Top 3 Most Popular Saltwater Fish

There is easily well over a hundred thousand different types of saltwater fish in sea. Today I am going to simply focus on some of the smaller and more popular ones that live around coral reefs. Coral reefs are host to many creatures and organisms. People tend like to recreate these habitats in their homes in aquariums so that they may view them year around.

Selecting fish for your saltwater fish tank should be done wisely. Adding the wrong type of fish to a tank could end badly for everyone else living in the aquarium. Some fish are more aggressive and may tend to go after other fish. Others may be territorial and will need to be added to your marine tank after it has already been established.

Please note that the following list is in no particular order.

Top 3 Saltwater Fish found in Saltwater Fish Aquariums

Clownfish - More particularly the Ocellarish Clownfish (Nemo). Clown fish are a great addition to just about every tank. These fish stay fairly small. Adults will typically reach a size of only about three inches. These are one of saltwater fish varieties that will do okay in a smaller size tank (20

Saltwater Aquariums - An Introduction to a Rewarding Hobby

ByCameron Porter

Why a Saltwater Aquarium?
There's nothing more spectacular than the diversity of the ocean. A Saltwater aquarium setup allows you to bring a little sample of that spectacle into your own living room, containing beautiful saltwater fish, live corals, and more. Compared to plain freshwater tanks (which commonly contain goldfish and other lake-bred fish varieties), there are many more options if you're planning to choose a saltwater aquarium setup. The fish and other ocean creatures you'll be able to host range from beautiful to fascinating to downright weird, some displaying flashy colors while others exude a quiet grace.

Types of Saltwater Aquariums?
There are several different setups for a saltwater aquarium, ranging from the simplest to the most complex: a fish only tank, a FOWLR (fish only with live rock) tank, and a reef tank. While containing only fish in your tank is the cheapest and easiest to maintain out of the three options, it can be quite exciting to watch coral formations grow and develop over the course of your saltwater tank's life. The choice comes down to one of investment.

The most popular choice and my personal favourite is a reef tank. This is the pinnacle of saltwater aquarium setup and will allow you to host a number of fish, corals and invertebrates in your new saltwater aquarium. It takes the most effort to set up and maintain however if you are going to make the effort initially you might as well go all out. Seeing a reef develop before your very eyes in your aquarium is mesmerizing and worth the time and money invested.

Setup Overview
Saltwater aquarium setup is more involved and complicated than it would be with a freshwater tank, but the results are stunning when done correctly. While you can do much of the planning and decision-making (about which fish and corals and invertebrates to feature), it often pays off to call in an expert for the more technical components of aquarium setup.

You'll need to ensure that your tank is leak-proof and level. A filled aquarium can weigh as much as 10 pounds per gallon, meaning that placement and careful setup is critical to ensure that you don't have hundreds of pounds of water crashing down on your living room. Water needs to be de-chlorinated (or treated via reverse osmosis), before being treated with a salt mix. Checking the pH balance (as well as the balance of nitrite and nitrate) is critical to ensuring that your fish will survive in the water. Before being adding to the tank, and fish need to be quarantined and acclimatized to the water content that they'll be added to. This is a lot to manage when first setting up the tank, however, the results are that you'll have a stunning and well-maintained attraction in your home.

This is a just a brief overview of what is involved when deciding to establish a saltwater aquarium. MySaltwaterAquarium.com is designed to help you navigate all the decisions you need to make in considering a saltwater aquarium setup - which fish to get, how big a tank, how to set it up, and how to treat the water before introducing the fish into it.

A complete guide to Saltwater Aquarium Setup all in the one place at http://www.mysaltwateraquarium.com. Join our community and learn from real life experiences!

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Saltwater Aquarium Sand - The Importance of Live Sand

ByCameron Porter

What is Saltwater Aquarium Sand?
Saltwater aquarium sand is not just any old sand; it generally comprises of what is commonly known as "live sand". Live sand is a substrate that has been sourced from a coral reef, or alternatively it is cultured from non-living coral sand. The term "live" refers to the micro and macro-organisms that are naturally present within the substrate. Live sand provides your underwater ecosystem with beneficial bacteria aiding in water purification and general stability. The micro organisms within your aquarium sand will assist in consuming organic waste within the substrate layer in addition to providing a natural source of food for many of the inhabitants.

Regular types of sand such as beach or builders sand must be avoided at all costs. Not are many of them unsightly in an aquarium, they commonly contain silicates which will almost guarantee algae problems in your aquarium that you will find impossible to rectify. Saltwater aquarium sand must consist of live sand or aragonite material.

Where to Buy Live Sand?
It is recommended that saltwater aquarium sand be purchased from reputable dealers specializing in reef aquariums. You should source live sand from suppliers who obtain it directly from the ocean or specialize in cultured live sand. It is not possible to visually identify live sand therefore buying from a reputable dealer will ensure you are buying a quality product. If you are having your live sandsand shipped, ensure that the transit time is minimal as die-off can occur. The quicker you can get it, the better and more effective it will be during the cycling process of your tank.

How Much Sand Should I Use?
It is important to regulate how much live sand is being used as too much will increase the biological load of the tank therefore putting higher strain on your filtration equipment. If filtration equipment is not filtering water at the correct levels the saltwater aquarium eco system will be under threat and algae growth will occur. As a general rule of thumb, enough saltwater aquarium sand should be added to the tank to provide a 1-3/4 to 2 to 2 inch substrate layer. For a more accurate measurement you should be using approximately 1.45 pounds of saltwater aquarium sand per gallon. Therefore for a 55-gallon tank you will require 80 pounds of substrate.

How to Add Saltwater Aquarium Sand
Essentially when it comes to adding your substrate there are three different setup options available. When setting up your aquarium you can choose to have 100% live sand, however this can be very costly. Sometimes this can be detrimental due to the large biological load added to the tank at once and can strain your filtration equipment.

