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August 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A Sprinkle Of Salty Fun In Saltwater Aquarium
July 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Article by Low Jeremy
Having a saltwater aquarium can be fun and rewarding or can be upsetting if a person lacks knowledge on the proper and right ways of taking care of fish especially in the saltwater aquarium.
Setting up one requires some equipment to be used for the success of your saltwater aquarium. Filters and air pump are some of the most important facilities. Some decorations can be added such as sand and gravels, which sometimes varies in different colors. You can also include plastic or real plants, castle or miniatures ship and other fancy decorations in the aquarium, but just be very careful that it won’t clutter inside. Light is also essential in saltwater aquarium for the enhancement of the color of the aquarium and especially the fishes survival.
Saltwater aquarium requires three types of filtration. One is the Biological filtration, which involves the removal of the bacteria, which is often created by the fish on its activities, and processes that it undergoes inside the tank. Second, the chemical filtration that is more on the removing of the discoloration and chemicals on the water that harms the fish inside the tank. Third, is the mechanical filtration, which deals more with the removal of the visible materials floating on the aquarium such as uneaten fish foods, wastes of the fishes and other squanders floating or at the bottom of the saltwater aquarium, and this job is commonly done by the net.
There are many considerations regarding the proper ways in keeping the fish alive in a saltwater aquarium, unlike freshwater aquariums; saltwater aquarium is more difficult to set up. One very good example is mixing saltwater. We must remember that water evaporates while the salt is left, which means that the salinity of the water on the tank always varies, which can cause harm especially on the fishes inside the aquarium. A hydrometer may help you track the salinity of the water and add some salt to get the right salinity content of the water.
Beginners can set up their saltwater aquarium depending on what they like. You can just put fish only in the aquarium, or fish with full reef ambience, or whatever design you want, as long as it you make sure that the fish inside the aquarium would be able to survive.
Experienced aquarists and experts say that we must always find the perfect place for the aquarium in the house. If the location of your saltwater aquarium is always struck by sunlight, it may result to changes on the temperature of the water on the tank and would produce more algae due to the sun and its UV rays, which may harm your fish inside the aquarium.
Low Jeremy maintains http://aquarium.articlekeep.com. This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.
Do You Build Or Buy A Saltwater Aquarium?
July 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Article by Sam Weston
Haven’t decided whether to build or buy a saltwater aquarium? For most people buying a ready-made aquarium is by far the easier option. But if you’re handy with tools and construction you might be thinking of building your own tank. This chapter will provide you with do-it-yourself instructions on how to build a 55 gallon glass aquarium to house your marine life. Ultimately it is for you to decide whether you want to build or buy a saltwater aquarium. If you are more comfortable with a bought tank, by all means, get one!
Building a tank from scratch is challenging and not for beginners unless you have plenty of patience and are willing to ask for help. However using the materials list, step-by-step instructions and advice provided here you can build your very own glass aquarium. Whether you build or buy a saltwater aquarium you will find the setup fun and rewarding. However having built your own special tank is doubly satisfying.
Before you get started you need to know a thing or two about working with glass. The tank you are going to build is 14 inches high with ¼ inch glass panels. If you want to make a bigger saltwater aquarium you will need to learn how to calculate the correct thickness of glass for the size of the tank. If you haven’t decided whether to build or buy a saltwater aquarium you might want to consider how comfortable you are working with glass.
Whether you build or buy a saltwater aquarium, the first thing to do is to draw up a plan or schematic of the kind of saltwater aquarium you want. Make sure that all your measurements are correct so that the tank fits together properly. This aquarium is built with the two end panels fitted inside the back and front panes.
The front, back and side panels are set on top of the aquarium floor. If you don’t know how to cut glass you can ask the professionals to do it for you. If you build or buy a saltwater aquarium you need to understand how the glass is fitted together as this has a lot to do with the stability of the tank.
Whether you decide to build or buy a saltwater aquarium you will probably be making use of a lighted hood. When you draw up your plans you must include the hood. You should never place solid glass on the aquarium top as this reduces the gas exchange that occurs at the surface. If this happens your aquarium will not get enough aeration and the health of the tank will suffer.
So what materials will you need to build a saltwater aquarium? Whether you build or buy a saltwater aquarium you will need to purchase all the necessary materials that go into making a good marine setup. To build a 55 gallon aquarium you will need the following:
* 1 glass panel for the tank bottom* 1 front, 1 back, and 2 end pieces of glass* Single edged razor blades.* Acetone.* Non-toxic 100% silicone sealant. (All-Glass® Brand 100% Silicone Sealant)* Roll of paper towels.* Washable felt tip marker.* Roll of duct tape.* Emery cloth or silicone carbide sandpaper.
Whether you choose to build or buy a saltwater aquarium you should choose the biggest one that fits into your home. If your tank is bigger than 30 gallons in size you might want to install a support brace at the tank’s center. Do this by cutting a six inch wide piece of glass that will fit to the outside edges of the front and back panels. Use silicone to position it in place.
