Salt Water Aquariums - Things to Consider Before Setting Up One

Salt Water Aquariums need much more than you just filling them with water, and turning on all the appropriate pieces of equipment before putting your fish into the tank. Certainly salt water aquariums offer you the chance to select and keep a wider variety of fish species which come in a wide variety of beautiful colors.

Salt water aquariums can hold more than just the popular kinds of tropical fish such as Angelfish and Clown fish; they can also hold a wide variety of corals, live rocks, invertebrates and shell fish as well. Plus you have a large selection of different kinds of plants which you can incorporate into your salt water aquariums also.

Salt Water Aquariums - - Tank Considerations

The first thing you need to remember is that when you are initially buying all your equipment to set up your own salt water aquariums at home, it is at this stage you should not actually be buying any fish. You need to be aware that you have to spend some time preparing the tank of your salt water aquariums before you actually place the fish into it. Certainly spending time preparing the tank will ensure that you create the right type of bio-filtration system, which will create the perfect environment to sustain all the marine life which you place into your salt water aquariums.

Another thing you need to consider when setting up any kind of salt water aquariums, is what size tank you want. Ideally you should purchase the largest tank you can possibly afford, and which will comfortably fit into the space in your home where it is going to be located, making sure that you keep it away from natural sunlight.

After thinking about what size tank you want for your salt water aquariums, you need to decide whether you are going to just keep fish in it, or whether you want a salt water reef aquarium instead. This means spending money on purchasing live rocks and corals to install in the tank as well, and these items do not come cheaply. Therefore in the beginning when setting up salt water aquariums, it is a good idea to have a budget in place, and which you should keep to as much as possible.

Salt Water Aquariums - - Other Things To Be Considered

Along with choosing the right size tank, you need to choose the right filtration and heating systems for your tanks. Although you may think buying one large filter system for a large salt water aquarium tank is more economical, then think again. It is much more advisable to purchase two smaller ones as this will ensure that if anything goes wrong with one, the other will ensure that things are kept running until the other is repaired or replaced.

Also you need to consider which type of fish you want to keep in your salt water aquariums. Remember that not all tropical fish get along with each other, and some species of saltwater fish can be very aggressive towards others. Therefore you need to spend time learning about the different fish species, along with reading reviews on what they like, and what other fish they are compatible with.

Certainly when it comes to setting up any kind of salt water aquariums, it is crucial that you spend as much time as you can in learning about the different types of tanks and equipment, along with the different types of fish, plants and corals which can be put into them. There are plenty of guides available either from a good quality aquarium supply company, or through bookstores. If you can, purchase a number and read as much as you can prior to making your purchase.

For more saltwater aquarium tips and saltwater aquarium supplies visit The Aquarium Lady.

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Tips for Great Deals When Purchasing a Saltwater Aquarium on e-Bay

With the world quickly entering the age of the virtual consumer it seems as though everyone is looking to the internet to purchase and sell their goods. The savvy consumer can find everything from fungus to jewelry throughout the mysterious twists and turns of the world's largest shopping mall. Is it any wonder, then, that e-Bay, the all in one auction site where buyers can literally buy almost anything, is becoming one of the largest "retailers" in the world?

Of course, just because they are beginning to exert a dominance over the international market is no reason for consumers not to take advantage of the deals that can be had by shopping on e-Bay. e-Bay is an auction site, not a retailer. Many of the sellers who are listing their wares on e-Bay have a greater interest in finding a good home for them than in making a good profit-and the added bonus of no longer tripping over them when they walk through their house doesn't hurt either. Due to the fact that most of these sellers are interested in moving their products as quickly as possible the opening bids are generally well below market value.

Bear in mind, of course, that competition is going to inevitably drive the bidding up. Unless your mind is completely made up on the precise type of aquarium you want it may be best to go for one of the less popular models in an attempt to get the best deal. There will probably not be a great number of bidders competing over these products and the bids will probably not go a great deal higher than the minimum bid (we say probably because the only absolutes in life are death and taxes, and in the auction world the unexpected often happens). These less popular models are every bit as functional and beautiful as the more popular models, they just lack the newfangled gadgets which accompany every new and improved product that hits the market. (If you truly have your heart set on these gadgets, bear in mind that many can be added separately a little farther down the road for a great deal less expense).