Alternatively a combination of live sand can be mixed with another suitable substrate. Mixing the two will allow the conversion of the non-living part into live sand as the bacteria and micro organisms multiply and colonize through the entire mix. This is much more cost effective and will only require a slight increase in cycling time. Aragonite is a common type of substrate used to mix with live sand and is much cheaper at approximately $1 per pound.

If you are on a tight budget, the final option is to use 100% non-live sand. Non-live substrate will convert to live sand overtime with the increase of bacteria and micro organisms in the tank naturally, alternatively there are additives to speed up the process. Generally however this method will increase your overall cycling time greatly. This is not recommended if you are impatient!

When adding the saltwater aquarium sand it should be done at a slow pace as to avoid disturbance to the water and clouding. Do not pour the substrate directly over any live rock as this will suffocate them causing oxygen depletion and possible death.

Maintenance of Saltwater Aquarium Sand
Your substrate layer will also require cleaning as part of your ongoing saltwater aquarium maintenance. Essentially regular siphoning of the saltwater aquarium sand may be required to remove any excess waste or uneaten food matter. However the secret to this task is the addition of janitors or cleaners to your tank.

Your aquarium should incorporate inhabitants that will stir or turn over the live sand. This will ensure excess food matter and waste is filtered and keeps the saltwater aquarium sand in a continual cleaning cycle. There are a variety of crustaceans, fish and invertebrates from hermit crabs to starfish that will not only turn over the substrate but also recycle waste matter and excess food, making your job easier. Just like adding any inhabitant to your tank it is important to do your research and ensure that they are compatible with your existing creatures.

A complete guide to Saltwater Aquarium Setup all in the one place at http://www.mysaltwateraquarium.com Join our community and learn from real life experiences!

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Saltwater Aquarium Maintenance Made Easy

ByCameron Porter

Saltwater Aquarium Maintenance

Whilst a saltwater aquarium can provide for hours of relaxation and enjoyment they also require steady ongoing upkeep to maintain optimum conditions. Some saltwater aquarium maintenance must be conducted daily whilst other saltwater aquarium maintenance tasks are required weekly or monthly. Keeping a saltwater aquarium isn't necessarily a hobby intended for everyone but instead something better suited to the enthusiast. Proper maintenance will reward you with a healthy aquarium and years of enjoyment. It is recommended you keep a calendar of the required maintenance items to make the task easier. There is also numerous software packages available on the market to assist with saltwater aquarium maintenance allowing you to log all of your sea life, water tests, maintenance tasks etc.

Health of Fish and Inhabitants

One of the most important tasks of saltwater aquarium maintenance is the process of checking each day for the wellness of the fish and invertebrates. This should consist of a visual inspection of the scales and fins of the fish in addition to the coloring and vibrancy of the fish and invertebrates. If any of the fish are dead or appear to be dying, they ought to be removed at once and any creatures which appear to be unhealthy should be transferred to a quarantine saltwater aquarium and treated accordingly.

Aquarium maintenance also requires you to familiarize yourself with the behavior of the fish in order for you to better ascertain if one is becoming unhealthy. Should a fish or other creature die and be overlooked the deterioration and decomposing of their body will rapidly diminish the quality of the water due to the increase of ammonia to toxic levels.

Majority of all species of fish will bear similar symptoms as they're falling ill. Major symptoms include fins held tight to the body, sluggishness, swelling of the eyes, unsettled swimming patterns, erratic change in behavior, drifting to the bottom or gasping for air at the surface, decrease in appetite, patches on the fins or body, or fish that are normally active staying motionless. Keeping a saltwater aquarium maintenance log will allow you to see trends in water conditions that may contribute to such illness.

Aquarium Equipment

A major element of saltwater aquarium maintenance comes down to your equipment. Correct maintenance of your equipment is essential to the well being of your reef and fish. The protein skimmer cup should be cleaned daily. It will not hurt the aquarium greatly if this skipped one day every now and then, however skipping any more could jeopardize the health of the aquarium. Whilst monitoring the health of the fish and cleaning the skimmer, the water temperature should also be checked and any required adjustments should also be made.

On a monthly basis it is recommended that the whole protein skimmer be completely cleaned, including the cleaning of the cup in addition to all hoses and tubes. If any air stones are present in the tank they should either be substituted with a new one or alternatively cleaned and any carbon from carbon filtration systems should also be changed.

It is recommended when conducting maintenance that every three months, all filter canisters and hoses should be comprehensively cleaned inside and out in addition to switching air pads within the air pump. Care should also be taken to inspect for any signs of damage to impellers, interchange air valves and replace UV tubes if a UV filter is being utilized.

On a daily basis as part of your regular maintenance the equipment and accessories should be inspected and care should be taken to ensure that everything is functioning suitably. Check that there are no leaks on the floor surrounding the aquarium and that the pump sounds like it is running properly. As you become more acquainted with the saltwater aquarium equipment it becomes easier to detect any peculiar sounds from the equipment which may suggest that it is on the way out.

Water Changes

Water changes are an essential part of your saltwater aquarium maintenance schedule. Each week any evaporated water should be replaced with prepared saltwater and any algae growing on the glass removed appropriately. Partial water changes can be performed either weekly or fortnightly depending on how well the system is maintained overall in addition to the species of fish and other creatures within the tank. Siphoning of any excess debris or waste matter should be undertaken with fortnightly water changes.

An important tip when undertaking water changes is to have the saltwater pre-mixed a day early as the mixture is less caustic and this will ensure your fish are not harmed or shocked with the sudden addition of new water.

Salt Build Up

Salt build up is one area of saltwater aquarium maintenance that is often overlooked. It is crucial that any build up of salt around or on the saltwater aquarium be cleaned on a weekly basis. If this isn't done regularly the salt will build up into large chunks that risk falling back into the tank which will dramatically alter the salinity of the water. Salt is highly corrosive to various types of metal so ensuring the equipment is cleaned regularly will assist in proper functioning.

