|
|
 |
Saltwater and Reefs (written by Clint Devoe) |  |
 Home Page |
Ciclid Photos |
Contact Page |
Fishy Links |
Guest Book |
Fish Library |
Looking after your Oscars |
The facts of Hith |
Other Fish Diseases |
BBS Members Fish Photo Page |
African Cichlid Photos |
Big Boy CichlidsPhoto Page |
Salt water and Reefs by Clint |
Disease Pevention |
. |
Please sign my Guest Book |
|
SALTWATER TANKS.... Saltwater is often said to be harder than freshwater. I honestly don't believe that. It is a little more $, but I don't think it ever seems like more work than my freshwater tanks. I've found saltwater tanks easier to understand for some reason. There is more variety in the saltwater area of the fish world, but don't get me wrong I love my freshwater fish to. |
|
|
Setting Up First things first.....getting your tank setup...... As for substrate. I use a mixture of live sand, sand, and crushed coral. I reccomend as much live sand as you can afford. Live sand keeps nitrates and everything down, and several people NEVER have to do another water change. And then I mix in 3/4 sugar sized sand, and 1/4 crushed coral mixed in with the sand. Then add all the live sand that you need I reccomend AT LEAST 1 lb per ten gal. And soon all your sand will become live sand. Filters and other accesories... For filtering I say 10 turn overs per hour (ex. for a 50 gal tank you need at least 500 gph of filtering). My favorite type of filtering is a wet/dry because of it's mechanical and bio-logical filtering. And you should try to get some of each type of filteration. Some of each mechanical, bio-logical, and chemical. It is a must to have good mechanical and good bo-logical if you want a successful tank. As for heating you'll need 5 watts per gallon(ex. for a 50 gal tank you'll need a 250 watt heater). Keep your temp between 75-78 degree's F. For protein skimmers. They are not needed in tanks under 3 months old but I STRONGLY reccomend one after that. Wondering about power heads?? They are needed in reef tanks and any tanks over 20 gal. Want to know about lighting?? Lighting is really important in saltwater aquariums. Especially with live rock or and fish that feeds off algea. You want good strong lighting, but the colors are more important IMO. You should have a blue acintic light and a yellowish light at least. There is a light made called a 50/50 that is a really good light. I also like the 20,00 k's. Remember the more the better. |
 |
| The Fun Part Nows the fun part.......choosing your fish.... There are several options in your choosing. But NEVER just go out and buy the pretty ones. And don't just go out and look at fish then ask the employee. Take your time and do research. Find the kind of tank for you. Agressive tank, community, reef tank, ect. Then once a week get a new fish. And I reccomend you have a cycled tank to put it in for a while to make sure it doesn't have diseases. Keep the hospital tank's salinity at 1.009 to kill all disease adn keep the temp at 81-84. Place your new fish in there for three days then the diseases should be gone and it should be safe to place in your tank. |
|
|
Maintenance Taking care of your tank.... Water changes, filter cleanings,ect., ect. Water changes are a very important thing in keeping your tanks parameters good. You should do weekly 15-20% water changes. Be sure the water is dechlorinated and the chlormine level isn't to high also you should make sure the hardness of the water is good. You'll want to call the water company and check on your water conditions. You'll have to dechlorinate it yourself. If the water conditions in your city are out of whack then use RO (reverse osmosis) water. You should be premixing your water with a power head and areator to get the salt right.(correct amount of salt:fish only tank: 1.021 salinity reef tanks:1.028) Don't do much more of a water change than listed that or you start sucking out to many of the elements and nutriants that you need. You should be doing bi-weekly filter changes. Where you change filter pads, unless it isn't very dirty, wash the insides and clering pipes and tubes, and cleaning off your pump or impeller. |
|
|
Log Book As you go you will find new things that you use. I have several bottles of water conditioners around that I use. I also have a book that I record in everytime I make any change in the tank. I'm leaving this part up to you because you will find different things than what I use and that is strictly a preference. You may find that you don't want to be confused by all these little bottles but I've found it helpful. It's all in your own personal preference. |
|
|
This is one of my favorite images I took it when he wasn't looking. I took it when he wasn't looking. I took it when he wasn't looking. I took it when he wasn't looking. I took it when he wasn't looking. |
|
|
This is one of my favorite images I took it when he wasn't looking. I took it when he wasn't looking. I took it when he wasn't looking. I took it when he wasn't looking. I took it when he wasn't looking. |
|
|
This is one of my favorite images I took it when he wasn't looking. I took it when he wasn't looking. I took it when he wasn't looking. I took it when he wasn't looking. I took it when he wasn't looking. |
|