Everyone knows that there is no comparison when it comes to fresh water to marine fish tanks. The salt water option offers a greater variety of beauty and exotic options. It’s generally believed that a marine fish tank is more difficult to maintain however, it’s more than worth it if you know what you’re doing.
There are a great deal more creative options with a marine fish tank over the fresh water options. With such vast array of colors, shapes and sizes, you can really let your creative nature take over. However, if you really want to build a phenomenal and impressive tank then, you should stay away from fake coral and decorations which don’t even come close to the beauty of the real thing.
You will very likely want to start off with a minimum 125 gallon marine fish tank. However, the larger the better. One thing you need to know, is that there are many ways to set up a salt water aquarium. First off, most salt water fish tanks will have a sump underneath the tank. A sump is basically an extra part of the tank that is usually used to house equipment for your tank and allows you to keep them out of site. There are other important benefits as well.
There is nothing more important in setting up your tank than proper planning. When it comes to your masterpiece marine tank, you don’t want to make mistakes that will costs you time and money. In setting up your tank you need to thoroughly think out kind of fish, corals and invertebrates you will be populating your tank with. These decisions will play a very important role in what kind of filtration and lighting system you will be needing.
Make sure you fully consider where you plan to keep your tank. Your tank will be filled with water and can be extremely heavy which means it won’t be easy to move it once you filled it up. It’s location should be close to electrical outlets and should be away from windows where the direct sunlight can cause algae to grow. Also, be weary of placing it near heating and cooling vents that could easily effect the temperature of the tank.
Next, you will need to cycle the water. This process can take between one to two months. However, if you want to expedite the process, you can add a sturdy type fish, perhaps a damsel, to the tank to introduce some biological activity. You will want to keep a close eye on the temperature and salinity levels. Be sure that they stay within acceptable levels such as 1.022 to 10.25 for salinity and 73F to 81F for the temperature to ensure stability. You will know the tank is ready when the ammonia and nitrite levels are at zero.
Now, that the tank is prepared, it is time to begin adding the fish. First, start off with some of the cleaners such as snails and crabs. Then, begin to add the fish very slowly allowing them to acclimate and for the filtration to build up. You may want to wait a few months before you begin adding the coral and anemones.
To be a proud owner of a beautiful and creative marine fish tank doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult. It’s very important that you obtain a good resource. You may want to avoid getting your information from pet stores and common places because, they are far too commercialized and will get you to spend a lot more money than you have to. Find an e-book, online, that has been written by a passionate expert that loves to share his/her knowledge.
Stop right there with your online search, you should look into this extremely revealing and educational report on avoiding marine fish tank mistakes that will kill your fish and coral.