Saturday, January 23rd, 2010 at
7:31 pm
Alot of times a new saltwater fish aquarium is associated with many obstacles that the owner has to get past in order to have a great tank. While the things that a new tank keeper can do wrong is long there is a few common things that most people do that could jeopardize their saltwater fish but are very easy to avoid with some good saltwater aquarium advice.
Saltwater Aquarium Advice For Successful Tanks
Relax And Take It Slow- In many instances people who just setup their new saltwater fish aquarium tend to get overly excited and may rush out to buy fish for the tank. This will surely lead to disaster because the tanks nitrifying bacteria has not yet reached high enough levels to neutralize toxic ammonia in the tank.
The ammonia is a by product of fish waste and un eaten food. If you are using cured liverock in your tank (which you should be) you can add a fish after a few days. But wait about 3 weeks before adding anymore and then space out new fish in 2-3 week intervals until your tank is fully stocked.
To make the wait between fish seem shorter buy a good saltwater aquarium guide and study up on some fish you like and narrow down your choices to your favorites.
Let The Tank Be- Out of excitement many new marine aquarium owners are often poking around the tank adjusting equipment and re arranging tank decor. While this may make you feel good it is stressing your fish out badly.
Fish that are stressed out are more prone to disease and other problems. So by letting your tank be and letting your saltwater fish adjust to their new home you will increase your chances at success.
Start Out With Hardy Fish- There are many easy to keep hardy marine fish that will do great in a new marine aquarium. They will be more tolerant of problems with water quality and often will eat most prepared foods.
A good book on the saltwater fish aquarium will be able to give you a good list of appropriate fish that you should have no problems keeping alive and thriving.
To learn how to set up and pick the right fish for your Saltwater Fish Aquarium grab a copy of our marine aquarium guide. This fully illustrated guide is full of tips and tricks that successful saltwater aquarium keepers use to establish stunning setups. Learn more at http://www.saltwatermethods.com
Saturday, January 23rd, 2010 at
7:24 pm
The marine fish tank is thought by many to be a very difficult and expensive undertaking. While that may have true many years ago today advances in the hobby and better understanding of saltwater fish allow even a beginner to keep a successful marine fish tank.
Tips For Planning a Successful Marine Aquarium
- Choose The Fish You Want First- This is very important because the types of fish you are interested in keeping will determine many things. The kinds of fish you are interested in will dictate how big a tank you will need and the amount and types of support equipment your marine aquarium will need to keep them healthy.
- Establish Your Budget- Like anything the bigger your saltwater aquarium setup is the more it is going to cost. By not planning you could wind up with a big tank and no money to finish it or for fish. By knowing your budget you will not be setting yourself up for frustration or a poorly set up saltwater aquarium that will ultimately fail
- Pick The Biggest Tank You Can Afford- Larger marine aquariums are more stable and therefore easier to care for and keep healthy fish in. Knowing the types of fish you want and your salt water fish tank budget can help you decide on the right size.
- Educate Yourself- Even after your salt water fish tank is setup and running do not stop learning. There is ever evolving information when it comes to saltwater fish keeping. Some of the best information can be found in hobby magazines, on the Internet and through fellow saltwater fish keepers
Learn all The Secrets To Setting Up a Stunning Saltwater Aquarium With our saltwater aquarium guide available at http://www.saltwatermethods.com
Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at
3:55 pm
Many a beginner saltwater aquarium setup will suffer some sort of set back, it is common and almost unavoidable. There are some common problems that the aquarium keeper actually contributes to.
If the new saltwater aquarium keeper can be made aware of these common mistakes and work to avoid them they will have a much better chance at success with their new marine aquarium.
Three Common Beginner Saltwater Aquarium Setup Mistakes
- Moving To Fast- This is probably the most common mistake that a new aquarium owner can make. This usually happens once they get their marine aquarium set up and rush out to buy fish. In most cases these fish will end up dying and the tank will suffer. Patience is key and if you can control your urges to rush the system you will be rewarded in the long run.
- Over Feeding- This is a gain a very common problem with new salt water aquariums. The over eager tan owner feels their fish are hungry or is not sure how much to feed. The end result is a tank with high levels of nutrients and in most cases algae.The best way to avoid all of this mess is to shut off your pumps and filters when feeding and add small amounts of food at a time that the fish can easily consume. Keep adding small amounts until they no longer are hungry then stop.
