A Sprinkle of Salty Fun in Saltwater Aquarium

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.

How to Set Up Saltwater Home Aquarium

If you are thinking of putting up a salt water aquarium, maybe you have heard from other enthusiasts that it is difficult. In the past, saltwater aquarium is a very hard task. However, starting a saltwater aquarium is not actually a lengthy list of complicated tasks to do. Primarily, it will be wasting time, but it is satisfying and worthwhile. You should feel free to take your time and satisfy the whole delightful experience. A well set up and maintained aquarium is truly pleasant. There is nothing like sitting on your couch while watching fish play around the pebbles instead of viewing the late night news. When its frosty outside and that the air is so cold and chilly that your tears turns into ice crystals before it falls in the ground, it is very relaxing to stare into your tank and imagine yourself diving through the soothing waters of Hawaii, gazing the underwater world beyond your belief.

To put up your saltwater aquarium, you should determine a spot where you can place it. Though seems impossible, it is a big disappointment to relocate a 100 pound aquarium even for a few meters. You should be sure that the place is away from direct sunlight and heat, particularly during summer. You will possibly like to situate the aquarium where it can be easily noticed and satisfied, probably in the sitting area of your home. Most people set up their aquarium as the highlight of their living room, instead of the TV. Some enthusiasts are worried about the consequence of the weight of the aquarium to the floor structure. Still a bigger aquarium weighs about the same as two adults. Thus, if your floor structure can be shattered by the weight, you can place the aquarium against an outer wall, which is the sturdiest part of the floor. The next thing you have to do is to measure the spot for the aquarium. You should take note that you need enough space around the aquarium for maintenance and for the extra equipment.

Then, you should purchase the aquarium and other equipment. Bring your measurement notes with you and ylook for something that will be suitable to your space. Do not make a haste decision at the first pet store. Visit many stores as you can to watch out for promos or special offers and to compare the prices before you make your final purchase. Basically, saltwater fish needs a larger aquarium about 55 gallons up.

Most people have the misconception that it would take at least six weeks to cycle or maintain the water filter for a new saltwater aquarium. The basic method used for cycling an aquarium of putting a couple of fish in the new aquarium then waiting up for the cycle period of six weeks for the beneficial bacteria to grow. However, there are modern methods you can choose from to cycle saltwater aquarium such as adding sand, rocks or chemical bacterial additives.

In the past, most people also believed that water changes are the only method to decrease the nitrates which are harmful to the fish. However, recent developments in marine biology have developed other methods such as using denitrator machine, algal additives, nitrate absorbents and other filtration systems like Berlin and Jaubert.