Be careful not to find yourself starting a bidding war. Do not throw your hat in the ring too early. Bear in mind that it is competition that drives the price of a product up. If you are too excited to purchase a product you will probably play your hand too soon and start a bidding war. The only thing that is going to mean is more money out of your pocket if you win. It is best to find an aquarium that suits your needs, then take note of the current bid and the day that the bidding is ending. On the last bidding day, as close to the closing time as possible without being over, visit the site and see what the current bid is. If it is still within your budget this is the time to make your bid.

Of course, if you find the aquarium that is absolutely perfect for your needs and you do not wish to wait another minute to add it to your home many items on e-Bay come with a "Buy It Now" option. This is generally a minimum amount which the owner has agreed to accept to stop the bidding process and make a sale. Beware! This price may be higher than the bidding would go, so do not jump the gun too early unless you feel you have truly found your heart's desire.

With a bit of organization and savvy planning e-Bay can yield tremendous deals on aquariums and their accompanying equipment. Happy Hunting!

Good Deals On a Saltwater Aquarium?

Aquariums make a lovely addition to any home, and the exotic nature of a saltwater aquarium and the tropical fish who inhabit it have caused these household decorations to rise in popularity over the years. Unfortunately, because of their exotic nature and high demand it can often be quite costly to purchase and outfit a saltwater aquarium. The tank is not the only factor to be considered when calculating cost, although it is bound to be one of the greatest. There is also the cost of the plant life, sand, gravel or silt, the rocks (particularly if you are using live rocks), coral, the filtering system, the stand, the lights and, of course, the fish themselves.

With all of these costs it is no wonder that people look for deals whenever possible when attempting to put together their aquarium. The most common venue for purchasing an aquarium is to simply go to some form of pet store, such as Petsmart, that offers all of the things that are needed to establish a saltwater aquarium in one convenient location. This is much easier than attempting to put together an aquarium piece by piece and is the method generally chosen for those who do not want to wait months for their aquarium while they attempt to find the perfect pieces at the perfect bargain, an often frustrating hunt. These pet stores can also be invaluable when it comes to obtaining the saltwater and chemicals necessary to get the aquarium up and running; however, unless the store is running a special this is probably not going to be the method of choice for getting a good deal on an aquarium.

Online retailers offer consumers a better chance at good deals on an aquarium and all of their parts, and the ease of navigating the internet means that a search that could take months on foot can be done in only a matter of minutes from the comfort of the consumers own home. A would-be aquarium owner can search the online retailers who sell these parts new or they can choose to utilize such sites as e-Bay and Amazon, who offer these products gently used at prices much lower than can be found in any of the major retailers.

It is important to shop around a bit before making a commitment if you are attempting to get a good deal on an aquarium. Never take the first deal offered to you until you have seen how it compares to the competition. Regardless of what the retailer may claim, chances are that the offer will still be there in an hour or two after you have had the opportunity to examine what the competition has to offer. If the product is being sold by a private seller rather than a retail chain it may also be possible to barter the price down, particularly if this is something that they have been attempting to sell for some time.

With a bit of ingenuity and the proper resources it is possible to obtain a quality aquarium at a bargain price-it simply requires a bit of patience and faith. Happy hunting!

Saltwater Aquariums - Adding Supplements to Yours

Saltwater aquariums require a lot more maintenance compared to freshwater aquariums, if you want the fish in yours to remain healthy and to thrive. What one needs to be aware of when it comes to saltwater aquariums, is that over time certain minerals and nutrients which are essential to the health of fish, can become depleted. Therefore, there are going to be times when you need to replenish these through the use of special aquarium supplements.

However, not everybody does need to add supplements to their aquarium; it all depends on how well you maintain yours. For those who chose to keep just saltwater fish in their aquarium such as, Angelfish and Clownfish and regularly change the water, and also carry out essential maintenance procedures, then adding supplements may well not be necessary.

The reason for this being that each time you change the water within any kind of saltwater aquarium, you are in fact replenishing those essential nutrients and minerals that are needed. However, if you have a saltwater aquarium in which there are corals, then you do need to provide supplements that will help to keep the calcium levels within the water high.

