Maintaining a marine environment in the home

1996 Words4 Pages

Setting up a saltwater aquarium can be difficult, demanding, and overwhelming. Balance is essential and the key to success for maintaining a saltwater aquarium. The world of fish is both fascinating and complex. There are many decisions and considerations the aquarist must make before set up. Fish maintained in an artificial environment such as an aquarium face many challenges to survive just as they do in their natural environment. Appropriate habitat and shelter, sufficient lighting, water quality, temperature, proper feeding, and a balanced fish community are a few important aspects of a saltwater aquarium. When one makes the decision to set up an aquarium, they must accept the responsibility of meeting all of the needs of all of the inhabitants.

Before purchasing an aquarium and supplies, it is recommended that the aquarist establish a good relationship with an aquatic dealer. The dealer should be someone who maintains a clean business, has healthy fish, years of experience, is a member of American Marine Dealers Association (AMDA), and is able to answer questions. The aquatic dealer will be able to give advice and information about products and maintenance as well as assist in the proper choices and setup of the aquarium. Once a relationship with an aquatic dealer has been established, it's time to choose a tank.

The first step to choosing a proper tank is placement in the home. Make sure to rcalculate approximately how much the tank will weigh and that the structure of the home can support it. One gallon of water weighs about 8.4 lbs. Therefore, a 50 gallon tank would weigh 420lbs , not including furnishings. Be sure to choose a location with an adaquate electrical supply, away from direct sunlight, and can withstand a wa...

... middle of paper ...

...sh cannot tell the difference and live coral have special needs and can be extremely difficult to maintain. Besides corals, pet stores and aquatic dealers carry an array of different plastic and ceramic decorations for aquariums. Tufa, living rock, slate, sea fans, and shells may all be added to the tank as well. Purchasing decorations from a pet store or aquatic dealer avoids the risk of adding toxic substances to the tank. Before purchasing decorations, take time to plan a design for the tank that provides shelter and sufficient swimming space.

Before purchasing fish, it is good to know a little bit about common aquarium diseases so that the new aquarist knows what signs to look for. Most causes of home aquarium ailments are bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Some signs of disease are white granular spots, cottony white patches, frayed fins, and dull skin.

Open Document