| So, you are wondering if a saltwater aquarium is | | | | which they may stray is vastly different.PH of a |
| for you. Most people believe that marine aquarium | | | | Marine Tank The pH of a marine tank is one of |
| keeping is infinitely more difficult than freshwater. | | | | the most important factors. Marine fish and |
| Not so. The simple truth is that saltwater fish and | | | | invertebrates are especially sensitive to rapid |
| invertebrates are not necessarily more difficult to | | | | changes in their pH, so keeping pH fluctuations |
| keep, they just have different requirements than | | | | within 0.2 each day is very critical. All marine |
| freshwater fish and are a bit less forgiving when | | | | creatures like a pH near 8.2, ranging from 8.0 to |
| it comes to mistakes. The key to fully | | | | 8.4. The pH should never drop below 8.0.Nitrates |
| understanding this is to understand the basics | | | | The next important factor is nitrates. Saltwater |
| presented here. With the outstanding assortment | | | | fish are more tolerant of higher nitrates than |
| of beautiful saltwater fish to choose from, it is no | | | | invertebrates (in general), but still like nitrates |
| wonder that so many hobbyists dream of | | | | lower than 20ppm, with less than 5ppm being |
| maintaining a marine aquarium. | | | | required for most invertebrates. Reef keepers |
| This guide is intended to answer many of the | | | | tend to quote anything higher than 0.5ppm as |
| questions a novice marine aquarist may have, and | | | | unacceptable, but this is an unrealistic goal for |
| to provide some basic guidelines for selecting and | | | | fish-only or minimal invertebrate tanks.Salinity |
| caring for saltwater fish and invertebrates. In | | | | The next factor of concern is salinity, or specific |
| addition, we hope that every saltwater hobbyist | | | | gravity. Loosely (very loosely), specific gravity is |
| will read several good, current books on the | | | | the amount of salt in the water. Many aquarists |
| subject. | | | | treat specific gravity and salinity as one and the |
| Reef Tank and Fish Tank: What's the Difference? | | | | same, but technically speaking, they are not. |
| There are many different ways you can set up | | | | Specific gravity is temperature dependent and |
| an aquarium depending on what you would like to | | | | salinity is not. Most hydrometers (hydrometers |
| keep and what interests you most in the hobby. | | | | measure specific gravity) are calibrated to read |
| Accordingly hobbyists tend to put names on the | | | | the correct specific gravity at 59F. Since this is a |
| different types of aquariums that can be set up | | | | little low for most tanks, hobbyist grade |
| because they have similar general requirements | | | | hydrometers are usually temperature corrected |
| depending on the classification of tank. | | | | to read the correct specific gravity at or around |
| Fish Only Tank | | | | 77F (25C). |
| A Fish Only Tank is a tank that is dedicated to | | | | Specific Gravity |
| keeping fish, without any sort of corals, | | | | In any case, most creatures will acclimate to |
| anemones or clams. They can contain some | | | | almost any specific gravity (within reason), so long |
| mobile invertebrates mainly for helping keep the | | | | as it does not vary widely. The specific gravity of |
| tank clean. This set up is easier to set up and less | | | | a saltwater tank should be around 1.022. It's |
| costly then a reef tank. This type of tank can be | | | | worth noting that the salinity of natural sea water |
| classified into two different areas as well, fish only | | | | varies according to location (ocean, to lagoons, to |
| or fish only with live rock.Reef Aquarium A Reef | | | | estuaries), ranging anywhere from 1.020 to 1.030. |
| Aquarium contains a lot of life with the main focus | | | | So different fish might be native to different |
| being corals or anemones. This type of system | | | | salinities, and may need some time to acclimate |
| generally contains a huge variety of species that | | | | to a different salinity. |
| require an extremely specialized setup. The needs | | | | Temperature |
| of the corals or anemones take priority whereas | | | | Finally, the temperature of a saltwater tank is |
| fish in these tanks are considered secondary. | | | | basically the same as a freshwater tank. |
| Although we generally classify all tanks with corals | | | | Anywhere between 75F to 80F (24C - 27C), with |
| in it as a reef tank, there are still different types | | | | 77F (25C) being a good midpoint. Wild |
| of reef tanks such as softy, LPS (large polyp | | | | temperature variations increase fish stress and |
| stony) and SPS (small polyp stony) tanks. These | | | | invariably lead to disease, so a good heater (or |
| three tanks also have different requirements as | | | | chiller) is a must. As an aside, submersible heaters |
| well. | | | | tend to be preferred over hang on the back |
| What's the Difference Between Salt Water and | | | | kinds. |
| Fresh Water? | | | | Also, they seem to be somewhat more reliable |
| So what's different about saltwater versus | | | | than the less expensive `clip-on' kind. Other |
| freshwater? As alluded to before, saltwater fish | | | | factors worth keeping an eye on are alkalinity and |
| are more sensitive to changes in their | | | | calcium. The alkalinity of a saltwater tank is really |
| environment. Freshwater fish are found in rivers, | | | | critical for long term success. Without a decent |
| streams, ponds and lakes, saltwater fish are | | | | alkalinity reading, the pH of the tank will drop over |
| collected from oceans and seas. As such, their | | | | time and endanger the lives of your pets. The |
| natural environment is quite stable and they do | | | | alkalinity of a saltwater tank should be around 2.5 |
| not readily adapt to major changes in water | | | | to 3.5 meq/l. Calcium is more of a reef keeper's |
| chemistry or temperature. In addition, since nearly | | | | issue than a fish-only tank. However, once you |
| all saltwater fish and invertebrates are captured in | | | | advance and wish to keep invertebrates, |
| the wild (many freshwater fish are either tank or | | | | monitoring calcium levels becomes a must. |
| pond raised), there are greater risks associated | | | | Without calcium, and other trace elements, |
| with handling and shipping. The risks, shipping and | | | | invertebrates can not properly form their |
| collecting costs, and supply-and-demand also make | | | | exoskeletons and will not survive. Calcium levels |
| saltwater specimens more expensive than their | | | | should be 400 to 450 ppm Ca++. Some of the |
| freshwater counterparts. | | | | more easier to keep invertebrates, such as |
| Important Factors | | | | shrimps, also need regular supplements of iodine |
| The important factors of a saltwater tank are pH, | | | | and other trace elements. Most foods will supply |
| nitrate, salinity, and temperature. During the | | | | the necessary amounts of these elements. |
| cycling process, ammonia and nitrite can also be a | | | | However, if you are using a protein skimmer, |
| problem. These elements are not different from | | | | these elements will be stripped from the water |
| those of a freshwater tank, but the degree to | | | | and need to be replaced manually. |