How Do You Determine If Saltwater Aquariums Need Supplements

The simplest and most effective way for you to determine if your saltwater aquarium requires additional supplements, is to test the water. There are numerous test kits available which can be purchased either from your local tropical fish store or online, and which quickly identify what is missing from the saltwater in your aquarium, and how much you need to add to bring it up to the appropriate level.

However, when you are adding supplements you need to be careful, otherwise you may find yourself adding too much and fixing an excess of anything can cause you problems. The only way in which an excess of anything in an aquarium can be corrected, is by changing all the water in the tank completely. This unfortunately can cause the plants, fish and coral in your tank considerable amounts of stress.

Types Of Supplements Which One Must Include In Saltwater Aquariums

There is still some debate regarding the matter of adding supplements to saltwater aquariums, as many believe that just by regularly changing the water should be sufficient to replenish those essential elements which have been lost. This certainly seems to be the case where saltwater aquariums only contain fish or fish and live rocks. But for coral reef er aquariums they feel it is essential to add a supplement of calcium to the water. But as well as adding calcium to your aquariums which contain coral reef, you may find that you need to start adding some magnesium and Kalkwasser supplements as well.

The reason why one should actually be adding calcium into coral reef saltwater aquariums is because it helps the corals, algae and any invertebrates you have in the tank to grow. Certainly without adding such a supplement, you may find it extremely difficult to keep the levels at a balance that is beneficial to the life in the tank, and which is naturally found in their wild environment.

Today you have a number of different products available which can be purchased online or through your local aquarium supply company, that provide the correct dosage of calcium for your saltwater aquariums. These come either in tablet or liquid form and although the liquid type is far easier to add to the aquarium water, it is also more expensive. However, you may also find that you need to add some carbonate or bicarbonate to the water to ensure that when you add the calcium into your aquarium, it does not lower the alkalinity in the tank as well. If the level of alkalinity does go below that which is recommended, (2.5 meg per liter of saltwater) you may find you need to add a supplement of Kalkwasser to it.

For more saltwater aquarium tips and saltwater aquarium supplies visit The Aquarium Lady.

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The Easiest Way to Setup a Saltwater Aquarium: Part 3

The 30 Day Cycling Process

The importance of the thirty day cycling process cannot be understated; this is a vital part of establishing the ecosystem of each individual aquarium. The exact processes which are occurring during this cycle, however, are often not well explained, or else they may be a little too well explained and no one without a degree in organic chemistry can understand a word that is being spoken.

The truth is that while the nitrogen cycling process is a complex one it is not by any means impossible for the average citizen to understand. James Kostich of Aquatics Unlimited took the time to gather together a thorough, day-by-day explanation of the processes which are occurring during the thirty day cycling process in a manner that is simple for even the amateur aquarium designer to understand. This explanation can be found at http://www.bestfish.com/newtank3.html; however, the process is briefly summed up below.

If you are using fish to stimulate the cycling process take a great deal of care. While on the first day there is likely to be no ammonia in the tank, by the end of the third day these levels will have reached near toxicity. It is important to carefully monitor the fish during this crucial state; it may be even better to use an artificial source of ammonia to trigger this process. This will allow you to establish the proper balance in the tank without placing your aquatic friends at risk. While ammonia levels are beginning to rise first stage bacteria are beginning to grow.

By the fifth day these first stage bacteria will have begun to metabolize the ammonia into nitrite. This process will be well established by the end of the first week. At the end of the second week ammonia levels will be completely safe for the fish and nitrites will be at their peak. From here until approximately day 27 the second stage bacteria will be working to begin metabolizing the nitrite to nitrate. By day 30 ammonia and nitrite levels should be all but non-existent as nitrate levels reach their peak and the bacterium are well able to handle maintaining the chemical composition of the water.

This is an example of minimizing Mother Nature's perfect filtration system in order to provide your fish with the perfect habitat. Hopefully you have chosen to artificially stimulate the cycling process so that it is well established prior to inserting your fish. If you have not it is very important that you keep a very close eye on them while the tank is undergoing its cycling process. The spikes in ammonia and nitrite levels can be severely harmful to fish if they are exposed to it for too great a period of time, and they will likely begin to show signs of distress during these periods of the cycling process. If this becomes severe their conditions can be aided by changing a portion of the water in order to dilute the concentration of these products.