- Lack Of Care- Many people who start new salt water aquariums lose interest after a while and get lazy with the tanks care. Pretty soon as the water changes stop being done and filters never get cleaned the tank will start to grow algae and this makes the tank owner frustrated and many end up taking it down because f this. Stay vigilante with your tank care and split the tasks up into smaller daily or weekly tasks instead of all in one day type of approach.
Where To Get More Information On Setting Up a Saltwater Tank
If you want a stunning Saltwater Aquarium that is full of healthy colorful fish check out our saltwater aquarium guide. This fully illustrated guide will help you properly setup and maintain a flawless saltwater tank. You can learn more at http://www.saltwatermethods.com
Tuesday, May 5th, 2009 at
5:28 pm
Caring for saltwater tanks is not a hard or complicated process like so many people think. All it really takes is a good maintenance plan and the ability to follow through with it. Below you will find a very simple marine aquarium maintenance plan that if you follow will help you keep a healthy saltwater aquarium for many years.
Good Saltwater Tank Care
Before you dive into taking care of your saltwater tank you need to separate the things that need to be done into daily, weekly and monthly tasks. By doing this you will be more efficient in your aquarium care as opposed to trying to get it all done one day a month.
Marine Aquarium Care Broken Down
Daily Requirements
- The fish must be fed but not overfeed
- Look over your fish for any signs of disease,injury or stress
- Make sure all fish are accounted for and remove any that may have died
- Look at the tanks temperature and make sure its in the safe range
- Give all filters and pumps a quick check to make sure they are working properly
Weekly Requirements
- Add freshwater to replace any water that has evaporated
- Using aquarium safe cleaners wipe off the stand and the outside of the aquarium
- Clean the front glass using aquarium safe cleaner
- Using a magnetic cleaner clean the glass on the inside of the aquarium
Monthly Requirements
- Perform a 20-25% water change, this can actually be done in two smaller changes if you have a large tank.
- Clean the tanks gravel by vacuuming it when changing the water
- Clean your filters and pumps and replace all filter pad material and filter media like activated carbon
- Complete water tests to monitor nitrate and phosphate levels
- Sit back and enjoy your saltwater tank. This is something that not to many people actually do this and instead get caught up in caring for saltwater tanks.Watching your tank is one of the best parts to owning a marine aquarium so enjoy it.
If you want a beautiful easy-to-maintain saltwater aquarium grab a copy of our saltwater aquarium guide. This illustrated guide will show you step by step how to properly set up and stock your aquarium. It’s crammed with tips and secrets that the pros use to create stunning marine aquariums! Learn more at http://www.saltwatermethods.com
Saturday, March 21st, 2009 at
12:53 pm
MYTH
Cycling a Saltwater Aquarium Takes A Long Time
FACT
It used to be that people used fish like damsels to cycle their saltwater aquariums and this used to take 3-6 weeks. Today however with the wide use of live rock and live sand cycling can take as little a few days.
MYTH
Huge Water Changes Are needed To Control Nitrates And Algae
FACT
Today advanced protein skimmers and other methods like refugiums, deep sand beds and live rock have all proven to be effective ways at keeping nitrates and algae low and within safe levels. While water changes are still needed they do not need to be any more then 20% of the tanks volume every month.
MYTH
Your local fish store is the best place for information on saltwater fish tanks
FACT
While their are many good saltwater fish stores across the country that give good advice many of them actually are not versed very well in saltwater. To determine if your store is knowledgeable in marine aquariums look at their displays, are they crystal clear or full of algae and dirty? A good marine aquarium store will have healthy algae free tanks.
MYTH
Large Water Changes Are Harmful To Saltwater Fish
FACT
As long as the salinity, temperature and PH of the new water is the same as the water it is replacing this will have no negative affect on your fish
MYTH
Saltwater fish Tanks are Hard to Take Care Of
FACT
With todays advances in equipment and understanding of saltwater animals keeping a saltwater aquarium has never been easier. In fact if you choose some of the easier species keeping marine aquariums today is as easy as keeping freshwater fish.
