Is there anything more beautiful and stress reducing than the sight of exotic colorful fish swimming through crystal clear water among coral reefs and watching them as they dart in and out of the various plants that sway gently with the ocean’s current? Wow, just thinking about it makes me want to catch the next plane to the Florida Keys or some other exotic location.
However, setting up salt water fish tanks in your home might be even better than traveling to an exotic reef location. You could then enjoy the beauty of the ocean every time you gazed at your fish tank. It is important to note here that there is a difference between an saltwater aquarium and an saltwater reef aquarium. Obviously in an reef aquarium the coral, soft or hard, is the focus.
Starting a salt water aquarium might seem a bit intimidating at first, but it’s just like anything else you have ever learned to do that you thought you couldn’t. You do a little research, maybe purchase a book or two on the subject, talk to a knowledgeable person at your local pet store and soon you’ll have a saltwater aquarium set up that you can be proud of.
There are even saltwater aquarium kits that you can purchase that includes everything you will need in one package. Prices vary depending on the size. Salt water fish tanks come in several sizes. However, the rule of thumb is the bigger the better. The reason for this is that the more water the tank can hold, the less effect the toxins from the nitrogen cycle will have on the fish and the more space the fish will have to move around.
The nitrogen cycle begins when you introduce your fish into the clean water environment of your tank. The organic waste that the fish produces as well as the food you add into the tank eventually creates ammonia which then over time converts to nitrite which then converts to nitrate. This process produces a beneficial bacteria which creates a sort of biological filter. This bacteria takes time to develop and adding too many fish at one time or over feeding can cause these levels to become toxic. The water can become acidic which salt water tropical fish do not like . You will need to check the PH balance of the water and correct it when necessary.
An important point to think about before purchasing your salt water fish tank is where you will place it in your home or office. You must select an area where the floor is level and near an electrical outlet. Also, it must be an area that does not receive any direct sunlight. Direct sunlight will cause algae to flourish and algae combined with fish waste in your marine aquarium tank will not hurt the fish but it is not a pretty sight.
One more tip. If you do decide to purchase one of the many salt water fish tanks available, be sure to set it all up before adding the water. This way you can be sure that you have it far enough away from the wall for the filter. Once it’s filled with water, well, you can imagine the problem that will present.
You can check out one of the best selling books on setting up marine reef aquariums here . Go here for info on setting up a basic salt water fish tank .
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Setting up a reef aquarium is a much more expensive undertaking than a freshwater aquarium, or even a saltwater aquarium. Reef tanks are an especially costly.
How to Set Up Saltwater & Freshwater Aquariums
Get your new aquarium going. Learn how to set up a 90-gallon bow front aquarium in this free instructional how to video.
Everything that you would hope to find on a website about saltwater aquarium. Learn about saltwater aquariums here for free!
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Many aquarists believe they play an important role in an aquarium when it comes to oxygenation and aeration of the water, and that this air source is adequate. Not so! Low DO (Disolved Oxygen) levels in your tank water can cause a myriad of subtle problems. Fortunately, it isn’t hard to increase your DO with little to no money. Forums: Oxygenation?? Through education I’ve come to realize this exchange takes place at the surface level of the [...]
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