saltwater aquarium choice of tanks
Saltwater Aquarium setup: Choosing the right 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? Buying the largest saltwater aquarium setup you can afford which will fit within the environment you have chosen to use should be your first goal.
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. To determine this we look at the tank size. So when you finally opt for the freshwater aquarium set up you want then remember this and give your fish a chance to grow.
One important aspect of your saltwater aquarium setup is oxygen. There are a number of factors that determine the amount of oxygen in your tank the main one being the surface area of the tank. 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 aquarium will be much healthier the more this process is allowed to develop. Another factor which determines the amount of oxygen in the water is temperature. The cooler the water the higher the oxygen content will be in general.
Less oxygen will be available for tropical fish as they prefer temperatures above 75 degrees which means less oxygen would be available in the aquariums water. 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 not the size or volume of the tank which determines its surface area but the shape. A tank could have a much larger volume but less surface area than a smaller tank because of its shape. 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. Stressed fish living in cramped conditions is on of the major causes of fish death, diseases and illness.
You should start slowly when stocking up with fish. Introduce only a small amount at a time. Calculate what amount of water your aquarium holds in gallons. In the beginning and up to six months for every four gallon of water introduce one inch of fish. 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.
An example of a 60 gallon aquarium 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. After the six month period you can increase you fish to 30.
As with any creature when you get them young they will grow so be aware of this when buying new fish and adjust the amount in your tank to suit. Not only is the fish size an issue but also the shape. Less fish is needed in an aquarium with heavier stock.
{Saltwater aquarium development is not quick and time is needed}. They are not cheap to buy and maintain so do not cut corners. Problems will occur even when you have spent lots of time developing your tank. Make sure you have the correct aquarium from the start because it can be a little disheartening if you choose wrongly and then have to buy another one. 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.
You can choose from the vast array of saltwater aquariums in either acrylic or glass? Will it be a ready made reef tank already suitable for all your filtration and other equipment? It’s up to you to get advice and choose correctly. One good starting point is silicon sealed glass tanks. The range is vast from unusual hexagonal and octagonal shapes to the more conventional rectangular types. Although more prone to scratching acrylic tanks are becoming more popular than the glass variety.
Acrylic tanks are much lighter than there glass equivalent. Large glass tanks are very heavy and hard to move. The glass is quite thick. A good option is a glass tank with a plastic frame. Glass types are tempered which is stronger or shatter proof plated glass.
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. They cost more money and scratch easier which is a downside. 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.
The health of your fish is the priority whatever type of saltwater aquarium you go for. It needs to be kept in good order and cash is needed to maintain it properly. One up and running you will have hours of relaxation watching your new fishy pals cavorting in the water. You will obtain much pleasure and enjoyment out of your saltwater aquarium