PH, Conditioners & Vitamins

A priority of Saltwater aquarium maintenance is ongoing water testing. On a weekly basis you should be testing the salinity and pH balance, in addition to adding any required trace elements, conditioners, and vitamins for the fish and coral. Ph kits, conditioners and required vitamins are all available at your local aquarium specialist.

You can improve your saltwater aquarium maintenance by undertaking some research of individual livestock and coral that inhabit your saltwater aquarium. This will allow you to identify the required vitamins and foods necessary in the upkeep of the various livestock and this should be incorporated into the daily, weekly and monthly saltwater aquarium maintenance schedule.

Light Globes

Regardless of whether they are blown or not it is important to replace all lighting bulbs around every six months. This is because that even if the bulbs are not blown they suffer loss of intensity and quality over time which is particularly crucial in a reef saltwater aquarium.

Not all of your saltwater aquarium is inside the tank, after all your aquarium is most likely the center piece of your home and it should be in pristine viewing condition. Once every two weeks the outside of the tank and its equipment should be dusted. Special saltwater aquarium cleaners are available for this task; alternatively a water and vinegar mix will suffice. Under no circumstances should any harsh chemicals, including Windex, be used near the aquarium as these can easily kill the fish, remember these are very sensitive creatures.

In summary, saltwater aquarium maintenance may appear to require a sizeable level of work, however by spreading out the required saltwater aquarium maintenance into small doses it can become relatively controllable and results in an aquarium that gives ongoing pleasure to you and anyone else in its presence, for years to come. Just like anything, you get out what you put in.

A complete guide to Saltwater Aquarium Setup all in the one place at http://www.mysaltwateraquarium.com. Join our community and learn from real life experiences!

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Saltwater Aquarium - Terms You Need To Know

Introduction

A saltwater aquarium is easy to develop and maintain if you know what you are doing. Knowing the definition of the words used by Aquarist who operate saltwater aquariums will go a long way toward keeping a successful aquarium.

Saltwater Aquariums

People believe that keeping a saltwater aquarium is difficult, but if you know what you are doing and understand the terms, then it is really not that difficult. Here are some words and their definitions that you must know if you want to be successful at keeping a saltwater aquarium.

Ammonia (NH3)- Chemical produced in your aquarium by plant material and fish waste when they decompose. They are toxic to your fish but are removed by the nitrosomonas bacteria.
Aragonite- This is calcium carbonate that is one of the best substrates for a saltwater aquarium. When the pH in the aquarium falls below 8.2, aragonite will dissolve keeping the pH at the proper level for your aquarium.
Bacteria Starter- Rather than using the natural method to create beneficial bacteria, bacteria starter can be purchased to shorten the development of this bacteria.
Biological Filter- Natural method used in a saltwater aquarium to purify the water in your aquarium.
Chemical Filter- Carbon and filter media used to remove dissolved material from your aquarium.
Mechanical Filter- Removal of waste by filters and/or pads.
Nitrate (NO3)- Last chemical produced in "The Cycle". Least toxic of the chemicals produced by "The Cycle" and is normally removed by water replacement or by the plants in your aquarium.
Nitrite (NO2)- Toxic chemical produced by "The Cycle". Removed from your aquarium by the bacteria Nitrospira.
Nitrospira- Bacteria in your aquarium that consume nitrite that is toxic to your fish.
Nitrogen Cycle - Also known as "The Cycle" that is the break down of fish waste and plant material into ammonia, then nitrite and lastly nitrates.
pH- This is a measure of how acidic or basic the water in your aquarium is. When your pH is above 7.0 the water is basic, below 7.0 the water is acidic. Most saltwater fish will require a basic pH, above 7.0.
Substrate Vacuum- The process of cleaning the debris and waste that collects in the substrate. Normally performed by the use of a siphon.
Specific Gravity- Used to measure the salt in an aquarium by a hydrometer. It is actually a comparison of the mass of a liquid to the same amount of distilled water. For salt water aquarium the ratio should be 1.020 to 1.028.

Understanding these terms will help you succeed at developing and maintaining a successful aquarium.

J.W. Chase is an amateur Aquarist who has successfully been keeping both fresh and saltwater aquariums for over 35 years. He has extensive knowledge on how to manage an aquarium, keeping all his fish healthy and smiling. His web site has information on keeping salt water aquariums so if you want more tips, strategies and secrets on how to manage a saltwater aquarium go to his site http://homesaltwateraquariums.blogspot.com.

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Saltwater Aquarium - How To Keep Your Fish Healthy

Introduction

If you own a saltwater aquarium, your main goal is to keep your fish healthy. There are many things you can do to keep your fish smiling and in good health. Remember that these fish you purchased came out of the wild where mother nature took care of them and now it is your turn to step up and take mother natures place.

So how do you keep your fish healthy? Here are some suggestions.

Causes Of Sickness

The main cause of illness in fish is stress. So the best thing you can do to keep your fish happy and healthy is to prevent them from becoming stressed. Here are some things you can do to prevent stressing your fish.

Newbie

When you bring your saltwater fish home from the store you need to understand what they have been through. They were removed from their natural habitat in the ocean, flown to a store in a bag and a box and then sold to you.

When you bring your new fish home, it will be the first time in days they will be able to settle down. There is no need to stress them out further by dumping them in a tank with strangers. Place your newbie in a quarantine tank for a few days to allow it to settle down and get comfortable with the new surroundings.

Placing the quarantine tank next to main saltwater aquarium will help acclimate your new fish to the final stop.

Water Quality

Maintaining proper water quality is important to prevent your fish from becoming stressed out. Measure the quality of water frequently to ensure the nitrates, pH, specific gravity and temperature are in the right range for your fish.

