How to setup a saltwater aquarium

When you finally decide you want to own tropical saltwater fish, you need to pick out an aquarium. This is going to be an important decision because you are going to have to look at it everyday. There are many factors to consider. The smart thing to do is write a list of the type of things you want for the aquarium, what you are going to need and the options for each.

The first thing to consider is the space. The size of the aquarium for the tropical saltwater fish is going to depend a lot on where you are going to put it. You can get a small one that fills about 20 gallons all the way up to a massive size of 1,000 or so. An aquarium that is going in the home usually goes for the smaller end.

Many of the next decisions are going to be predicated on the size of the tank, but before we get into the needs of the tank, let’s look at a few cosmetic items. One thing you are going to have to choose is if you want a background. It can either stay clear and you will have the back of the wall showing through or you can get a design for the bank of the tropical saltwater aquarium. You need to decide this first because you have to install the background before you put the water in. The next thing you want to choose is what you are going to line the bottom of the tank with. This could be a number of things from gravel to sand to coral. This might depend on the type of fish you get.

The heater and filter are very important to the tank. This is the life line of the tropical saltwater fish. Both of these pieces of equipment have to be large enough to operate the tank. In some cases you might need more than one filter. Talk to any pet shop employees and do some research to find out what filter is going to work best for a tropical saltwater aquarium. The heater is especially important. Tropical fish need warm water and the only way to provide it is with the heater. Also get a thermometer to monitor the temperature once you have the tropical saltwater aquarium put together.

When purchasing items for a tropical saltwater fish tank, the most obvious thing you are going to need is saltwater mix. You will also need a saltwater mix hydrometer. To monitor water conditions, purchase test kits. There are multiple test kits that measure the pH level, nitrates, ammonia and salinity. They are all equally important. Along with the pH test kit, you might also pick up some pH buffers to get the water to the right pH for your tropical saltwater fish.

These are the most important items you are going to need, but there are other incidentals for your tropical saltwater aquarium. Pick up cleaning supplies such as a scrub brush, bucket, gloves and a fish net.

Without a doubt while at the pet shop you are going to find many other goodies for your new tropical saltwater aquarium. Make sure you need all the items and know the uses before buying them. By the way, don’t forget the fish.

Abhishek is an avid Fish Lover and he has got some great Aquarium Care Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 105 Pages Ebook, “Aquarium Care Made Easy!” from his website http://www.Wonder-Homes.com/636/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.

Author: Abhishek Agarwal
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Wrongly led by the belief that freshwater aquariums are easier to maintain than saltwater aquariums many people opt for the former. There are a greater variety of fish that can be kept in a saltwater aquarium as also plants and coral too. The equipment is more or less the same as a fresh water aquarium just the inmates and look is different. Many people would love to have a saltwater aquarium but the myths of switching from fresh to saltwater dissuades them from doing so.

Converting from a freshwater tank to a saltwater one is simple. Most of the equipment is the same with just a few exceptions to the rule. One of them is the tank substrate. Saltwater aquarium fish prefer a substrate composed of live sand and a lot of crushed coral as opposed to the gravel that freshwater fish are used to. Your existing filtering systems will work equally efficiently in both types of tanks. Remember that the water filtering system works on the principle of circulating water through the tank. This means that a vigorous system will disturb the water surface a process that helps the oxygen level rise in the tank water – a good thing.

Lighting in the saltwater tank is of importance only if you are planning to add plants and coral to the tank. A fish only tank can fare very well without the added lighting. A common mistake many aquarium enthusiasts make while converting from freshwater to saltwater is to add a little table salt to the water. This is no laughing matter even for the fish. This will kill the coral and plants as well as the fish. Saltwater has a very different variety of bacteria as compared to freshwater and this aids in supporting the fish and corals in the tank.

When you transit from a freshwater tank to a salt water tank go to the pet store and get some substrate from the saltwater tanks there. This substrate is added to the freshwater in the tank and after a few days you must test the salinity of the water with a refractometer or hydrometer (available t the pet store). the salinity must read between 1.020 and 1,026 before you add the salt water fish to the tank.