The easiest way to create a stunning and easy-to-maintain saltwater aquarium is to grab a copy of our Saltwater Aquarium Guide. This illustrated guide will show you step by step how to properly set up and stock your aquarium. It’s crammed with tips and secrets that the pros use to create stunning aquatic displays! Learn more at http://www.saltwatermethods.com
Saturday, March 7th, 2009 at
4:32 pm
Many people who are thinking of setting up a marine aquarium wonder how long saltwater aquarium maintenance will take. Using a 40 gallon tank as an example you will be able to see how easy taking care of your saltwater aquarium is and how little you really have to do to keep it in top shape.
Monthly Cleaning Tasks For Your Tank
The list below should take you no more then 45 minutes to one hour to complete every month.
- Pre mix new saltwater to add the tank during a water change
- Vacuum the gravel bed to remove excess debris, remove about 20% of the tanks water during the gravel cleaning.
- Add the pre mixed new saltwater to the tank
- Remove and clean any artificial decorations that are in the tank.
- Clean your filters to make sure they are running properly
- Replace any filter media and or filter pads with fresh one
- Wipe the aquarium stand and outside glass down with an aquarium safe cleaner
This saltwater aquarium maintenance program will be adequate for most marine aquariums. If your tank is slightly bigger or smaller the time may vary slightly.
Daily Tasks For Saltwater Tanks
For daily maintenance of your marine aquarium all you really need to do is clean the inside of your tanks glass and feed your fish. The nice thing is that you can do this without having to put your hands in the tank. Just pick up a magnetic cleaner at your local fish shop.
These cleaners have two pieces, one goes in the tank the other outside the tank and the magnetic force make them stick together through the glass. Slide it down the tank it it will remove and settled dust from the inside glass panel. These tasks should take you about 1 minute or less per day.
To create a stunning and easy-to-maintain saltwater aquarium grab a copy of our Saltwater Aquarium Guide. This illustrated guide will show you step by step how to properly set up your aquarium. It’s crammed with tips and secrets that the pros use to create stunning displays! Learn more at http://www.saltwatermethods.com
Friday, March 6th, 2009 at
6:32 pm
Fish jumping out of saltwater tanks is a problem that many marine aquarium keepers have to deal with. While not all fish are prone to jumping out of the tank there are some that are more likely to do so the others.
Unfortunately knowing what fish you have that may jump is hard to tell. Most times you only find out when you find them dried up on the carpet or behind the tank.
How To Cheaply Stop Fish From Jumping From Your Tank
The best bet to stop the problem and keep your fish in the tank is to use the glass tops that the tank manufactures supply with most new aquarium set ups.
However not all saltwater tanks can accommodate these tops. This is especially true in reef aquariums where many people run with no tops to keep water temperatures down.
Additionally the tend to get full of salt creep over time and many people dislike having to replace them or constantly clean them.
If you fall into this category and cannot use the glass tops the easiest thing to do is to grab a screen kit that is available at any hardware store and custom make the screen to fit your marine aquarium top and use this a a barrier to stop the fish from jumping out.
This will not trap heat, allow good gas exchange and also stop fish jumping out of saltwater tanks that you own. Just remember to use nylon screen because saltwater will quickly rust metal screen materials.
To create a stunning and easy-to-maintain saltwater aquarium grab a copy of our Saltwater Aquarium Guide. This illustrated guide will show you step by step how to properly set up your aquarium. It’s crammed with tips and secrets that the pros use to create stunning displays! Learn more at http://www.saltwatermethods.com
Thursday, March 5th, 2009 at
5:57 pm
Many new aquarium keepers are scared off by saltwater aquariums for fear that they are difficult to care for. The truth is caring for saltwater tank setups is not rocket science or does not involve any complicated methods. It does however involve consistency and dedication to keeping your marine fish aquarium in top shape.
Proper Saltwater Tank Care
The first thing you should do is to break your maintenance schedules up into daily, weekly and monthly tasks. This will allow you to take care of things in a more efficient manner.
It will also allow you to actually spend less time on your system then if you would do all the tank care in one day.
Breakdown Of Marine Aquarium Care Tasks
Daily Tasks
- Feed Your Fish taking care to not overfeed
- Examine all fish for signs of injury, stress or disease.
