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Saltwater Aquarium setup: Choosing the right tank

October 22nd, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Choosing the right saltwater aquarium tank

There are some factors involved when choosing the type of saltwater aquarium setup. Some major factors include what type of species do you want to stock, how much space do you have available, what is your spending power? A tank that fits your lifestyle and environment is the first goal when setting up your saltwater aquarium.

Your saltwater fish and other creatures are your first priority for your aquarium. The marine life in your aquarium require plenty of oxygen to survive and room to exercise and swim. This is determined from the size of your tank. So when you finally opt for the freshwater aquarium set up you want then remember this and give your fish a chance to grow.

Oxygen is an important part of your saltwater aquarium setup. The surface area of your tank is the major contributing factor to the amount of oxygen it holds. The surface area on top of the tank which is exposed to the atmosphere above is what we are talking about. As oxygen transfers to your saltwater aquarium from the surface of the tank the greater that area is means there is more chance of oxygen transferring from the air into the water.

As well as taking in oxygen a large surface area for your saltwater aquarium also allows toxic gases like carbon dioxide to escape. The more this process is allowed the healthier your aquarium will be. Water temperature is one more factor that determines the amount of oxygen it holds. The cooler the water the higher the oxygen content will be in general.

With warmer water tropical fish with temperatures above 75 degrees less oxygen is available. You may have to stock less marine animals if you do not have a large enough surface area for your saltwater aquarium. The bigger the tank you can acquire makes it much better for your marine life.

Saltwater aquariums come in all shapes and sizes so how can you determine your requirements? It is the shape that determines the surface area not the size or volume. Because of its shape a tank can have less surface area even though it holds a larger volume. Tall and narrow aquariums will not have the ideal area for the gas cycle. A shorter wider tank will have a better exchange of gas.

With this in mind and your aquarium tank chosen, its time to move on to the inhabitants. Like we mentioned depending on the size of the tank will determine the amount of inhabitants you can keep in comfort. Overcrowding is one of the worst things you can do to your saltwater aquarium setup. Your aquarium relies on an efficient filtration system and too many inhabitants will overload it. One of the major causes of fish death and disease is cramped conditions that stress the fish.

You should start slowly when stocking up with fish. Only a small amount should be introduced in one go. First calculate how many gallons of water your aquarium holds. For the first six months introduce fish at one inch per fish for every four gallons of water. 15 fish would be the amount of fish in a sixty gallon saltwater aquarium. After the six months you can increase the amount of fish and have one inch of fish for every two gallons.

A 60 gallon tank example would be:-

Two 1-inch clownfish
One 1-inch Beau Gregory’s
Two 3-inch queen angel
Two 1- inch gobies
Two 1-inch blennies
One 2-inch Tang (surgeonfish)

You can mix and match as long as you get the basic sizes right. Then you can increase your fish to 30 after the six month period.

You may have to adjust the amount of fish you keep in you tank because when they grow they will require more space. Not only is the fish size an issue but also the shape. For heavier fish you should have a lower amount of fish in the aquarium.

{Saltwater aquarium development is not quick and time is needed}. They are not cheap to buy and maintain so do not cut corners. It does not matter how much time and effort you put into your tank eventually you will have problems that need solving. with a bit of thought getting the right aquarium from the start is better than having to change it because you choose wrongly. Think before you buy, a small tank at the beginning is probably not the best idea. Before investing in you saltwater aquarium wait until you can invest in at least a 30 gallon tank.

The choices of saltwater aquariums are vast starting with do you get a glass or acrylic tank? Depending on choice it could be a reef tank already adapted for all your accessories? Choosing correctly is up to you so get advice. Common popular tanks like glass sealed with silicon are a good start. The range is vast from unusual hexagonal and octagonal shapes to the more conventional rectangular types. Glass tanks are less prone to scratching than an acrylic tank although the acrylic aquarium is becoming more and more popular.

There is a difference in the weight of acrylic and glass tanks. Glass aquariums are heavier and difficult to manoeuvre if moving. These tanks have quite thick glass. A good option is a glass tank with a plastic frame. Tempered glass is stronger but plated glass is shatter proof.

The popular option is an acrylic saltwater aquarium setup with moulded seems which are more transparent. Your view in the corners may be distorted which is a small problem. The acrylic tanks on the market even outdo the glass variety in the amount of different shapes and sizes you can have. The downsides are they cost more and scratch easily. Certain ornaments and decorations can easily scratch the inside of the tank and the same applies when trying to remove algae. However you can buy kits that will help remove the scratches.

