Live Rock - provides food, shelter and filtering capabilities.Aquarium substrate for your saltwater aquarium setup such as live sand or crushed coral.Aquarium Photo Background or Paint the background - see Aquarium Aquascape Design for more info on painting the tank background.What do I need to start a saltwater aquarium?įor the type of saltwater fish tank setup (marine aquarium) described in this article check out the checklist below for the equipment needed. It just takes some effort on your part to learn about and research the necessary topics in order to have a good saltwater setup.
A saltwater aquarium doesn't have to be difficult. Some saltwater aquarium hobbyists install a sump system for their aquarium which not only houses their tank equipment but also increases the water volume of the tank, thus combatting evaporation.This step by step guide is for anyone interested in learning how to set up a saltwater aquarium. It is also a good idea to keep a constant supply of premixed saltwater on hand so you can refill your tank as necessary to accommodate for evaporation.
By taking frequent specific gravity measurements you can keep the salinity level in your tank as close to constant as possible. There are several things which can contribute to saltwater aquarium salinity fluctuations, but the main factor is evaporation - as water evaporates from the tank, the salt is left behind so the salinity in the tank increases. Thus, once you set up your aquarium and take a salinity reading, if you find that the specific gravity level is 1.023 you should try to maintain that level as closely as possible. Any reading within this range is adequate, but keep in mind that it is imperative that you maintain a stable level of salinity within your aquarium. The normal specific gravity range in saltwater aquarium is 1.012 to 1.024. These devices provide a measure of both salinity and specific gravity so they are a great tool for the saltwater aquarium hobbyist to own. The device works by passing light through a prism that bends as it slows, making a scale visible by looking through an eye piece. All you have to do is place a few drops of aquarium water in the designation space on the device and close the cover. A refractometer is a device calibrated with pure water and it utilizes the index of refraction to give you a reading of your tank water’s specific gravity. Another option for measuring the salinity in your tank is to use a refractometer. Inexpensive hydrometers are not always reliable and may give you an inaccurate reading. Unfortunately, many aquarium hobbyists have trouble maintaining a stable salinity in their tanks due to inaccurate specific gravity measurements.
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