- Make note if any fish are missing or have died
- Check the aquarium temperature to make sure it is within an acceptable range
- Check all filters and pumps to make sure thy are operating properly
Weekly Tasks
- Top off any water that has evaporated from the tank
- Clean the tank stand off with aquarium safe cleaner
- Clean the front glass with aquarium safe cleaner.
- Clean the inside of the glass with a magnetic aquarium cleaner
Monthly Tasks
- Change 25% of the tanks water,this can be done bi weekly as well and is actually better for your fish to be done this way
- Vacuum the gravel well when changing the water
- Clean all pumps and filters and change any filter material and filter media you maybe using
- Test your water parameters for nitrates,phosphates and ammonia and make sure they are at proper levels
- Take some time and enjoy your marine aquarium. Many people forget to do this and concentrate on just caring for saltwater tanks they own. It is after all a hobby so enjoy it!
Do you want a Stunning Saltwater Aquarium that is full of colorful healthy fish? Then check out our Marine aquarium guide that will help you set up a successful tank and avoid costly mistakes. You can learn more about saltwater aquariums at http://www.saltwatermethods.com
Wednesday, March 4th, 2009 at
3:17 pm
If you are starting a saltwater aquarium for the very first time you are no doubt excited and ready to go. But before you dive in consider the three tips listed below, they will help you on your journey to a beautiful thriving marine aquarium that you can enjoy for years to come.
Get The Biggest Tank You Can Afford- When starting a saltwater aquarium for the first time many people buy smaller tanks because they cost less. While a small tank can work a larger tank in the range of 75 gallons is better for the beginner.
A bigger tank will allow you more fish but it is also more forgiving and is more stable because it has a larger volume of water in it. A more stable aquarium leads to healthier fish.
Plan For Your Fish First- Most first time saltwater fish keepers make the mistake of setting up their tanks first then choosing the fish. While this can work in some situations it is best to take some time to research the fish you want to keep in your tank.
You will be able to properly set up your tank for the fish you want and will also be able to eliminate any potentially aggressive or delicate species from your list. Researching potential fish can save you a lot of time, frustration and wasted money.
Take Your Time And Learn- Starting a saltwater aquarium is not like a freshwater tank at all. the fish are more sensitive to changes in water chemistry and need to be introduced slowly over a period of weeks rather then all at once. Also be sure to plan your fish stocking schedule so you add the most aggressive fishes last.
This will help you avoid any major territorial issues that can arise when saltwater fish are introduced to fast or in the wrong order.
Want a successful Saltwater Aquarium with healthy colorful fish? Our saltwater aquarium guide will show you step by step how to set up your tank and avoid the common mistakes. To learn how to create a stunning saltwater aquarium visit http://www.saltwatermethods.com
Friday, February 27th, 2009 at
3:46 am
When it comes to saltwater aquariums there are two popular types of systems. Those are the fish only saltwater aquarium and the reef tank. The reef tank is a very involved system that can end up costing thousands of dollars to set up and maintain. A fish only aquarium however can be set up for a lot less money and still provide you with as much enjoyment.
Tips For Planning a Successful Fish Only Saltwater Aquarium
The very first thing you should do is study the types of fish that are available and decide what ones you like. Then from that list eliminate any fish that may get to big for your tank, are very aggressive or fish that have a reputation for being hard to keep alive.
Once you have decided what types of fish you want to have in your marine aquarium you will need to select the proper sized tank to house them for the duration of their lives. If you can buy a tank that is slightly bigger then the minimum recommendations. This will not only give you room for an additional fish or two but also give you a little margin of error. Larger tanks are also more stable and will generally do better under a beginners care.
Once your fish and tank have been selected you must buy the support equipment for the tank that will clean and filter the water.
Do not skimp on the filtration because if it is not strong enough or underpowered the result can be an algae filled aquarium with sick and dead fish. Hardly what you wanted!
You will also have to select the type of decoration s you want in your tank. Will you go with live rock Will you stick with artificial coral decorations or will you combine the two?
If you are unsure how to decorate your fish only saltwater aquarium you may want to stop by a local aquarium store to see some examples or look in some book. After all these decision are made its time to set up your system!
Dont forget to check out my Saltwater Aquarium Guide availible for down load at http://www.saltwatermethods.com