What to look for in a saltwater tank
The decision to purchase a marine or marine aquarium for your home or office should not be taken lightly. Saltwater fish will have more demands than fresh fish. However, once you decide to buy a saltwater aquarium, you will be rewarded with an amazing assortment of tropical and reef fish to choose from.
But first you need to buy your tank. The selection process can be time consuming and confusing because the range of available tanks is large. The best advice is usually to buy the largest tank that you can afford and that will fit into the available space. There are many stories about how people start their hobby with an aquarium with a small aquarium just to find in a short period of time that they wish they had acquired a larger tank!
The 30 gallon saltwater aquarium is probably the smallest tank you should consider. An aquarium of this size will provide sufficient surface area to provide sufficient oxygen exchange in the water and provide a comfortable bathing environment for your fish.
The supply of oxygen in water along with the temperature of the water will determine the success or trick of your fish. Tropical sea fish require a water temperature of around 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Warmer water in an aquarium with seawater will tend to deplete oxygen in the water, which means that the surface area becomes important. Adding aeration equipment is usually desirable to increase the concentration of oxygen. Aeration can usually be provided along with your filtration equipment.
Sea water cylinders are available in both acrylic and glass containers. There are advantages and disadvantages for both. Some of the benefits of glass aquariums
o Glass fish tanks are usually cheaper than acrylic containers
o Glass fish tanks are more scratch resistant than acrylic tanks
o Glass fish tanks will not fade with age
o Glass fish tanks will not require brace support such as acrylic tanks, although the stand must support a lot of weight.
The advantages of acrylic fish tanks
o Acrylic fish tanks are lighter in weight than glass fish tanks.
o Acrylic aquariums can be custom-made in a form appropriate for your home.
o Acrylic aquariums less likely
o Acrylic aquariums can be bought online
Setting up a tank for sea fish
Attracting a new seawater tank from the store is just the first step. Never be tempted to buy fish at the same time as purchasing your fish tank. Before you enter the fish in your new home, you need to follow a lot of steps.
First, you need to install your tank in the right place. Avoid placing your tank in any place that receives sunlight. Sunlight will cause algae to grow in your tank, and while it will not harm the fish, it is unsightly and spoils the look of your aquarium. Also avoid any places near room heaters or where the tank will be drafted.
Many acrylic aquariums come with a built-in rack. Glass tanks require a sturdy rack and must have a polystyrene or rubber layer placed between the tank and the stand to absorb any unevenness. If the tank is unbalanced, it will ever crack.
Check your new tank for leaks. Fill it with water and let it stand for a day or two. Once you confirm that it is waterproof, you need to thoroughly clean the tank and all equipment. Rinse thoroughly. Do not skip the cleaning and rinsing steps just because you bought a new tank and it looks intrinsically safe. Your fish will die if contaminants remain in the tank! Remember to wash the gravel before adding it to the tank. Add all your other equipment as directed by the manufacturer. Your pet store will provide you with advice on how to set up a seawater tank.
After you have added your salt water and confirm that the salt and chemical composition is correct, you need to run all your equipment for at least 72 hours to filter and heat the water and stabilize the tank. Let the aquarium cycle create the correct biological levels.
The most difficult part of creating your saltwater aquarium is now complete, and now you can go and choose your colorful fish!
