Post by Chris4Reef on Sept 4, 2008 23:42:08 GMT -5
Welcome to the world of saltwater.
Saltwater and Freshwater have both similar but yet very different characteristics. Usually it would be a good idea to master the basic's of freshwater before you move onto saltwater.
Tank
Freshwater and Saltwater tanks are the same. As in general fishkeeping it is always easier to go with a larger aquarium rather than a smaller one. Why? this is because with more volume of water, the more room for mistakes and generally more room for fishes. You will like always want a longer tank rather than a higher tank for surface area.
Substrate
Marine tanks can work with either sand or gravel, traditionally it is best to go with marine sand as it is something that most fishes will see in the wild. Some fishes like some wrasses, gobies, blennies, will like to bury themselves in the sand and gravel can cause problems on the fishes skin.
Water
Saltwater itself isnt that hard to make, simply start with any salt mix and mix it with freshwater and mix it. The ammount of salt used depends on the container that you make it in, and at which level you want the specific gravity to be. You will use a hydrometer which measures the salinty and/or the specific gravity of the saltwater you just made. Fish only aquariums can be in the lower range (1.018-1.024) but fish only with live rock, reefs, or tanks with inverts should be in the upper range (1.022-1.024). Saltwater can get complicated with measuring the calcium, iodine, strodium, alkalinity, carbonate, and other elements. Generally when you first start with a saltwater aquarium, you dont jump right into reef so at first you will really only need to make the saltwater and add essental elements about once aweek.
Filtration
Freshwater and Saltwater filters are the same. your going to need mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration. Live rock will act as a biological filter as well. Traditionally in saltwater aquariums, adding nano rubble which is basically live rock that is broken up into smaller pieces is added into the biological filteration area in the filter. For larger tanks, sump filters are recommended. Refugiums can also be added to larger tanks where mircoalgae or cheto can be grown to help reduce ammonia levels.
Live Rock
Live rock is really a good thing to have in a saltwater aquarium. It not only adds structure but it is used for its beauty and biological filteration ablities. Live rock is collected from various regions and some pieces look different than others. Fiji, tonga, soloman island, caribbean, etc... these are all names for LR from their respective areas. Live rock is one of the most expensive aspects of saltwater keeping. Live rock can range from 5-13 dollars per pound on average. Live rock will need to go under a curing process. basically allowing it to sit in a container under nice lighting, protien skimmer and time will cure rocks and turn them nice colors and remove any odor they may have. curing usually takes around 2-3 weeks. LR is recommend at 1 to 1.5 pounds per gallon.
Lighting
In saltwater keeping, lighting plays more of a role than it does in freshwater. The standard for saltwater is a 10000K white light and a 430mm blue actinic bulb. The wattage can vary, generally for a reef tank you want 4-5 watts per gallon. The standard lighting is great for fish only, FOWLR, and basic corals. For SPS(small polyp stony) and some LPS(large polyp stony) you will want to invest in MH or metal halide lighting. This is really the best form of lighting as of now but it will be expensive. Remember with MH you will increase your water temperature so you might need to buy a chiller for the aquarium.
Setting up
Generally you will mix the saltwater and allow the tank and filter to run for about 2-3 days. At this point it is a good idea to get some live rock. you wont need to get all of it at once, but overall your going to want at least one pound per gallon. it is recommend that if your buying live sand that you add it after your tank is set up for a few days. about 3 days after the rock is in i would add the sand. Your tank will get cloudy and form will build at the top, generally skim the surface with a net. if you have a protein skimmer it will help but the surface foam is best removed by hand. once the tank clears which is about 1 day, you can sttart your cycling process. Damsels have been the traditional method but they are rahter hard to remove from the aquarium. you can go with hermit crabs and a shrimp to start the cycle. Once you begin your cycle you can leave the aquarium for about 2-4 weeks but you can contiune to add rocks.
Types of saltwater
Fish only is basically what this guide is for. Very easy and the basic saltwater tank, you should really start with this so you can learn the basics of saltwater keeping. Way to many people come into saltwater keeping and start with a reef tank and wonder why the corals die and the tank implodes. The next step is FOWLR or fish only with live rock. Live rock is very hard to mess up. Reef tanks are the hardest due to the amount of corals out there and they all have special conditions and needs. this is when you need to know the basics well and know the more advanced skills of water chemistry and knowing facts about corals, fish and how a reef aquarium fully works. The most important thing to stress is that not all corals are the same, families, aggression levels, lighting, placement, water flow, feedings, etc.. are all factors that you will need to know.
links
Im way to tired from writing this basic guide... saltwater keeping is 150% more advanced than what i just wrote. please see this link for more help than i can give you.
www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Basic_Saltwater.html
Saltwater and Freshwater have both similar but yet very different characteristics. Usually it would be a good idea to master the basic's of freshwater before you move onto saltwater.