Basic Steps of Setting Up Saltwater Fish Aquariums

Saltwater fish aquariums are not that easy to set up as you would first imagine. In fact there are a number of things that you can do before you are actually able to introduce any kind of marine life (fish, coral or plants), into your saltwater fish aquarium.

By setting up your saltwater fish aquarium correctly, you will ensure that at all times the saltwater fish and other marine life will remain healthy. Also you will know that you have purchased all the right kinds of saltwater aquarium supplies for your aquarium as well.

Steps To Take When Setting Up Your Saltwater Fish Aquariums

Of course it is important that you purchase the right kind of tank for your saltwater fish aquariums to keep the fish in. Preferably it is a good idea to go with a recommended tank that has been suggested by the staff in the store where you are purchasing it from. Once you get the tank home, you need to start on the next stage of preparing the tank before you actually introduce the fish and other marine life into your saltwater fish aquariums.

1. First off you need to get some clean freshwater and thoroughly clean out the tank. When setting up saltwater fish aquariums for the first time, this should be done and even before you apply any kind of background at the back of the tank (if you are having one).
2. Now get the stand and place this in the location where you are looking to situate your saltwater fish aquarium. Make sure that it is close to a power outlet, and also that the place where the saltwater fish aquarium stand is going to be, is level. Also make sure that there is sufficient space for you to have access to the tank itself.
3. Before placing any kind of saltwater fish aquariums on their stands, make sure that some kind of under pad has been put in place. This will not only help to level up the tank, but also cushion its base as well.
4. Once the tank is in position, now is the time to start placing the essential pieces of equipment into your saltwater fish aquarium. The first thing that should go in is the filtration system, especially if you are going to have one that is situated under the gravel. If not, then this will then be placed on the side of the tank. Now you need to put the gravel into the tank. Ideally lay a good couple of inches or so into the tank's base and make sure that some is banked up at the back.
5. Now one can move onto putting in the water, if you can allow the water to stand for several days, or else add a special saltwater mixture to it prior to actually putting the water into any saltwater fish aquarium. At this stage you should still not be thinking about putting any plants, fish or other marine life into it.

Saltwater Fish Aquariums - - - Now That The Water Is In

After you have put the water into the tank, before you actually do start to put any tropical fish, coral, or plants into the saltwater fish aquarium, allow all the equipment to run for 24 hours. This will give you a chance to test all the equipment to ensure that it is working correctly. Plus you will able to test if the water has reached the necessary temperature that the aquarium fish and other marine life will find comfortable to live in.

However, at this stage you will not really be able to see if the protein skimmer in your saltwater fish aquarium is running correctly. But what you will be able to detect, is the production of bubbles which means that water is running through it correctly.

If you want to ensure that the saltwater and other protein and pH levels are correct in the water before placing any fish into the tank, it is advisable that you carry out a test first. There are home test kits available which you can purchase from a reputable saltwater fish aquarium supply company, either locally to you or online.

It is important that you follow the above steps before you actually move on to the next stage with your saltwater fish aquarium, which is actually to put the saltwater fish, plants and coral into the tank. If not, you may find yourself having to replace all these at a later date, as they just could not cope with the changes.

For more saltwater aquarium tips and saltwater aquarium supplies visit The Aquarium Lady

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The Easiest Way to Setup a Saltwater Aquarium: Part 2

Establishing Live Rocks in an Aquarium

Aquariums are beautiful in their own right, particularly ones which are large enough to make the viewer feel as though they have been transported into an underwater wonderland. For many individuals the inside of a clear glass aquarium is as close as they will ever come to the wonders of the world beneath the ocean's surface, and for that reason an aquarium which is as close to the natural habitat of its inhabitants as possible is a joy unto itself.

Live rocks, rocks which are covered with both micro- and macroorganisms which help to digest the waste produced by the fish, are a vital part of every natural ecosystem. For that reason it makes sense that they would be an important part of an aquarium environment as well. It is not as simple as dropping a rock into an aquarium and allowing all manner of things to grow on it, however. There is a process that must be followed to ensure optimal benefits for both the large aquarium and the live rock.

It is very simple to cure live rock before placing it in the aquarium, but this is an important step that must be taken in order to prevent a build up of ammonia in the tank which could negatively affect the fish. To cure live rock first select a plastic container that is of a suitable size to hold the amount of live rock which you are working with, then fill it with saltwater. Then place a heater and water pump in the "tank" for optimal temperature and circulation. Once the water has reached the desired temperature remove the heater and pump and half of the water content, then preclean the rock in a bucket of saltwater by swishing it around to remove any lose organisms and debris and place it in the prepared water. Then reinstall the heater and pump and allow nature to do its thing!

