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Salt Water Fish Tanks for Beginners: Tips on buying, setting up and managing a saltwater fish tank

May 2nd, 2011
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Are you in search for beginner salt water fish for your aquarium? There is a long list of choices for you to choose from. These include damselfishes, blennies, clownfish, gobies, dottybacks and the like. Beginners will find it confusing as to which ones from the large number of these species he will select. Fish types like butterfly fish, angel fish, lion fish and others are not ideal for beginners in the hobby. Fish play an important role in this hobby. However, another important thing you need to acquire is a fish tank. This article will give you tips on buying, setting up and managing a saltwater fish tank.

In buying salt water fish tanks, there are important things to consider. There are five types of salt water aquarium you can choose from such as fish only aquarium, invertebrate only aquarium, fish and invertebrate salt water aquarium, coral reef aquarium and the specialty aquarium. Whatever type of salt water fish tank you consider opting for, it is always important that you do extensive research on these five types before you buy one for yourself. Every type of fish tank has its corresponding care requirements. Therefore, you must see to it that you are willing to meet those requirements.

Setting up a salt water fish tank is not actually a difficult task to perform. There is a list of steps to follow in order for you to successfully set it up in your home. The very first thing you need to do is check entirely the tank to make sure that it has no leaks. Clean the tank by using a cleaning solution composed of 1 tsp. pure bleach for every 5 gallons of water. Clean thoroughly not only the tank but also all the additional decorative items or equipment. The next thing to do is the installation of filtration system. You must only follow the instructions specified by the manufacturer. You must bear in mind that the installation process of filtration system varies from one fish tank to another. Make sure that the substrate is washed thoroughly first before placing it into the tank. The substrate is the one that anchors the plastic plants. Dechlorinated water must be the one used. Add salt to this water and use hydrometer to read how much salt is dissolved in the water.

Fill your fish tank with the salt water and put a setback from the mouth of the tank of about one inch. Afterwards, you may start the filter system. Heater and thermometer are then added. Your goal is to achieve a temperature ranging from 75 to 80 degrees. Leave everything as is and after at least 72 hours, you may start setting the right temperature. After getting the recommended temperature and chemical levels, you may place the fish into the tank. Powerhead is required for salt water fish tank to allow moving of water. Only choose the appropriate size to get rid of too much moving of water and that it may produce a whirlpool effect in the water. A protein skimmer is also useful for salt water aquarium. This skimmer also requires an external water pump and air pump.

Good management of salt water fish tank is a must. There are several things you must do on a regular basis as part of the maintenance such as scrubbing algae, checking filters and changing bulbs. These can be helpful in keeping everything healthy. You must set a strict maintenance schedule. This is of vital importance for your fish. Proper and routine cleaning must be done in order for you to succeed in this hobby.

Find out more on building small fish tanks and where to buy cheap fish tanks online at MyFishTanksforSale.com
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Saltwater Fish and Nano Reef Basics

Apr 18th, 2011
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These basics are intended for a marine fish aquarium (and basic Nano Reefs), not an advanced marine reef aquarium. A properly set up and maintained salt water aquarium can be relatively easy to keep, in fact, sometimes easier than some freshwater fish such as discus.

These facts and opinions are based on my experience of keeping and professionally maintaining marine fish (and reef) aquariums for over 27 years with one of the largest aquarium maintenance companies in Los Angeles, California.

NANO REEFS:

For Nano reefs much of this basic information applies. I still recommend a UV sterilizer if it can be fitted to you nano reef (a small internal filter such as a Via Aqua 305 Internal Filter” connected to a compact UV works well)

*Cured live rock is a must.

*A fine #00 sand with a ½” layer of #3 sand on top works best in my opinion for cleaning and de-nitrification.

*Water changes and regular checks of water parameters are a must (do not forget to check alkali reserve, the same as KH in FW). Water parameters change more rapidly in a Nano aquarium.

*Two power compact light, changed every six months and cleaned regularly in between. They should be one daylight and one actinic or two 50/50.

[1] Filtration; Good filtration is a must for a successful marine aquarium. There are many different filters available too.

