First Steps in keeping an Aquarium
STOP wasting time on techniques that no longer work and don’t spend money on items you do not really need.
It is
relatively EASY to learn about keeping a tank of marine fish
– as long as you have all the relevant information. Beginners
need to know everything from light source choice to aquarium size, how to
choose between real or synthetic salt water, compatibility of invertebrates
with each other, and a thousand other things need to be answered before any
equipment is purchased.
There are many books on
the hobby written by “experts” but this report will guide you to books written
by real experts of 35 years standing.
But first
check out this quick list on the first steps you need to take.
Tank Size
When
choosing an aquarium its size will depend on the location, but the larger the
better.The location in turn will determine
to some extent the type of lighting needed.
Filtration
Decide between mechanical, biological, or chemical
filtration system, or a mixture from plenum, fluidized, deep sand bed or under
gravel filters.
Water Supply
Choose
your water supply wisely with RO/DI pre-filtered water or get a water
purification filter.
Water Circulation
Consider
surge devices or powerheads to circulate the water.
Basic Equipment
Now you will need a hydrometer, a thermometer, a
test kit, salt mix, calcium, iodine, air pump, tap water filter, protein
skimmer, and water conditioner.
Stocking up
Now make a list of all the fish, invertebrates,
crustaceans and corals that you are attracted to, and learn everything there is
to know about them all.
A reef tank can accommodate fewer fish, but plenty
of invertebrates, live coral and anemones.
The diet of many marine fish is coral and sponge so
beware.
Once
fully set up with the live rock and plants all added the system needs to be
fully tested.
A
separate small quarantine tank should be considered to put your new fish in
first.
Take your time
Set up
and follow a regular maintenance routine to avoid water quality problems.
Having
studied the subject, you should know not to put in too much live rock or fish
at once.
Fish Health &
Compatibility
Learn how
to tell if a fish is healthy. Sick fish usually don’t eat.
Know what type of fish and how many your tank can
comfortably hold before you go out to buy.
Learn about the requirements of each type of fish
and it’s suitability for your system.
Some fish are territorial, others placid, and some
are aggressive such as sharks, pufferfish, lionfish, triggers, foxfaces, the
grouper series and small eels. Consider all of this carefully.
Remember, the larger the tank the least chance for
aggression.
Always
add food slowly to avoid algae growth, and don’t overfeed, as this can kill
many species.
Lighting
The type
of lighting you choose is dependant on the type of organisms in the tank.
To help
maintain the intense colours of the coral, CF or MH lighting is best.
Regulate the tanks photoperiod with a timer.
The recurring cycle of light and dark periods
should be no more than 10 hours.
If the light periods are too short, the corals may
not get enough nutrients via the UV.
Too long creates algae on the bottom of the tank
and stresses the corals.
Place a sheet
of glass or UV blocking acrylic between the bulbs and coral to raise the
lighting.
At the end of the
day, if you...
Want to have an aquarium where your livestock are healthy
Want to learn as much as possible about this fascinating hobby
Want to be able to make up your own mind as to what to use
Need to know exactly what
equipment is required and what is not
Really want to get started but don’t know where to begin
Are fed up with the lack of information available
Want to know as much as possible about keeping a tank of marine fish
then
What you need now is a guide which is absolutely stuffed with information so that
you know exactly what is required when keeping a tank of marine fish, a guide
where you can make up your own mind as to what to use. A guide which allows you
to take as long as you need to start your own marine system.
Follow this link now to:
The Aquarists Guide to Starting a Home Marine Fish Only Aquarium.
This guide is for aquarists who
are interested in keeping a fish only aquarium.
There are some fish which cannot be kept with corals and/or invertebrates. Also in some instances there are aquarists who only want to keep fish -
any why not - they are all beautiful.
This guide details everything
that you need to know so that you can start your very own fish only saltwater
aquarium. From the equipment you need, how it all works, what filtration
methods there are available and how to put it all together - everything you
need all in one handy guide. As with the reef aquarium guide every aspect is
covered so that you can make up your own mind as to what is best for you and
your fish. We appreciate that everyone’s requirements are different which
is why we have attempted to cover as many as possible. Learn
much more..
PS.
If you are already an established Aquarist, another book in this series is:
The Aquarists Guide to Starting a Home Marine Mixed Reef Aquarium
This guide was created for
potential aquarists who are hoping to keep their very own saltwater mixed reef
aquarium.
It is not surprising that so many
people are interested in keeping a reef tank. With all the amazing corals that
can now be kept in captivity. From soft corals which sway beautifully in the
currents, hard corals with the fantastic structures and colors and reef fish
going about their daily business on their ‘home reef’ - a true pleasure to
behold.
This guide details everything you
need to know about various aspects of reef keeping all the way through to a
step-by-step guide as to how to start up. We are firm believers that there are
numerous ways to perform anything when it comes to salt water aquariums,
therefore we have included as much information as we possibly can so that you
can learn everything you need and then make up your own mind as to what it best
for both you and your aquarium inhabitants.
Learn
much more.
Remember, each book is written by a
Father and Son team of 35 years experience of Saltwater Marine Keeping.
There are some fish which cannot be kept with corals and/or invertebrates. Also in some instances there are aquarists who only want to keep fish - any why not - they are all beautiful.
This guide details everything that you need to know so that you can start your very own fish only saltwater aquarium. From the equipment you need, how it all works, what filtration methods there are available and how to put it all together - everything you need all in one handy guide. As with the reef aquarium guide every aspect is covered so that you can make up your own mind as to what is best for you and your fish. We appreciate that everyone’s requirements are different which is why we have attempted to cover as many as possible. Learn much more..
It is not surprising that so many people are interested in keeping a reef tank. With all the amazing corals that can now be kept in captivity. From soft corals which sway beautifully in the currents, hard corals with the fantastic structures and colors and reef fish going about their daily business on their ‘home reef’ - a true pleasure to behold.
This guide details everything you need to know about various aspects of reef keeping all the way through to a step-by-step guide as to how to start up. We are firm believers that there are numerous ways to perform anything when it comes to salt water aquariums, therefore we have included as much information as we possibly can so that you can learn everything you need and then make up your own mind as to what it best for both you and your aquarium inhabitants.
Learn much more.
Real experts-real information-real savings.
The Aquarists Guide To
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