You must also remember that saltwater causes a lot of rusting to occur in the tank and do you should be ready to regularly clean out tank equipment at least twice a month. If rust has already set in you must change the equipment promptly.

Feeding saltwater fish is very different from feeding freshwater fish. Saltwater aquariums require a combination of frozen food that is easily available from the pet store. Never keep frozen food in your freezer for more than 3 months. Discard any unopened frozen food that is older than 5 months. It might sound like a lot of work to maintain a saltwater aquarium, however, once you are there you will discover that the joys are many and the work is not too much.

Abhishek is an avid Fish Lover and he has got some great Aquarium Care Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 105 Pages Ebook, “Aquarium Care Made Easy!” from his website http://www.Wonder-Homes.com/636/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.

Author: Abhishek Agarwal
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Should you go fresh or saltwater? When you decide to invest in an aquarium for the first time, the decision could be quite a challenge. Knowing the difference between the two with respect to cost, maintenance, etc., could make it easier to decide.

Setting up a freshwater aquarium is cheaper and maintenance is easier than a saltwater aquarium. However, the magnificent sight when you look at the wonderful undersea life forms in your tank makes the extra cost of a saltwater aquarium worth it.

Freshwater fish are overall more adaptable than marine fish. While fresh water fish adjust easily to changes in the aquarium, marine fish need their environment just right. Temperature, nitrate, salinity, ammonia and pH always have to be at the appropriate levels.

Freshwater fish are cheaper than marine fish, but on the other hand, the wonderful colors available in marine fish more than makes up for that. Marine plants are also pricier because harvesting is more difficult.

If you are on a tight budget, you can start your saltwater aquarium with fish only and then build on from there adding live rock, plants, etc. After a while, you will have a beautiful tank, excellent for soothing the senses and relieving stress.

Although the saltwater aquarium requires monitoring of more levels, the price difference between kits is minimal. To ensure proper salinity in your saltwater aquarium, a hydrometer is necessary, but also inexpensive.

Lighting and filtration systems are also more expensive for saltwater aquariums.

Whatever aquarium you have, always buy good quality commercially prepared foods and never overfeed your fish. If any flakes remain after 10 minutes, you are overfeeding. Pathogenic organisms could be introduced into your tank, so it is advisable to keep away from live foods.

Stocking your saltwater aquarium should be done with care. Quite a number of fish are not suitable for captivity. Even so, many are still for sale in shops. Buy from a reputable dealer, do your homework before you buy and avoid buying species that will not do well in captivity.

Puffers, pinfish, pigfish, sheepshead and bull minnows are all suitable but great care must be taken to make sure fish are compatible and do not fight. Some fish also tend to bully others. It is necessary to observe the fish for two or three days every time you introduce new fish. Should you notice aggressive behavior, you must be prepared to separate fish. Your aquarium retailer should be able to provide this information for you.

As an example of an exotic fish, many people think of the Moorish Idol as an ideal aquarium fish. Unfortunately, we do not have the necessary food to replace their specialized diet and 90% of them die within a few months. It is better to settle for the nearly identical Banner fish, which will live a long and happy life in captivity if given proper care.

To ensure your marine aquarium is always a joy will require you to put in some time. If you establish a routine, you should be able to relax and admire your aquarium at any time.

Daily: Feed in the morning and early evening. Check fish for any signs of problems

Weekly: Check pH and other levels. Top up tank if necessary. Check equipment such as heater, etc.

Once a month: Clean box, filters and glass. Check lighting equipment, etc.

Four to six weeks: Prepare 20-25% water change 24 hrs in advance. Aerate well and check all levels before adding to tank.

Putting together your saltwater aquarium is bound to give you hours of fun and offering peace, tranquility and beauty to your home or office for years to come.

For more insights and information about a Saltwater Aquarium please visit our web site at http://www.fish-tank-aquarium.com

Author: Jon Arnold
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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