank.

After you have added your salt water and confirmed that the salt and chemical levels are correct you’ll need to run all your equipment for at least 72 hours to filter and heat your water and stabilize your tank. Let the aquarium cycle to build up the correct biological levels.

The hardest part of setting up your saltwater fish tank is now complete and now you’ll be able to go and select your colorful fish!



How to set up a saltwater aquarium - Episode 1: Reef tanks made fun and easy