Less frequently measure to ensure that your bacteria are doing their job by keeping ammonia and nitrites at very low levels, preferably at zero ppm.

Over Crowding

If you put to many fish in your aquarium will also stress your fish. As a rule of thumb only have 1/2 inch of adult fish for each gallon of water in your aquarium.

Anything more than this will stress your fish. When purchasing your fish, know what size they will grow to as adults so you can plan ahead.

Feeding

Your fish can also become stressed if you feed them the wrong foods. Even overfeeding your fish can stress them out. Your water quality can also go bad if you over feed them. Feed your fish once a day and only give them what they can eat in two minutes.

J.W. Chase is an amateur Aquarist who has successfully been keeping both fresh and saltwater aquariums for over 35 years. He has extensive knowledge on how to manage an aquarium, keeping all his fish healthy and smiling. His web site has information on keeping salt water aquariums so if you want more tips, strategies and secrets on how to manage a saltwater aquarium go to his site http://homesaltwateraquariums.blogspot.com.

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Saltwater Aquarium - Why Do Saltwater Aquarium Fish Get Sick?

Introduction

Saltwater aquariums are a real pleasure to have. But every now and then your fish may get sick. So what are some of the reasons your fish get sick and what can you do about it?

High Ammonia and Nitrite Levels

When you develop a new aquarium you will want it to go through a nitrogen cycle to create beneficial bacteria to help keep ammonia and nitrite levels down. At the start of this cycle your ammonia and nitrite levels will spike, but will then go down to zero because of the creation of good bacteria.

But even after you have established the beneficial bacteria, you could have high levels of ammonia and nitrites caused by to many new fish, medications, decaying dead fish or even over feeding.

High levels of ammonia and nitrites can cause your fish to become sick or even die. If you have high levels of ammonia and nitrites, you will need to reduce them by removing the cause of the high ammonia and nitrites and perform a water replacement of at least 25%.

Continue to do this until the good bacteria catch up and can keep the ammonia and nitrites concentrations at zero ppm.

Stress From Other Fish

Other fish in your display aquarium may become bullies and harass or chase your other fish. This will cause the harassed fish to become stressed. The condition of being stressed can lead to your fish becoming sick.

If one of your fish is being harassed or chased, then remove one of these fish from the aquarium.

pH

Saltwater aquariums should always have a pH of between 8.2 to 8.4. pH levels of less than 8.1 or higher than 8.5 can cause your fish to become sick. If your pH is out of specifications, then add a buffer to either raise the pH or lower it to get it back into the proper range.

The best way to adjust the pH in a saltwater aquarium is to add the pH buffer to your replacement water.

Specific Gravity

For saltwater aquariums, you will want to keep the specific gravity between 1.020 and 1.025. If it is out of this range it means your salt content is not the proper amount for your fish. To get the specific gravity in the proper range, either add salt or remove and add pure water to your aquarium.

J.W. Chase is an amateur Aquarist who has successfully been keeping both fresh and saltwater aquariums for over 35 years. He has extensive knowledge on how to manage an aquarium, keeping all his fish healthy and smiling. His web site has information on keeping salt water aquariums so if you want more tips, strategies and secrets on how to manage a saltwater aquarium go to his site http://homesaltwateraquariums.blogspot.com.

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Saltwater Fish - Some Saltwater Fish For Your Aquarium

Introduction

A saltwater aquarium adds lots of beauty to any home or office. What really makes the aquarium is the fish you choose. Unlike freshwater aquarium fish, saltwater fish are much more colorful.

Here are a few of my favorite saltwater fish.

Angelfish

These are considered one of the most beautiful saltwater aquarium fish that there is because of their very bright colors and markings. These fish are very territorial, so if you have an aquarium that is less than 75-gallons, it is best to only have one.

These fish will eat an omnivorous diet and dwarf Angelfish will grow to about four inches.

Tangs

These are also known as surgeionfish because of the spine down both sides of their body that ends just before their tail. They use these spines to defend themselves and their territories. They are considered community fish but will be aggressive toward other Tangs or fish that that have similar shapes and colors. For their diet they are considered herbivores.

Damselfish

Dameselfish have very vibrant colors and are very hardy, so they are good for first time saltwater aquarium owners. These fish are very territorial and the larger ones will bully and nip the smaller Damselfish. They are omnivorous and will eat most prepared foods.

Clownfish

These are very interesting fish. When you buy two small Clownfish they will both be males. But as they grow, the larger and more aggressive Clownfish will turn into a female. There are several different species of Clownfish and the different species should not be placed in the same tank together. Clownfish of the same species can be placed together in pairs. They are considered omnivorous.

Gobies

Gobies make good starter fish since they are very hardy and really easy to maintain. Most species of Gobies prefer to be the only one in the tank. They are small fish and will usually only grow to a size of about three inches. They are classified as both carnivorous and omnivorous.

Wrasse

If you want a great fish for your saltwater aquarium a Wrasse would be a good addition. They have very bright colors and have very long bodies. If you do get one or two, you will need to provide them with hiding places. You may actually see them burrowing into the sand. They are classified as carnivores.

Conclusion

There are many saltwater fish you can put in your saltwater aquarium. The ones I have listed here are my favorite ones.

J.W. Chase is an amateur Aquarist who has successfully been keeping both fresh and saltwater aquariums for over 35 years. He has extensive knowledge on how to manage an aquarium, keeping all his fish healthy and smiling. His web site has information on keeping salt water aquariums so if you want more tips, strategies and secrets on how to manage a saltwater aquarium go to his site http://homesaltwateraquariums.blogspot.com.

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Saltwater Aquariums - Protein Skimmers For Saltwater Aquariums

Introduction

A saltwater aquarium is a neat addition to the home or office. But you will need to recreate the conditions of the ocean to have a successful and healthy aquarium. One way to create this condition is to have a protein skimmer or foam fractionator.

