You've decided to set up a saltwater aquarium! Although an aquarium can be a rewarding, and relaxing hobby, people are often too over whelmed with amount of decision making required to succeed. We'll help you make informed decisions, and arm you with the knowledge you need to get started!
Most important, is to decide what you want to keep in your aquarium. This is the easiest way to get started. The list you create today doesn't have to limit you to stick with those species, it just means you may have to "upgrade" certain parts of your aquarium to accommodate those changes What you want to keep will dictate all the crucial aspects of your aquarium. From lighting, food, to filtration. Understand the needs of the specimens you want to keep, and build your aquarium around those requirements.Asking questions about nutrition, lighting, amount of flow, compatibility, and in some cases placement, are critical to the success of your corals, inverts, and fish!Some Things to ConsiderAquarium Size:May seem trivial, but, everything you place in your aquarium grows! In time space and size will be critical to prevent aggressive behavior, and leave you in good standing to add a wide variety of specimens. A 54 gal aquarium is a good starting size. It allows you to keep a variety of fish and corals while fitting into any budget. Filtration:We recommend the use of biological filters, such as live rock, and mechanical filtration, namely, protein skimmers.
Live Rock:Comes loaded with microscopic marine life, that play an intricate role in clearing up potentially toxic uneaten foods and detritus. Live rock has all the beneficial bacteria needed for your aquarium and is considered a foundational building block. 1-2 pounds per gallon is recommended. Protein Skimmers:(also referred to as foam fractionators), are devices used to remove organic wastes from the water column. Protein skimmers will remove waster, heavy minerals, and foreign pollutants before they create a problem. If done efficiently, the possibility of undesirable elevations in phosphates and nitrates are avoided. Tanks housing large predator fish require strong protein skimming. A protein skimmer is considered the most important part of the filtration of your aquarium, and you should purchase the highest quality skimmer you can afford! Sump:A sump is a great way to add extra water volume and water movement to your aquarium. A sump is usually located below the main display tank and is utilized to house most mechanical devices (heaters, skimmer, etc?) from visually interfering with the ocean front property you have created. Most of the equipment used in saltwater fish keeping is designed for use in a sump tank to maximize effectiveness, without compromising aesthetics. Refugium:Refugiums are a separate tank, usually below or above the main display tank, and share the same water (plumbed together) as the main display tank. Not only do they add the benefits of having extra water volume to the aquarium, they are also a great place for microscopic organisms (such as copepods and amphipods), and macro algae to grow, without any predation from other animals. Once matured, the microscopic organisms will return to the display aquarium and are utilized as a supplemental food source for fish, inverts, corals, and anemones. Refugiums act as a natural filtration system and can be used in concert with your existing filter or can replace trickle filters.
Lighting:In particular, this aspect is critical to the coral specimens you wish to keep. Choosing light sources based on the corals you wish to keep, will ensure they remain colorful, and continue to grow in your home aquarium.
Flow:Water movement is the most critical part of your aquarium system. Understanding flow requirements of corals and fish, is critical to their care. A reasonable rate of constant water flow is important to keep organic matter in suspension so it can be removed by mechanical filtration, organic matter can lead to elevated Nitrate and Phosphate levels, hindering your aquariums health. Saltwater aquariums should cycle water at a minimum rate of 7 to 10 times per hour. Systems that housing corals will require more vigorus water movement depending on the species of coral kept. Soft coral and Large Polyp Stony coral systems should target a cycle of 30 times per hour with Small Polyp Stony Coral systems tageting a cycle of 50 or more times per hour.Miscellaneous Supplies:
- Heater - Marine Aquariums should be kept at a constant temperature between 77-81 degrees Fahrenheit
- Thermometer
- Additives
- Food and Supplements
- Hydrometer or Refractometer- Used to measure the salinity of your system. We recommend a specific gravity of 1.026 for coral reef systems and between 1.023 and 1.024 for saltwater fish only systems.
- Test Kits (calcium, alkalinity, pH, Ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate etc)
- Aragonite Substrate
- Synthetic Sea Salt
|
|
|
Newest Blog Posts
|