Canister filters are good for their capacity, but can become Nitrate factories is not rinsed very regularly. I do not recommend Fluvals due to their poor impeller design. Via Aqua. Eheim, Jebo, and Magnum are the ones I recommend.

Wet/Dry filters are good, but usually are poor mechanical filters. The bio ball media in them also should be rinsed regularly in de-chlorinated water to prevent a buildup of organic material, increasing nitrates.

Sump systems with live rock, plants, and sponge filters work well. The live rock is excellent for aerobic filtration (ammonia and nitrite removal) and anaerobic filtration (nitrate removal). The live plants and green algae are good for nitrogen fixing and phosphate removal. The sponge filter is a simple to clean aerobic bio-filter and mechanical filter.

As for live rock, I strongly recommend using it. Make sure it is cured, many stores sell live rock right after it comes to them, and this is not cured live rock. Live rock arrives to the stores wrapped in newspaper and mostly dead by this time, it takes up to 6 weeks to fully cure live rock. Fully cured live rock has the benefit of containing aerobic and anaerobic bacteria; the later helps convert nitrates to nitrogen which is released harmlessly into the atmosphere. Cured live rock also contains many “creatures”, many of which are both interesting and beneficial. You may also create your own using rock high in calcium carbonate, or even dead coral skeletons by placing them under healthy cured live rock for a couple of months in a healthy aquarium (reef set ups are best for this). It is important to use very porous rock for the proper benefits of live rock

Hang on back filters are very limited, but can be used too, especially if combined with other bio filters. Internal filters are also limited, but once again are good combined with others.

Ecosystem mud filtration is effective for nitrate removal (due to the large colonies of anaerobic bacteria), they are much simpler to use than a protein Skimmer in my opinion (which I believe are over sold for fish aquaria).

Unfortunately there are many stores pushing these systems as the end all of filtration, and they are not. They are a good part of a system, but should not be the only part. Good mechanical, other types of bio filtration, and especially germicidal filtration are also important.

More on Nitrate Removal Filtration;

(A) As mentioned above, Mud filters can be very useful for Nitrate removal; you can make a simple one with a HOB filter or sump aquarium. (With the HOB you must place the media in fine mesh or nylon filter bags so as to not cause damage to the impeller, also keep bags out of heavy flow area of filter). [1] First use a 2 cm layer of #3 gravel on top. [2] Then 5 cm of #00 sand. [3] Then you can make your own anaerobic mulm from top soil; rinse fine top soil in a 10/1 bleach solution, then rinse again until clean (you can add a de-chlorinator to remove bleach). This goes on the bottom of the sump in a layer about 2 cm thick.

(B) Also as mentioned above; A lot of cured live rock is extremely helpful for nitrate removal

(C) Plants or green algae (such as caulerpa algae) in aquarium or refugium.

(D) Pre-Filters such as ATIs “Filter Max” on filter intakes; these are easily rinsed and remove organic matter before it can go thru the nitrogen cycle.

(E) Protein Skimmers

(F) Metal Halide lighting. I know this seems off subject, but I have found that Metal Halide lighting helps with nitrate levels, even when other filters are poor. I do not have scientific proof, but I believe the Redox potential (350 mV) this light helps maintain has a lot to do with this.

Filter redundancy is also important, as filters/pumps can break down. Extra filters also increase bio and mechanical filtration. An economical combination would be a sponge filter, internal filter, and a hang on back (power filter).

For more on filtration, please see this site: “Aquarium Filtration”

[2] Lighting; A 10,000 K Daylight bulb is a start, better would be a 50/50 daylight/ 420nm actinic bulb, or better yet would be one of each.

[3] Test Kits; an ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, ph, and KH (alkalinity) test kit are all important.

[4] Water Chemistry; Start with a good marine salt and mix it to a specific gravity of 1.019- 1.021 for fish.

Add trace elements and aquarium buffer. SeaChem makes an excellent product called Reef Calcium which maintains KH, adds bio available polygluconate complexed calcium. Many products available do not add both calcium and magnesium (such as Kalkwasser), and they are BOTH necessary together for proper chemistry and fish health. It should be noted, that unlike freshwater fish which absorb the water around them, marine fish drink the water constantly, which affects their internal body chemistry to the surrounding water.