Why I Need Protein Skimmer

Nature works at keeping the ocean clean by creating tides to constantly replace the dirty water with cleaner water. Plus the action of the waves produces foam that removes ocean contaminants. Your saltwater aquarium is a microcosm of the ocean and needs to create the same conditions that the ocean does.

The protein skimmer will create this condition for you. This devise will remove unhealthy contaminants such as dissolved organic compounds and other material from your aquarium.

This material comes from fish waste, bacteria, uneaten food and decomposing matter such as dead plants. If this material is left in your aquarium they will break down to toxic ammonia and nitrites and will eventually turn into nitrates.

How A Protein Skimmer Works

The protein skimmer creates a condition similar to the ocean to remove the unwanted material. The skimmer will produce bubbles that attract waste material such as dissolved organics. As the bubbles rise in the column they will create foam.

This foam is just like the foam you see on the surface of the ocean or the foam that is washed up on the beach. This foam created in the protein skimmer is collected in a collection cup preventing it from returning to your aquarium.

The waste that is captured in the collection cup is called skimmate and needs to be removed periodically to keep the skimmer operating efficiently.

Which One To Buy

There are several different designs of protein skimmers you can choose from. Whichever design you choose ensure the bubbles they create are small. Smaller bubbles rise to the surface slower and have a larger surface area. This allows for a better capture of waste material than you would receive with larger bubbles that rise faster and have a lower surface area.

Also make sure the skimmer you select will handle the volume in your tank. It is better to have one that is designed for a larger tank than one for a smaller tank. This will ensure optimum efficiency and less maintenance.

Conclusion

A protein skimmer is a necessary part for your saltwater aquarium. It will keep you aquarium and fish healthy and happy by removing wastes that can decompose to toxic chemicals such as ammonia, nitrites and nitrates.

J.W. Chase is an amateur Aquarist who has successfully been keeping both fresh and saltwater aquariums for over 35 years. He has extensive knowledge on how to manage an aquarium, keeping all his fish healthy and smiling. His web site has information on keeping salt water aquariums so if you want more tips, strategies and secrets on how to manage a saltwater aquarium go to his site http://homesaltwateraquariums.blogspot.com.

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Saltwater Aquarium - How To Control Algae With Lighting In Your Saltwater Aquarium

Introduction

Algae is important to filtering the ocean by absorbing nutrients and trace metals. But if it gets out of control in your aquarium it can turn it into a green soggy mess. If you allow sunlight on your aquarium or you do not do the proper maintenance on your aquarium lighting you can develop severe cases of algae bloom.

Algae

Land plants are believed to have evolved from algae and are probably the most important element needed to sustain life because they produce up to 70 to 80 percent of the oxygen we breathe.

But if you allow algae to get out of control in your saltwater aquarium, it can turn an immaculate aquarium into a soggy mess. Algae can grow on the sides of your aquarium, decorations, live rock, substrate and any where else it can get a hold of inside your aquarium.

So if you are dealing with algae in your aquarium look at the lighting you are providing your aquarium, this may be the source of your algae problems.

Sunlight

If you have placed your aquarium near a window, the sunlight coming in may be the source of your algae blooms. Look at the location of your aquarium and if it is next to a window you may need to move it.

Even if you have a curtains or shades on your windows it may not be enough to prevent sunlight from entering your aquarium producing algae. Even if you think they are preventing sunlight from entering your aquarium, you may unintentionally leave the blinds or curtains open allowing for enough sunlight to enter creating an algae bloom.

Artificial Lighting

The artificial lighting you provide your saltwater aquarium to grow your coral and plants can also cause algae blooms. As you're light bulbs age, the color spectrum they provide will drop into the range needed for algae growth.

There are two methods you can use to replace your light bulbs before they drop into the spectrum needed to produce algae.

Spectrograph- You can purchase a spectrograph to measure the color spectrum being emitted from your aquarium lighting. You can purchase a cheap one that is unreliable or more expensive ones that can cost you an arm and a leg.
Preventive Maintenance- The best way to keep your lighting spectrum in the proper range is to do what companies do to keep their equipment running properly, preventive maintenance. This means to change out the light bulb before it falls into the unacceptable color spectrum. It is recommended that you change out your light bulbs every eight to ten months to keep them in the proper lighting spectrum.

J.W. Chase is an amateur Aquarist who has successfully been keeping both fresh and saltwater aquariums for over 35 years. He has extensive knowledge on how to manage an aquarium, keeping all his fish healthy and smiling. His web site has information on keeping salt water aquariums so if you want more tips, strategies and secrets on how to manage a saltwater aquarium go to his site http://homesaltwateraquariums.blogspot.com.

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Saltwater Aquariums - Is It Work Or Pleasure In Having A Saltwater Aquarium

Introduction

My saltwater aquarium provides me with a lot of relief and lots of pleasure. There is some work involved in keeping one of these aquariums however, the pleasure you receive far out ways the work you need to do keep a successful aquarium.

I was a bit leery about installing a saltwater aquarium in my office because of the work involved, but once I installed mine, I found the work was really minimal.

Saltwater Aquarium Maintenance

I have a 75-gallon aquarium and was worried about the amount of work involved in keeping a healthy aquarium. I was surprised at how easy it was to keep this type of aquarium and how little work was really involved in keeping a saltwater aquarium. In fact I spend only about an hour a week in keeping my aquarium and fish healthy.

Most of that hour I spend on my aquarium is used in removing debris and water. The rest of the time is spent on testing the water quality and feeding my fish.

Pleasures Of A Saltwater Aquarium

I have placed my aquarium in my office where I spend most of my time and have found that I receive a lot of pleasure and relief from having my aquarium there. Here is why I like my aquarium in my office:

Relaxing - I found that before I put the aquarium in my office I was often stressed out at the end of the day. But after I placed the tank in my office, I can pause from my work and relax and just watch the fish. Watching the fish swim around the aquarium is very relaxing for me. It is also probably the reason you will find them in dentists waiting rooms.

