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Getting
Started in the Saltwater Hobby
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Things to
Consider...
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!
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Once
you have decided what specimens you wish to
house in your new aquarium, you can then move on
to making the rest of the important decisions. |
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Aquarium
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.
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Live
Rock:
Comes loaded with microscopic marine life, that
play an intricate role in clearing up potentially toxic
uneaten foods an 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! |
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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.
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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. |
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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.
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Flow:
Power heads, and pumps, come in a variety of
sizes and outputs. 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 rate of 7 to 10 times per
hour on average. |
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Miscellaneous
Supplies:
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Heater - Marine Aquariums should be kept at a
constant temperature between 77-81 degrees Fahrenheit
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Themometer
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Additives (see our additive brochure page)
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Food
and Supplements
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Hydrometer - 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.
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Test Kits (calcium, alkalinity, pH, Ammonia,
nitrate, nitrite, phosphate etc)
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Aragonite Substrate
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Synthetic Sea Salt
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Our
staff is always avaliable to answer any
questions you may have, No question is
too small, and no tank is too large! |
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