The process is done when an ammonia reading of the water in which the rock resides is at zero and it is no longer giving off an unpleasant odor. At this time it is safe to place the rock in your aquarium and allow Mother Nature's perfect filtering system to work for you.

The Easiest Way to Setup a Saltwater Aquarium: Part 1

Establishing the Basic Needs of the Tank

Everyone has admired the large saltwater aquariums that can be found in the offices of most dentists, physicians, cosmetologists and marine enthusiasts but have believed them to be far too much work to bring into their own homes. Fortunately, this is not the case. While the process of establishing a saltwater aquarium can be a costly one, in terms of manual labor there is a very simple method which almost guarantees success.

Step 1: Assemble and prepare the equipment. During packaging and production the aquarium and all of its corresponding parts have almost certainly been exposed to various pollutants, such as dust and chemicals, which will be very harmful to the fish if it is allowed free reign in the aquarium. Prior to use every piece of the aquarium should be washed with hot, fresh water and cleansed with a soft piece of cloth to prevent scratching.

Step 2: Place all of the components in the tank WITHOUT adding any of the decorative features. Then fill the tank to the fill line (which may or may not be already marked on the aquarium-2 to 3 inches from the top is generally adequate to prevent major spillover when the tank is cleaned or the fish fed) with saltwater (if you have chosen to make your own saltwater solution read below for instructions). Turn the tank on and allow it to run for 24 hours to ensure that all components are fully functional.

**Making Your Own Saltwater**

Ocean water is the natural habitat of all saltwater marine animals and, consequently, the best water source for any saltwater aquarium. If ocean water is not available, however, and the owner of a saltwater aquarium does not wish to purchase a pre-made saltwater solution it is possible to make saltwater. It is important to use a sea salt mixture that is free of impurities rather than table salt when creating saltwater in order to reproduce the natural environment as accurately as possible. These mixes can be purchased from any store that specializes in the sale of tropical fish.

Step 3: Landscape your aquarium. Organic substances are not only more aesthetically pleasing than their plastic counterparts, they provide a more pleasing environment for the fish as well. Keeping in mind that fish generally use what humans consider to be decorations as shelter when in the wild it is important to consider the types of fish which will be inhabiting the tank prior to choosing its decoration.

Step 4: Start the 30 day cycling process, during which the ammonia should be tested regularly. This can be done with or without fish in the tank.

Following these simple steps will allow the amateur marine enthusiast to place aside their fears and enjoy the benefits of a happy, healthy aquarium in the privacy of their own home.

Phosphate Control in Saltwater Aquariums

Saltwater aquarium owners will eventually need to control phosphate levels in their aquariums as the aquarium matures. Phosphate is a nutrient found in aquariums that feeds algae and inhibits calcification of invertebrates and corals.

Phosphate control can help to reduce the amount of algae that grows in an aquarium and will maximize coral growth in saltwater aquariums.

Many aquarium owners might not fully understand the benefits of phosphate control, and therefore might not practice it in their normal aquarium maintenance activities. If you have an established saltwater aquarium that is starting to have regular problems with nuisance algae growth, it's probably time to start making a conscious effort to control phosphate levels.

Preventing High Phosphate Levels

The first step in battling phosphate levels in an aquarium is to try to prevent the amount of phosphates that are in the aquarium in the first place.

Using purified water that has gone through the process of reverse osmosis is the first step you should take. Buy a reverse osmosis water purifier and use it to purify all water that you will be putting in your aquarium.

If you do not want to buy or utilize a reverse osmosis water purifier you should find some place where you can purchase purified water. Grocery stores or maybe even pet stores (that sell fish) should be able to provide you with a source to purchase purified water.

Reducing High Phosphate Levels

If you already have high phosphate levels in your aquarium, simply switching over to purified water probably won't help much. The rate at which you add new water to your mature aquarium will not allow you to fully swap in purified water over a short period of time.