Next you will prepare the glass panes. Use an emery cloth or silicone carbide sandpaper to smooth the edges of the glass. Clean the glass pane joints and edges at ½ inch inward using acetone. Prepare the duct tape by cutting 16 strips of tape, 5 inches long. Place these nearby. Always be careful when handling glass. This is true whether you build or buy a saltwater aquarium
Place your pieces on the floor or table in the correct order for assembly. If need be, mark them with words or arrows so you don’t lose track. Place the bottom panel on a flat non-scratch surface. Stick 8 pieces of tape to the glass on the bottom side (sticky side up). If you decide to build or buy a saltwater aquarium always take care not to scratch the glass.
Now install the front glass piece. Next fold the two bottom pieces of tape upward and stick them to the glass. Now you are ready to install the first side panel by folding the 2 bottom duct tapes upward and sticking them to the front of the glass. Secure the side piece to the front piece of glass with 2 strips of tape.
Next install the other side piece, and the back panel. Once the tank has been built use silicone to seal the eight joint areas on the inside of the tank. Use a small amount and smooth your thumb over the silicone to level it. Let the tank sit for 24 hours to cure the silicone. It does not matter if you choose to build or buy a saltwater aquarium, it is always vital that it does not leak!
After the resting period you can fill the tank with fresh water. Let it sit for 12 to 24 hours. Why? You are testing your tank for leaks! A 24 hour testing period is better as it will leave you more confident that your tank is actually watertight. This is important whether you build or buy a saltwater aquarium.
Once you are sure that your tank is fit for your marine world you can set about planning the fish, invertebrates, and plants that will go into your tank. It is not that important whether you choose to build or buy a saltwater aquarium. Most people will probably opt for the ease of walking into a store and choosing a perfect, assembled tank but for those who like a challenge, constructing your own tank can be very satisfying. Once you have set everything up you will feel doubly proud! Enjoy your new aquarium!
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Setting Up a Saltwater Aquarium
July 25, 2011 By 1 Comment
Many people have the misconception that it is difficult to maintain saltwater aquariums compared to freshwater setups. But this is not true. In reality, species of saltwater fish including invertebrates are easy to maintain with just a little bit difference in requirement. You just have to know the basics to better understand how to maintain saltwater aquariums.
There are so many species of attractive saltwater fish which you can choose. the main reason why many of the hobbyists would love to setup their own marine aquarium.
In this article, we are going to provide you with some of the basic steps in setting up, maintaining and choosing the saltwater fish and invertebrates for your marine tank.
There are several ways in setting up an aquarium which all depends on your interest and chosen species of fish. Hobbyist usually tags each type of aquariums to differentiate the requirements and the type of tanks to be used.
The Fish Only Tank
Fish only tank is a type of tank used to maintain fish without plants, clams and corals.
This tank may also contain invertebrates which help in keeping the tanks clean. This is one of the easiest, and is less expensive setup compared to the reef tank.
Reef Tank
Reef tank is designed for a more variety of fish which needs anemones or corals. This system needs a special setup. Reef tanks can be classified as large polyp stony (LPS), small polyp stone (SPS) and the softy tanks. All of these have different needs and are therefore set up differently.
After choosing your setup and the species of fish for your marine aquarium, you also need to know how to maintain your saltwater tanks. This is very important in order to maintain the environment of your fish.
Here are some important tips for maintaining your marine aquarium.
Ammonia and Nitrate Monitoring
Usually after six weeks, your tank will show the common cycle process.
This is the most critical part of your marine aquarium. You should be very keen in observing the nitrate and ammonia content in the tank. If you notice any stress from the fish inside the aquarium, you need to change the water. If worst cases where the fish really looks bad, it is a must to relocate them into other storage to prevent intoxication. It is recommended to have enough supply of dechlorinated and salt mix for immediate water changes.
PH Monitoring
Besides careful monitoring of the nitrates and ammonia, it is also vital to monitor the pH at all times. There is a great tendency of pH dropping over a period of time. If this occurs, you need to raise it immediately. In order to do this, add one tablespoon of baking soda with one cup of dechlorinated water and pour it into the tank with at least one hour interval. Baking soda will effectively fall the pH inside the tank.
Water Monitoring
Normally, water level will diminish as time goes by and you need to replace it. This is normal due to water evaporation. So make sure you keep the water at a constant level always.
Algae Cleaning
Soon as the tank will reach its third week, the formation of algae will be noticed. These are brown algae which tend to cover up the entire area of the tank. You need to clean these algae once a week. When green algae develop, it will soon outdo the brown algae and will cause it to disappear. But in case the green algae do not surpass the brown algae, you need to employ additional light for this process to workout.
Water Change
After sometime, it is necessary to change the water at least 50% of the total water content in regular intervals. You could change water once a week. You should also clean the gravel at the same time.
For more information on Saltwater Aquarium Substrates and Salinity of Saltwater Aquarium, please visit our website.