Tank
Freshwater and Saltwater tanks are the same. As in general fishkeeping it is always easier to go with a larger aquarium rather than a smaller one. Why? this is because with more volume of water, the more room for mistakes and generally more room for fishes. You will like always want a longer tank rather than a higher tank for surface area.
Substrate
Marine tanks can work with either sand or gravel, traditionally it is best to go with marine sand as it is something that most fishes will see in the wild. Some fishes like some wrasses, gobies, blennies, will like to bury themselves in the sand and gravel can cause problems on the fishes skin.
Water
Saltwater itself isnt that hard to make, simply start with any salt mix and mix it with freshwater and mix it. The ammount of salt used depends on the container that you make it in, and at which level you want the specific gravity to be. You will use a hydrometer which measures the salinty and/or the specific gravity of the saltwater you just made. Fish only aquariums can be in the lower range (1.018-1.024) but fish only with live rock, reefs, or tanks with inverts should be in the upper range (1.022-1.024). Saltwater can get complicated with measuring the calcium, iodine, strodium, alkalinity, carbonate, and other elements. Generally when you first start with a saltwater aquarium, you dont jump right into reef so at first you will really only need to make the saltwater and add essental elements about once aweek.
Filtration
Freshwater and Saltwater filters are the same. your going to need mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration. Live rock will act as a biological filter as well. Traditionally in saltwater aquariums, adding nano rubble which is basically live rock that is broken up into smaller pieces is added into the biological filteration area in the filter. For larger tanks, sump filters are recommended. Refugiums can also be added to larger tanks where mircoalgae or cheto can be grown to help reduce ammonia levels.
Live Rock
Live rock is really a good thing to have in a saltwater aquarium. It not only adds structure but it is used for its beauty and biological filteration ablities. Live rock is collected from various regions and some pieces look different than others. Fiji, tonga, soloman island, caribbean, etc... these are all names for LR from their respective areas. Live rock is one of the most expensive aspects of saltwater keeping. Live rock can range from 5-13 dollars per pound on average. Live rock will need to go under a curing process. basically allowing it to sit in a container under nice lighting, protien skimmer and time will cure rocks and turn them nice colors and remove any odor they may have. curing usually takes around 2-3 weeks. LR is recommend at 1 to 1.5 pounds per gallon.
Lighting
In saltwater keeping, lighting plays more of a role than it does in freshwater. The standard for saltwater is a 10000K white light and a 430mm blue actinic bulb. The wattage can vary, generally for a reef tank you want 4-5 watts per gallon. The standard lighting is great for fish only, FOWLR, and basic corals. For SPS(small polyp stony) and some LPS(large polyp stony) you will want to invest in MH or metal halide lighting. This is really the best form of lighting as of now but it will be expensive. Remember with MH you will increase your water temperature so you might need to buy a chiller for the aquarium.
Setting up
Generally you will mix the saltwater and allow the tank and filter to run for about 2-3 days. At this point it is a good idea to get some live rock. you wont need to get all of it at once, but overall your going to want at least one pound per gallon. it is recommend that if your buying live sand that you add it after your tank is set up for a few days. about 3 days after the rock is in i would add the sand. Your tank will get cloudy and form will build at the top, generally skim the surface with a net. if you have a protein skimmer it will help but the surface foam is best removed by hand. once the tank clears which is about 1 day, you can sttart your cycling process. Damsels have been the traditional method but they are rahter hard to remove from the aquarium. you can go with hermit crabs and a shrimp to start the cycle. Once you begin your cycle you can leave the aquarium for about 2-4 weeks but you can contiune to add rocks.
Types of saltwater
Fish only is basically what this guide is for. Very easy and the basic saltwater tank, you should really start with this so you can learn the basics of saltwater keeping. Way to many people come into saltwater keeping and start with a reef tank and wonder why the corals die and the tank implodes. The next step is FOWLR or fish only with live rock. Live rock is very hard to mess up. Reef tanks are the hardest due to the amount of corals out there and they all have special conditions and needs. this is when you need to know the basics well and know the more advanced skills of water chemistry and knowing facts about corals, fish and how a reef aquarium fully works. The most important thing to stress is that not all corals are the same, families, aggression levels, lighting, placement, water flow, feedings, etc.. are all factors that you will need to know.
links
Im way to tired from writing this basic guide... saltwater keeping is 150% more advanced than what i just wrote. please see this link for more help than i can give you.
www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Basic_Saltwater.html