Maintain Ammonia and nitrites at 0, pH at 8.2-8.4, kH at 200 ppm, Nitrates below 20 ppm. Change water regularly using a gravel vacuum, especially in areas of waste accumulation, this will help maintain low nitrates.

[5] UV Sterilization; UV Sterilizers are in my opinion, not essential, but are VERY important. UV Sterilizers help with disease prevention and also help maintain a proper Redox Potential (oxidation properties of water). The Redox Potential is often overlooked by many aquarists both SW and FW. For more information please see my article about “Aquarium UV Sterilization and how it works “

[6] Proper Fish and feeding; do not over crowd a marine aquarium. The amount of fish depends on the aquarium surface area and the type of fish. My article “Basic Aquarium Principles” addresses this subject. Feed your marine fish according to the type of food they naturally eat in the wild. Aquatic based foods such as HBH Marine Flake or Spirulina 20 Flake are good generic fish foods for Tangs, angels, clown fish, ECT. (Angels also need sponge in their diet).

This is a basic article, for MUCH more information please see this large article with more resources, pictures, and marine information: “AQUARIUM SALTWATER BASICS; Fish and Nano-Reef

“

By Carl Strohmeyer
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Information.html
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Your Questions About Tank Considerations Salt Water Aquarium

Mar 27th, 2011
by Aquarium Lover.
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Maria asks…

planted tank with platys what size/setup would be best?

Looking at getting back into aquariums (I had a salt water tank once but moved and couldn’t bring it with me so I sold it). I want to do a planted aquarium and the platys come in such a variety of colours that I thought they would be a beautiful contrast to the greens of the plants (thought about goldfish but they might be messy) With platys I’m not sure what would be the best size tank to get for them and how strong of a filter current they would be okay with (thinking of buying a fluval 05 series filter system). and any other suggestions on other fish ie bottom dwellers that would exist well with them and any special considerations. thanks.

Aquarium Lover answers:

I would start with a 20 gallon tank since you have already some experience
You can buy complete kits at petsmart or petco, that come with the tank, the hood, the filter and the heater, and is also much cheaper, and the filter that come with the tanks are already pretty good as well

Don’t forget that you have to cycle your tank, here is a link

http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php

you can put like 3-5 cory’s in your tank or plecos, here are some links with info on them

http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/genus.php?genus_id=1#51

http://www.peteducation.com/category_summary.cfm?cls=16&cat=1923

Here is a site about plants

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/categ.cfm?siteid=26&pCatId=768

and last but not least here is a site with different platy species

http://www.aquariumfish.net/catalog_pages/livebearer_platies/platies_table.htm#top2

Hope all that info helps
Good luck

EB

Paul asks…

saltwater aquarium help :S?

okay, I plan on investing in a salt water aquarium and realise its not something to go into half heartedly. Basically, I have money to buy all the equipment I just had a few questions about it.

1) What is the absolutely essential equipment?
2) My brain hurts from reading all about different types of filters, skimmers and sumps. Could you establish a tank with only a biological filter and a protein skimmer?
3) are there any other things i should know or take into consideration before i start?

PS. I plan on having a tank around 6-10 gallons. possibly the fluval edge 23 litre one? if the filter you get with this okay to use in a salt water tank?
oh yeah, i plan on keeping corals etc
and before i get a lecture on experience, iv had a tropical tank for years and have taken courses with my scuba diving about reefs and basic fish knowledge and behaviour, which i know isn’t the same but im not going in with a blind fold on!

Aquarium Lover answers:

Don’t listen to people who say you have to have a large tank. Large tank also equals thousands of dollars that you have to spend, especially if you want corals.
I seem to be one of the only people on this site who has experience working with a nano sized reef tank – 5.5 gallons.
The essential equipment is lighting, heating, and filtration. A skimmer isn’t usually used in nano tanks, but some people do use nano skimmers. I haven’t heard much about the Fluval Edge being used as a SW tank, but the most difficult part would be finding a lighting fixture that fits. I personally have a 20K PAR38 LED lamp over my tank and it works wonderfully, I can even keep SPS! These lamps just hang above your tank and can screw into a regular light socket.
For filatration, again, I have no idea about the Fluval edge. I use an Aquaclear 20 that has been modded into a filter/refugium.