You will need to use phosphate removal media in your aquarium to filter out all the phosphates. There are several types of phosphate removal media available from aquarium supply dealers. Take a look online at any aquarium supply dealer and you should be able to easily find some phosphate removal media. It usually is lumped in the same category as other chemical removal media such as activated carbon.

When purchasing phosphate removal media be sure to check the specifications of the brand you are using. The media may behave differently from brand to brand. Some phosphate removal media will require that you remove or replace it within days to prevent leaching of the phosphates back into the aquarium water. Other phosphate media may not need to be replaced as soon, if at all.

Implementing Phosphate Removal Media

Phosphate removal media can be implemented into your aquarium in different ways.

The first method would be to buy and install a phosphate reactor. A phosphate reactor is simply a chamber that sits within the water filtration flow of your aquarium and has an intake and outtake. The chamber is filled with phosphate removal media, which the aquarium water will flow through continuously. Phosphate reactors can be hooked up in the existing water flow plumbing of your aquarium. You can also usually hook up a separate powerhead intake and outtake into your aquarium if needed which will allow you to run the reactor independent of your other aquarium filtration.

A second method would be to buy some mesh media bags and use your current sump filter or canister filter. Fill the mesh bags with phosphate removal media and place them inside your canister filter or sump filter. The mesh bags will prevent the pieces of the media from getting all over the place in your filtration system and will make maintenance and implementation of the media much more easy to handle. The media will then be in the main water flow of your aquarium filtration system.

Once you have implemented phosphate prevention and removal techniques for a period of time, you should notice a decrease in the amount of nuisance algae in you aquarium. You may not need to clean your aquarium as often and your aquarium water quality will be improved.

Luke Petterson has been maintaining a saltwater aquarium for a few years now and has had quite a few good and bad experiences. Taking care of an aquarium takes patience and discipline, but it's not bad at all if you do your research. Aquarium keeping is also a very rewarding experience.

Visit http://aquarist-refuge.com to learn more about aquariums and aquarium keeping or to browse aquarium videos and other tidbits.

Custom Saltwater Aquariums-Aquascaping

The Chinese Emperor, Hungwu, established a company that is credited for building the very first aquariums, in 1369. The aquariums Hungwu's company designed were little more then porcelain tubs that were then used to house Goldfish. As the years passed, these tubs started shrinking in size until they bore a strong resemblance to the aquariums we are familiar with today. Almost five hundred years later, in 1841, a tropical aquarium was introduced to the world. At the time of its introduction, toy fish and a few aquatic plants were the only inhabitants.

Today the creation and maintaining of aquariums is the one of the most popular hobbies in the world, second only to stamp collecting. It is believed that over sixty million people maintain aquariums in their homes. It is estimated that forty percent of that sixty million are thought to have at least two active tanks.

As individuals become comfortable with their aquariums they start indulging in aquascaping.

Aquascaping is the process of using driftwood, plants, and rocks in a pleasing manner that customizes an individuals saltwater tank.

The first thing you need to remember when aquascaping your aquarium is that the design you choose must compliment the needs of the fish inhabiting the tank. Before you begin, spend some time researching the natural habitat your fish inhabit. You'll want to design a tank that duplicates their natural environment.

The use of living plants in your aquascaping project will add another dimension to your tank. There is something about the way the living plants float in the water that is both soothing and breathtaking. On the other hand fish, especially herbivorous fish that eat sea plants, can be hard on living plants. If you suspect that a living plant won't survive in your custom saltwater aquarium you should opt for the artificial variety. There are several lifelike artificial plants available.

The use of driftwood has become very popular in custom saltwater aquariums. The price of driftwood, it can be very expensive, often causes aquarium owners to head to the beach. If you locate a nice piece of driftwood on the beach don't put it in your main aquarium. First put it in your quarantine tank, and keep it there for at least two weeks, or until the PH levels of the water match those in your main tank. Be sure to clean your driftwood thoroughly. You may have to use rocks to anchor the driftwood to the bottom of your tank.

There are a few things you need to consider when you are adding rocks to your aquascaping project. Avoid rocks that have sharp edges and points, fish can slice open their tender underbelly's on these rocks. If you are stacking a group of rocks together to make a cave use an aquarium safe silicone to glue the rocks together, this will prevent the rocks from collapsing and crushing the fish that makes the cave its own. Avoid soft rocks, they break down in the water.

After you have completed customizing your saltwater aquarium, you may want to enter it in an aquascaping contest.