Pets -I consider my fish as pets. I cannot take them for a walk, but I know where they are all the time. I have even named them. Though they may look a like, if they are of the same species, there is small distinguishing marks on them that makes them individuals and thus can be named.

Beauty - An aquarium will add beauty to any room you put it in. My office was improved a 100% when I added the aquarium to my office.

Conclusion

If you are hesitant about putting in a saltwater aquarium because of the work involved, don't be. The work is really minimal compared to the pleasure and enjoyment you receive from it.

J.W. Chase is an amateur Aquarist who has successfully been keeping both fresh and saltwater aquariums for over 35 years. He has extensive knowledge on how to manage an aquarium, keeping all his fish healthy and smiling. His web site has information on keeping salt water aquariums so if you want more tips, strategies and secrets on how to manage a saltwater aquarium go to his site http://homesaltwateraquariums.blogspot.com.

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Do I Need A Refugium For My Saltwater Aquarium

Why A Refugium

A refugium is defined as a stable place where endangered species can live even when the surrounding environments are changing. For the Aquarist, refugium means a refuge that shares the same water as the display aquarium but is isolated from the rest of the aquarium.

A well-designed refugium provides many advantages for your main aquarium. The macro algae and sand that is in your refugium will become natural filters for your display aquarium by reducing phosphates and nitrates. By reducing these contaminants from your aquarium, you will help eliminate the growth of unwanted algae in your tank.

The other advantage to having a refugium is that the lighting you put in will be on the opposite cycle as the light in your main aquarium, this will help stabilize the oxygen and pH levels in your aquarium.

The display light will be on during the day and off at night. When the light goes out carbon dioxide (CO2) levels will rise because photosynthesis is no longer occurring. CO2 is an acid and will lower the pH in your aquarium. With the refugium light on at night, the plants you have in your refugium will use the CO2, make oxygen and stabilize the pH.

Another benefit for having a refugium is that since it is a little environment separate from your display aquarium you can put in it small crustaceans such as copepods and amphipod. These can be netted to supply a food source for your fish or they can migrate naturally to the display tank via the connection lines. For this reason predator fish should not be placed in a refugium or they will eat your entire food source.

Refugium Types

There are many different types of refugiums to choose from. You can choose from those that hang from the side into the tank, stand-alone, built-in or even internal refugium.

What To Put In A Refugium

Besides sand, micro algae and crustaceans, you will also want to put in your refugium aquatic life that will not do well in the company of more aggressive fish. Many Aquarists will put in such aquatic life as seahorses, some shrimp and small fish.

Conclusion

Having a refugium as part of your display aquarium provides many benefits for you and your fish. It keeps oxygen and pH levels stable and reduces the amount of algae in your aquarium. A refugium makes the work involved in keeping a saltwater or reef aquarium easier.

J.W. Chase is an amateur Aquarist who has successfully been keeping both fresh and saltwater aquariums for over 35 years. He has extensive knowledge on how to manage an aquarium, keeping all his fish healthy and smiling. His web site has information on keeping salt water aquariums so if you want more tips, strategies and secrets on how to manage a saltwater aquarium go to his site http://homesaltwateraquariums.blogspot.com.

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Saltwater Aquariums - What You Need To Know

Introduction

If you are thinking about installing a saltwater aquarium for the first time you need to do some research. Having a successful aquarium requires you to do your homework before you even start to purchase the equipment needed for your aquarium.

Learning Saltwater Aquarium Basics

A saltwater aquarium will be difficult for you to operate if you do not do your homework. In fact you will probably join over 90% of the other people who fail within a month of trying to develop a saltwater or freshwater aquarium.

To prevent failure do your research and learn from successful Aquarist who have already traveled down the road you are embarking on.

Some of the topics you will need to learn about is what type of equipment is needed, how to maintain water quality and what type of fish will you be keeping as your pets.

Equipment Needed

Here is some of the equipment you will need to learn about:

Aquarium Tank- Believe it or not you will need to decide what type of aquarium you will want, acrylic or glass. Plus you will need to learn where is the best place to install it, how to install it and the support it will need.
Substrate- If you do not know what this means then you will also need to learn the terms, but substrate is the material at the bottom of your tank. There are several types of substrate you can select from, research them and pick the best one for you.
Filters and Heaters- There are different types of filters and heaters you can select, do your homework and pick the best one. Now is not the time to go cheap, the better the equipment in your aquarium the fewer problems you will have.

Water Quality

One of the main items in maintaining an aquarium is keeping the correct water quality. The main cause of people failing to keep a successful aquarium is maintaining the quality of the water at the right specifications for your fish.

Chemistry- You will need to learn about the effects of ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, pH, temperature and salinity have on your fish. Plus learning about how to keep chemistry in the proper range for your fish is important.
Algae- One of the big items that will make your pristine aquariums look like a slum is to allow algae to take over. Take the time to learn about algae and how to control it.

Fish

Once you understand the above concepts then you can start thinking about the fish you will want. Saltwater fish are much more colorful than freshwater fish, but you will need to ensure they are compatible.

Compatibility- Ensure your fish fall within the same classification. There is community, semi-aggressive and aggressive fish that should not be mixed together.
Water Specifications- Ensure that the fish you select can live in the same water pH and temperature.

J.W. Chase is an amateur Aquarist who has successfully been keeping both fresh and saltwater aquariums for over 35 years. He has extensive knowledge on how to manage an aquarium, keeping all his fish healthy and smiling. His web site has information on keeping salt water aquariums so if you want more tips, strategies and secrets on how to manage a saltwater aquarium go to his site http://homesaltwateraquariums.blogspot.com.

