Saltwater Aquarium Supplies and Equipment

Do you know the history of saltwater aquariums? Ancient Romans used to keep sea anemones in glass jars filled with salt water. These were the ancestors of our modern day home saltwater aquariums. Here are some tips for setting up a saltwater aquarium...

There are several major pieces of saltwater aquarium equipment that is a must if you are going to maintain a proper environment for your fish. Clean water is of course the key. There are several methods for this and they include equipment for biological, mechanical and chemical aquarium filtration systems.

Because marine aquarium tanks will often accumulate large amounts of microorganisms, and because the carefully controlled pH levels of the water can also be inviting to microorganisms that can damage aquarium organisms, a filtration system is necessary to maintain your tank. There are various methods of filtration suitable to maintain the integrity of a aquarium tank, and all these methods will combine chemical, biological, and mechanical filtration.

Simple hang on filters can contain plates where beneficial bacteria can form their colonies. These bacteria provide biological filtration, and they shouldn't be cleaned out or expunged, as they provide a healthy biological balance in the marine tank. Larger marine aquarium tanks will also contain bio-filtration media; sometimes, large amounts of live rock can provide their own biological filtration, although molds and fungi can often damage live rock. As a result, marine aquarium tank enthusiasts and merchants recommend protein skimmers, which can introduce bubbles into the aquarium. These bubbles mimic the action of wave foam, and will contain waste products, saltwater, plankton, and essential nutrients.

Although lighting may seem to be more vanity than a necessity, many marine systems actually need a cycle that balances light and dark hours. This simulation of day and night is essential to maintain the Circadian rhythm of the fish in the tank, an inner biological clock that determines periods of sleep and waking. This biological clock also governs other aspects of fish health. Strong lighting, moreover, can encourage the proliferation of coralline algae, which is important in fish with live rock tanks.

There are several things which must be monitored in your saltwater tank. Nitrate levels are one of the most important of these. Too much nitrate, which is produced by bacteria which feed on the ammonia excrement of your fish, can be very harmful to everything in your tank except the coral and algae. They love the stuff. If the levels are too high for them to process, then the water becomes toxic to the fish. Change the water when this happens. Ph levels in the water should be about 8.1 to 8.3 and can be maintained by the use of buffers, chemical mixtures, or calcium-rich substratum.

Creating a saltwater aquarium is difficult to build and maintain, but totally worth all of the time and effort put into it. Just make sure you arm yourself with all of the knowledge needed. How to get one started.