To establish a tank, really all you need is the filter, live rock, and live sand.

Before you start, do a bunch of research! I use www.nano-reef.com for all my research. Everyone there is very experienced in keeping nano tanks and what to keep in them..corals, fish, etc.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that your tank will need daily top-offs of RO/DI water and weekly water changes with already mixed, heated water (so you might want to have an extra heater on hand). If you have any small fish or inverts, they will also need at least daily feedings. Many corals also do well with the addition of live brine shrimp!

If you need any help with your nano tank, let me know!

Michael asks…

Fiddler Crab!!!!!! HELP!!!?

Yesterday I bought a fiddler crab. I noticed that it was missing a claw. I’m guessing it is a female. I need to know any information you might have about this crab. Like:

1. Does it need aquarium salt?
2. How long do fiddler crabs usually live?
3. Does there need to be more than one in a tank?
4. What makes it happy? (like what kind of things does it like in the tank)

I know they need to be able to move around in water and have a spot for land.

PLEASE NO RUDE COMMENTS!!! such comments will be ignored!
Thank you for your time and consideration! : )

Aquarium Lover answers:

If it’s missing it’s claw it doesn’t mean it’s female. Females will simply lack the big giant claw that marks males. Keep the tank clean and take care of it and the missing limb will return after a few molts.

It needs marine salt. They are brackish crabs. NOT freshwater. Generally a 3 to 1 ratio. 3 parts aquarium marine salt water, 1 part freshwater. You will need to invest in a hydrometer to measure salinity. The SG level should be something between 1.002 and no more than 1.018

They need access to air AND to water. And will appreciate sandy substrate to burrow in. Provide a sloped bottom from the land part to the submerged part. And provide rocks or something for them to climb on.

They can be fed in a bowl on not, sinking crab pellets, freeze dried shrimp or krill, or tablets are all good. Variety will always help make the crab healthier. Just like any tank, filter the water side and perform water changes and clean up after the crab.

They can be kept with others. Depending on the tank size, it’s fun to get a couple of males and a few females that they can squabble over.

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Keeping Invertebrates in Your Saltwater Fish Tank Aquarium

Mar 5th, 2011
by Guest Blogger.
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I see a sea anemone

Image by Stewart Leiwakabessy via Flickr

As well as marine fish you can keep a selection of invertebrates in your salt water fish tank aquarium. Invertebrates are creatures without backbones, many of which are aquatic and can be kept in a saltwater fish tank.

This class of creatures include squids, lobsters, shrimps, starfish, sea urchins, sea anemones, coral and feather stars. Other marine invertebrates include sea squirts, sea cucumbers, zoo plankton, lugworms and sea hares.

Marine invertebrates suitable for keeping in a salt water fish tank include sea anemones, corals, sea sponges, crabs, shrimp and snails.

Sea Anemones

Anemones can be kept in a salt water aquarium provided excellent water conditions are maintained. they also require intense lighting and a strong current. They can be fed on blood worms, pieces of shrimp and other meaty scraps. (more…)


Choosing to Setup a Saltwater Fish Tank

Jan 15th, 2011
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A well set up saltwater aquarium tank is the dream of those who love the hobby. It can be an amazing and striking addition to your home or office and bring you hour of peaceful entertainment.

If you are a beginner, starting with a saltwater aquarium can be a risky business, so I would highly recommend getting the advice of a professional aquarium keeper before setting up your tank. It takes a lot of work and planning to set up the tank just right even before you can begin to introduce fish, corals, and anemones to your new saltwater aquarium.