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Saltwater Aquarium - How To Clean A Saltwater Aquarium

Introduction

If you have a saltwater aquarium on even a freshwater aquarium, it will need to be cleaned. The ocean, where your saltwater fish came from, is considered an open system and the tides and currents keep the water clean. But when you place your fish in an aquarium, you are putting them in a closed-system that you have to clean.

Your cleaning will remove waste from uneaten food and the waste generated by your fish. The cleaning will also remove water that you will replace with new water reducing any contaminants you have in your aquarium, such as nitrates.

Frequency Of Cleaning

Most Pros recommend cleaning at least 10% of your tank every two weeks. I perform this operation on my aquarium every week to keep my tank extra clean for my fish.

Equipment Needed

To clean your aquarium you will need several buckets. I have a 75-gallon aquarium and replace ten gallons every week. So I needed two five-gallon buckets to collect the waste water and two five-gallon buckets to allow for replacement water.

You will also need a siphon to clean the debris from the substrate and remove the water. These are relatively inexpensive and easy to operate.

First Step

The first thing you need to do is to unplug your filters and the heaters. As you remove the debris and water from the aquarium, the water level will drop and the filters will lose suction and quit operating. The drop in water level will also expose the heaters elements that could burn out.

I have mine plugged into a dual outlet plug so I de-energize both at the same time with one easy move.

Second Step

With the filters and heater unplugged, you can start siphoning the water. Place the suction end of the siphon below the substrate and the discharge end of the siphon in an empty bucket.

Start the siphon and move the siphon around beneath the substrate removing the debris and water.

Third Step

After removing 10% of the water and removing the debris put your replacement water in. Insure the replacement water has been de-chlorinated and that the specific gravity is between 1.020 and 1.025.

Also ensure the water temperature and pH are about the same if not just like what you have in your aquarium now.

Forth Step

After adding the replacement water you can re-energize the filters and the heaters.

Conclusion

Keeping your aquarium clean is a must. You should remove the debris and replace 10% of the water at least every two weeks.

J.W. Chase is an amateur Aquarist who has successfully been keeping both fresh and saltwater aquariums for over 35 years. He has extensive knowledge on how to manage an aquarium, keeping all his fish healthy and smiling. His web site has information on keeping salt water aquariums so if you want more tips, strategies and secrets on how to manage a saltwater aquarium go to his site http://homesaltwateraquariums.blogspot.com.

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Saltwater Aquarium - Why You Need a Hydrometer For A Saltwater Aquarium

Introduction

As you well know the major difference between a freshwater aquarium and a saltwater aquarium is the salt you add to the water to keep your fish alive. So how do you know you have the right amount of salt in your aquarium?

Salt Content

If you operate a saltwater aquarium, congratulations, they are one of the most beautiful pieces of decor you can add to your home, office or business. But you need to know how to maintain your aquarium, especially the salt water content of your tank.

The amount of salt content varies depending on the type of tank you keep. For the basic saltwater tank Pros will keep the specific gravity at their tank at 1.020 to 1.025. Reef tanks are kept by most people in a range of 1.023 to 1.026.

For the optimum amount of salt you need for your aquarium, do some research and find out what the salt content is where your fish or coral come from.

Specific Gravity

I made mention of measuring the salt content of your tank by using specific gravity. Specific gravity is the measurement of the density of water compare to pure water at a specific temperature and pressure.

You can measure the salinity of your aquarium's water by determining its specific gravity by a device called a hydrometer.

Hydrometer

A hydrometer is a must for your saltwater aquarium. It will measure the specific gravity of your aquariums water providing you with information on how much salt you have in your aquarium.

Though not a direct measurement of salt content, it does measure the density of the water that can be related to the amount of salt in your aquarium.

Using a hydrometer to measure the salinity of your aquarium is a lot easier and cheaper than other methods available to measure salt content in your aquarium. Other methods to measure salt content in water include such things as using electrodes (expensive) or boiling a sample of your water down (complex).

Using a hydrometer is accurate and cheaper.

Conclusion

If you own a saltwater aquarium, you will need to have a hydrometer as part of your equipment to successfully keep your tank. You will need this to easily and cheaply measure the salinity of your tank.

There are other methods to measure salinity, but the use of a hydrometer is a lot easier, cheaper and accurate.

J.W. Chase is an amateur Aquarist who has successfully been keeping both fresh and saltwater aquariums for over 35 years. He has extensive knowledge on how to manage an aquarium, keeping all his fish healthy and smiling. His web site has information on keeping salt water aquariums so if you want more tips, strategies and secrets on how to manage a saltwater aquarium go to his site http://homesaltwateraquariums.blogspot.com.

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Saltwater Aquarium - How Specific Gravity Measures Your Tanks Salinity

Introduction

If you operate a saltwater aquarium or are thinking about it, then you know the importance of keeping the proper salt content. Most Aquarist keep their salt content in the range of 1.020 to 1.025 by measuring the specific gravity of the water in their aquarium. So how does this measure the salt content in your aquarium?

Specific Gravity

Specific gravity measures the density of a liquid as compared to the density of pure water at 3.989 degrees centigrade. At this temperature density of pure water is 1 gm/cm3. Anything with a measurement greater than one is denser than pure water. If the measurement is less than one then it not as dense as pure water.

Most liquids will be measured for density by using a hydrometer, which is calibrated to compare pure water to the liquid you are measuring. Most Aquarist use a hydrometer to measure the salt content of their saltwater aquarium.

So how can a hydrometer measure the salt content of an aquarium?

Specific Gravity And Salt Content

Salt content of your aquarium can be measured in several ways but most of these ways are complex or expensive. The easiest way that Aquarist use to measure salt content of their aquarium is by using a hydrometer which measures indirectly the amount of salt in their aquarium.