How to Safely Change the Water in Your Saltwater Aquarium

As with people fish thrive when kept in an environment as close to their own as possible. For this reason aquariums should be carefully structured to imitate the natural environments of the species it is home to as closely as possible. Even if it is not possible to duplicate exactly the living conditions found in the deep blue the fish will benefit from the effort.

Fish are also very adaptable creatures. It is what allows them to live and thrive in captivity when many other marine animals are unable to make the change. The fish will adapt to the environment around them and learn to live in the conditions of their tank. It is important that these conditions remain as constant as possible. As in nature a tip in the balance of the elements in an aquarium can bring with it devastating consequences. It is important that changes in the aquarium environment be few and far between.

This is generally a very simple matter until the time comes for the water in the tank to be changed. In nature the water in the ocean is constantly cycling; therefore, the water never has the opportunity to become stale and overloaded with elements that will have a negative impact on the well being of your aquatic friends. Since this is not the case in an aquarium even with an excellent artificial filtering system and organic filtering methods combined it will still be necessary on occasion to manually clean the tank.

The water with which you replace the dirty water in the aquarium should be as close as possible to the water that was originally filling the tank. What this means is that if you opted to buy a pre-made saltwater mix when you started your tank you should continue to use that same pre-made saltwater mix. If you made your own saltwater you should use the same type of sea salt in the same proportions that you used in the beginning. If you opted to transplant ocean water or purchased filtered ocean water you are going to want to use that same type of water when you make the change.

Water in aquariums should be changed every couple of months, more if you happen to notice that wastes are beginning to build up. This will be evident by the hazy look the previously clear water will take on and the obvious accumulation of waste at the bottom of the tank. Be sure when you change the water you also clean the components of the tank and the inside of the glass itself. Putting clean water into an empty tank is along the same lines as putting clean clothes on a dirty body-there is little point.

By keeping your tank clean and the conditions as constant as possible you are giving your fish the best possible chance to thrive in their artificial environment, guaranteeing that you will be able to enjoy their beauty for a very long time.

Adding an Oyster to the Ecosystem Inside a Saltwater Aquarium

Saltwater aquariums can make a lovely addition to a home, and are a source of endless fascination to young and old alike. The different fish and plant life which are capable of living in a saltwater aquarium are both exotic and beautiful, and provide a rich introduction to life under the sea. Fish and plants are not the only things which can be found in the deep blue, however, and it is becoming more and more common for aquarium owners to attempt to incorporate these other elements into their home aquarium.

Artificial oysters which open up and blow bubbles into the water have been a part of home aquariums for many years. With the increase in desire to perfectly emulate the ocean floor live oysters are becoming a common addition to saltwater aquariums. It is not common but not unheard of for a pearl producing oyster to be offered as an addition to a home aquarium; however, it is generally their less productive relations that become permanent residents. Since scallops and oysters have more specific needs than many of the inhabitants of the home aquarium it is necessary the aquarium owner be sure that they are prepared to make these adjustments prior to installing the oyster into the aquarium.

Oysters require very "pristine" water conditions; these are not the organism of choice for those who tend to be a bit lazy about cleaning their tank, as the oyster will not survive long if their water becomes cluttered with junk. Fortunately, the oyster also filters the water, so this may balance itself out. They also have specific dietary needs that will not be met with the generic food fed to many saltwater inhabitants. They will need a specialized organic food designed especially for filter feeders which can be inserted with a pipette upstream of the oyster. Each oyster is going to need to be fed individually, so unless an aquarium owner finds themselves with a great deal of time on their hands it may be wise to keep the oyster population of their aquarium to a minimum. These invertebrates also require nutritional supplementation with phytoplankton, a microscopic portion of plankton that drift through the water.

Certain types of oysters have been shown to have a better chance of survival in captivity than others. The beginner would be wise to look to these breeds to begin with, moving on to the more delicate oysters as they become more comfortable with their needs. Common aquarium oysters are the spiny oyster and the thorny oyster; strange yet accurate names for these beautiful and unique creatures.

Oysters are a demanding but beautiful addition to any home aquarium; for more information on introducing an oyster to a home aquarium consumers should speak with the retailers who sell them. Remember, no detail is too small when attempting to take an organism from its natural environment and watch it thrive.