You will need to monitor the water parameters (temperature, nitrates, ammonia, etc) and some of the aquarium equipment on your saltwater setup. Once a week, or at least once a month, you will need to perform aquarium maintenance on your fish tank, especially water changes and water quality testing. The water in such an aquarium needs to be at the perfect temperature, be at the optimum pH, and have the exact salt content before it is safe for living beings. Salt water fish and other life forms are quite expensive, so it would be wise to have the tank properly set up before you end up with a tank full of sick or dying fish at a high cost.

There are different marine salt mixes in the market and they are all made slightly differently. Unless you’re considering a reef tank, most of the commonly available mixes should serve you fine. You will develop your own salt mix preference after you’ve worked with them for a while.

Prepare and mix your salt water in a special bucket and once you have the perfect mixture you can add the saltwater to your tank. You will have to repeat this process until you have filled the aquarium. If it’s a large tank you can mix the salt in the tank, which can be a bit more difficult and messy.

The lighting on the saltwater aquarium is very important. You need light in the aquarium for at least half a day. Plants and livestock need a perfect cycle of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

A well decorated salt water aquarium will be an asset for years to come, so it’s worth it to spend time and energy looking for the right décor and ornaments for the tank. There are many types of decorations for a saltwater aquarium. Driftwood and sand look simply beautiful and are essential elements of saltwater fish natural habitat.

You can opt for real or plastic plants. However, live plants help you bring Nature into your home. Live plants oxygenate the water in the tank. Keep in mind that your fish will use the decorations you place in the tank as shelter and as playgrounds. So, for the benefit of the fish and to maintain the natural beauty of the aquarium, I would advise to use real aquatic plants.

Live rock is great for your saltwater aquarium. It helps formulate the aquarium’s ecosystem, vital to aquatic life. Live rock is covered with micro and macro organisms which filter the waste products from the water, making it safe for your aquatic inhabitants.

Some saltwater aficionados keep only living corals and anemones in their tanks. This can be colorful and entertaining, at a more relaxed pace. You could keep fish in these tanks, but be aware that some fish view coral and anemones as food. Shrimps, crabs and snails will also eat any anemones you may have.

Anemones look like plants, but they are living creatures that need to be fed, and feeding them by hand can be a lot of fun. You place the food on top of the anemones tentacles and watch them curl themselves around the food and draw it into their mouths.

Before you bring in the inhabitants of your tank, choose the type of fish that you want. The type of fish will also decide the type of plants you use. You also need to research how the type of fish you are interested in will get along with other types of fish. Remember that the dynamics of a saltwater aquarium will be very similar to that in a real coral reef. Don’t mix pray and predators. Do your homework.

Some types of saltwater fish are poisonous, like Lion Fish. They are beautiful to look at and it’s an awesome addition to your tank, but the spines on their fins are very toxic if you get stung. You need to get medical help if this ever happens.

 

Deciding to have a saltwater aquarium is a lot of work. Keeping your fish and plants healthy will require a commitment on your part and it will be a considerable investment. But if you want to invite Mother Nature into your home environment, there is no better choice. You will enjoy this hobby for years to come.

If you want to read more about keeping a fish tank in your home, visit me at http://www.thefishtankplace.com

Rebeca has been interested in animals and Feng Shui for many years and now she wants to share her knowledge of these subjects with people in a very light and personal way. Feng Shui has improved her life in many ways, and her cats and dogs, and the fish that came as a part of her passion for Feng Shui, are now a very important part of her, and she’s very happy to share her experiences with everybody.
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The Right Fishes for Your Aquarium

Aug 1st, 2009
by Neon.
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Georgia Aquarium Fish

Image by Mike Johnston via Flickr

Saltwater aquariums are great for people who love the ocean and the creatures that live underneath it. It is best to orient yourself and choose the right fish carefully.

If you want to have the most wonderful marine aquarium in your own home, you have to first choose what kind of fishes you will put in it. More over, you have to be able to maintain your aquarium. This requires patience and motivation. Having a salt-water aquarium is not that hard after all.

Choosing the Right Fish for Your Saltwater Aquarium

The first step is to decide on the number of fish you want to house in your aquarium. Make a rough estimate on how many fish will fit spaciously in your aquarium. As a rule, you have to allow two inches of fish with every gallon of water in the tank. (more…)


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