As you may know this measurement and salinity are not the same. Specific gravity refers to the density of water and is actually a ratio of the unit being measured to that of deionized water, so it has no units. Salinity is the weight of salt in the water usually measured in parts per thousand (ppt).

If you are using and you should be using pure water in your aquarium, the specific gravity will be one. With this pure water in a bucket, add premixed salt to the water. This will start to raise the specific gravity and you want it at 1.020 to 1.025 before you add the water to the tank. Since you used pure water, the only thing that will increase the specific gravity of your water is the salt you are adding.

By using a hydrometer to measure the specific gravity of your aquarium, you are indirectly measuring the salinity of your aquarium.

Conclusion

Most Aquarist who operate a saltwater aquarium will use a hydrometer to measure the salinity of their aquarium. This measurement is an indirect method to measure the salinity of your aquarium.

It is an accurate method provided you use pure or deionized water and is much cheaper and not as complex as other methods you can use.

J.W. Chase is an Aquarist who has successfully been keeping both fresh and saltwater aquariums for over 35 years. He has extensive knowledge on how to manage an aquarium, keeping all his fish healthy and smiling. Check out his web site on keeping salt water aquariums if you want more tips, strategies and secrets on how to manage a saltwater aquarium http://homesaltwateraquariums.blogspot.com.

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Saltwater Aquarium Vs Freshwater Aquarium

ByAndrei G Ureche

Almost every aquarists in the beginning of his path, or even during it, has found themselves asking the question, "Freshwater or Saltwater" In this article, I will try to highlight all the insights on this subject, so after reading you will have a better idea about your decision.

1 Saltwater aquariums require much more maintenance comparing freshwater aquarium. So here you have to decide what kind of person you are, the one that will be able to do a regularly week basic water change and cleaning, or you rather forget about it for a half year?!. In fact, there are a lot of freshwater aquarium's lovers who tend to change the water once a year. If you do this kind of thing with a saltwater tank, you will lose your fishes in your second month for sure.

2 Prices! Saltwater aquariums are much more expensive to keep. And here are a few factors that make this happened. Equipment for saltwater fish tanks are much more expensive comparing to freshwater ones,

Here is a list of must have equipment for freshwater versus saltwater:a

Freshwater Aquarium

AquariumGravelFilterLightsWater Test kitCarantine aquariummaintenance kit like food, scrapers,nets, etc.

Saltwater Aquarium

AquariumGravelFilterLightsPower headsProtein skimmerHydrometerSalt MixLive rocksWater Test kitCarantine aquariummaintenance kit like food, scrapers,nets, etc.Saltwater fish- more expensive

Reef Tank -the price will go even higher.

AquariumGravelFilterMore expensive lightsPower headsProtein skimmerHydrometerSalt MixLive rocksWater Test kitRefugium for live food culturingCarantine aquariummaintenance kit like food, scrapers,nets, etc.Saltwater fish- more expensive

Saltwater fish are more expensive, but they are much more colorful. I think almost every aquarium lover will agree with this point. The variety of colors is amazing. Of course, there are some beautiful colored fresh water fish like neons, discus, tetras, angelfish, but the saltwater variety is much bigger. And probably this is the main criteria why most aquariumists choose saltwater tanks.

Summary

Saltwater or freshwater.. question remains actual. My advice is if you plan to spend a small amount of money and the weekly basis maintenance scare you a lot, but you still want a nice tank in your living room, I will suggest to go for a freshwater aquarium. Anyway you will be able to make the upgrade later to a saltwater tank. However, if you have some experience in keeping a freshwater, and you feel that you grown that "step," you have the right amount of dedication, and you have the budget, You can easily start a saltwater fish tank.

To find tips about fish tanks and would like to get,ore info about aquarium equipment, please visit our site: http://www.findfistanksforsale.com

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A Buyers Guide to Choosing the Right Lighting for Your Saltwater Aquarium

Lighting for saltwater aquariums is probably one of the most important decisions you will have to make when creating a tank. What good is creating a visual effect under water when you can't see it properly?

The type of fish that will be kept in a saltwater aquarium will have come from warm shallow seas with a lot of light shining on them. So recreating that original setting is a must for your tank to flourish.

Types Of Tanks

Before you buy the lighting you need to consider first what type of aquarium you will have. Whether it be a fish only tank, fish only with live rock, or a reef tank.

Depending on what you decide will affect the choice of what lighting you will use for your saltwater aquarium. You don't want to underlight it and you don't want to overlight it causing the water to overheat.

Types Of Fish

The next thing to consider before you buy your lighting is what type of fish you will have in your tank. You also need to think about what species can be put together in the same tank and what their needs are. Some species require higher levels of lighting. Also you need to research what the requirements are in a reef tank particularly. Some organisms don't work well together.

What Lighting To Use

For fish only tanks use fluorescent lighting as these aquariums don't require a lot of lighting. Fluorescent lighting is cool in temperature, inexpensive and is evenly spread throughout the tank. This is the lighting you see in offices. The bulbs have a long life. The rule of thumb for lighting with fluorescent lighting is 1W per gallon.

For fish with live rock tanks you might consider power compact fluorescent lighting. This is put basically fluorescent lighting bent in half. They are available in spectrums of Daylight, Actinic Blue and 50/50. This type of lighting will help with coralline algae growth. If you're not too concerned with this algae growth then you can just use fluorescent lighting.

For a reef tank it might be best to consider a more complicated sort of lighting. It may require something with a very high output, (VHO) but the water temperature has to be considered. You may have to think about buying fans and chillers. You can also use metal halide lighting. Halides are usually used for invertebrates and photosynthetic corals. Be sure that comes with an ultra violet filter. Or you could combine with mercury vapour types, they may have to come with reflective mechanisms to direct the light rays. Halide lighting isn't as strong and so it creates a shadow effect on the reef making for a more dramatic appearance.

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