|
Introduction to Aquariums
Starting a Salt Water Tank on a Shoestring
There are several alternatives to setting up a 50 or 60 gallon salt water tank on a limited budget.
While smaller tanks are more difficult to keep stable, they are a good starting place for the beginner. If you are willing to carefully follow a few strict rules you can start with a 10 or 20 gallon tank quite successfully.
Everything will need to be done on a much smaller scale; 10 to 15 pounds of living rock and 10 pounds of coral sand will get you started with the smallest of the appliances you can find.
At a minimum, you will need the following appliances for your salt water aquarium:
* A power filter, either external of submerged
* A 25-to-50-watt heater
* Light fixture
* An appropriate cover to minimize evaporation
The water level will need to be checked ever day or two to prevent extreme changes in salinity; the evaporation in smaller tanks will more quickly affect the salinity.
You should use activated carbon exclusively in the filter, and a partial water change (10%) should be done weekly.
If you follow these rules, you should be able to avoid the added expense of a protein skimmer; change the carbon every month and add a skimmer as soon as possible.
You should have no more than two to five small fish -- a pair of Ocellaris Clownfish and a Royal Gamma or Cherub Angelfish might be good choices for a start-up tank.
Feed them carefully, as excess food can easily foul a small system. A couple of snails, herbivorous hermit crabs and maybe a cleaner shrimp can help maintain the tank and add interest.
Whenever possible, buy used equipment. The classified ads are often full of equipment that was purchased and not used for long because the hobbyist got discouraged. Since equipment is one of the greatest expenses, you can save a good sum of money by purchasing used equipment.
Remember, the most important thing is to completely research what you want, and not get in a hurry. It is much more kind to the fish not to plunk them into an aquarium doomed to failure because you weren't willing to take the time necessary for success.
See Also:
saltwater aquarium care
Floating plants are actually another type of plants that can be either stemmed or basal rosette; however, they do not have to be attached to the ground.
Many aquarium plants started out as swamp plants, which grew in and bloomed in the air. However, they adapted to the floods that are common in the tropics so they can be cultivated underwater. These frequently grow outside of the tank and must be trimmed on a regular basis to keep them inside the aquarium.
There are around 200 plants that are useful for aquarium use; a good aquarium plant book will provide you with any information you wish to know about them. Some of the more common and most frequently used plants are:
* Mosses -- a primitive plant identified by bank-like, forked articulate (jointed) plant bodies. While some mosses are used as floating decoration, they are an excellent substrate for spawning; they can also be attached to roots, rocks or the back wall of your tank. They will soon overgrown the attachment points and appear to be growing naturally.
* Ferns -- normally have coarse leaves and are ideal for an aquarium because they are harder for fish to eat. As a matter of fact, fish seldom eat ferns. They are also very easy to grow in darker areas as they are not too particular about the amount of light they require.
Ferns multiply with little effort and should be considered for their decorative qualities. As ferns age, they have a tendency to get black spots; these leaves should be removed.
Planting your aquarium is strictly controlled by your tastes and desires. A good book on aquarium plants can be obtained from your pet store; however, many books on aquariums also contain a section on plants. |
|
More articles:
Your First Aquarium
Aquarium Lighting
Aquarium Filters and Information about Water Filters for Aquariums.
book review: Advanced Marine Aquarium Techniques
From the Bedroom to the Battlefield
Using more than 16 hours a day is not beneficial to either the fish or the plants, and can actually cause harm to both.
Setting a timer for a 13-hour elimination time is ideal. For the plants, most aquariums get too little light during a 24-hour period.
Too much light is not harmful; a good rule of thumb is for each liter of water, 0.5 watts of light is required.
Remember also that a dirty aquarium glass can filter up to 20% of the light in an aquarium. A lamp should come with a reflector to maximize the light it provides.
All aquarium tubs should be replaced after a year, or about 5,000 hours of use.
Related Topics: Aquarium of the Americas ,
Preparing Your Aquarium's Water , The Equipment for Your Aquarium
|