Whichever type of aquarium you purchase the priority is the health of your fish. You need time to look after it properly and also enough cash to keep it in good order and properly maintained. One up and running you will have hours of relaxation watching your new fishy pals cavorting in the water. Your saltwater aquarium will give you much enjoyment and pleasure

What Is Fish Disease?

October 6th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

What Is Fish Disease?

For the purposes of this article a fish is diseased when it is unwell. Disease can be caused by stress and by many lower life forms, such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa. Some species of these organisms can be harmless or even beneficial, whilst others, known as pathogens, can cause considerable harm to the fish.

Where does fish disease come from?

Every pond may contain a population of various harmful organisms. When in good health, the natural immunity of the fish prevents them from being overcome by these organisms. If the fish become stressed, for instance, because of poor water conditions, then disease can break out. Sometimes, other diseased can be introduced. For example, leech eggs may be present on the leaves of new plants placed in the pond. Sometimes quite healthy fish which have developed immunity to some diseases may be attacked when moved to a new pond where different diseases are present.

When buying fish for your pond there are several key things to look out for. Ensure that the fish in the tank you are selecting your fish from are not showing any visible signs of disease. Using the symptom guide in “Goldfish Diseases – Symptoms and Treatment” will assist in identifying potentially diseased fish.

How Much Should I Feed My Fish?

September 30th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

How Much To Feed Your Fish

The time of year and water temperature influence the daily feed ration: At above 20 degrees C, the 100% daily requirement can be given. However, increasing water temperature in the pond and larger rations may make an oxygen supply and filtration necessary. The portions suggested below ensure a constant weight of the fish. for breeding and growth, the feed ration should be increased. Fluctuations depending on the stock of the fish and natural food supply must also be taken into account.

More information on garden pond design and setting up a fish tank.

(Thanks to oase-pumpen.com for the above fish food calculation chart)

What To Look For When Buying Fish

September 14th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

There are several key things to look out for whilst buying fish.

Ensure that all the fish in the tank you are selecting from are showing no visible signs of disease, using the symptom diagrams in “Goldfish Diseases – Symptoms and Treatments” as a guide. Observe if any of the fish have physical damage on them which will lead to secondary infection. Fish like this and others in the same tank should be avoided.

Are the fish swimming around and interested in their environment or are they huddled on the bottom and not moving? Apart from during very cold weather, healthy fish of most species should show an active interest in their environment.

Once in the transportation bag, inspect the fish again, looking at the underside for any physical damage or malformations. If any marks are found reject the fish and select another.

All good aquatic retailers will inspect every fish you buy and will not offer for sale any fish that is not in the best of condition.

Popular Small Aquarium Sharks

August 25th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

When setting up an aquarium people soon discover that there are many tropical fish to choose from. There are school fish such as tetras and guarmis and more aggressive fish such as cichlids and oscars. In addition to these types of fish small aquarium sharks are now becoming more popular and readily available for the home aquarium hobbyist. If up are interested in adding small sharks to your aquarium this article will provide some background information.

Red Tail Sharks

The red tail shark is a popular small aquarium shark. This small shark is a semi-aggressive fish, however unique beauty is a great addition in an aquarium. They have a solid black body with red tipped tail that stands out well. These sharks are not very sociaable and it is recommended that you only keep one per tank.

Red tails love hiding as it provides them with a sense of security and safely, so provide them with plenty of hiding places in the tank. Do not try to keep them in too small a tank as their aggressive nature will cause them pick on other fish. You’ll need a tank that is large enough to accommodate all the fish

The red tail shark likes to search the bottom of the tank for food. They will eat most fish flakes, live food or other food that drifts to the bottom of the tank and they like to eat at least once per day.

Epaulette Sharks

The Epaulette shark is an ideal small shark for a home aquarium as they like to live in small confined areas. They are usually white with brown spots all over their body. Unlike most sharks they do not swim around the tank but prefer to swim on the tank floor where they will search for food. At times, their slender bodies make them look like eels and they easily slip around the rocks and other aquarium decorations.

Although they are not the smallest of the aquarium sharks, they are also not the largest. Epaulette sharks can grow quite large, an adult can grow up to eleven inches long. So when selecting one ensure that your tank is large enough for them to move around when they grow.

The Epaulette shark feeds mainly on small crabs and worms. They may also eat shrimp and other small fishes. Their teeth are quite small so avoid larger types of food.

You will find a variety of sharks to choose from at your fish supplier. The red tail shark and the epaulette shark are two of the most popular varieties of sharks and they make rewarding additions to many aquariums.

You’ll find information on setting up your aquarium here.

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