So, you've decided that owning an aquarium would be a nice feature to add to the home. Owning and managing an aquarium can be a bit of a daunting task at first because there are so many variables that need to be taken care of. Not to mention the fact you don't know what you are doing. This guide is here to help ease the worry by going over some of the basics that every saltwater aquarium needs for proper use.
First, we need to know what kind of fish will be living in the tank. Putting the wrong fish together can be disaster. Some may not make it due to the living conditions, others may get injured while in the tank, and the two different fish may get into constant fights. Usually one fish will eventually not come out from these fights alive. Make sure to know the personality of the species of fish you're about to place into a tank together. Typically, you'll want to stay away from sticking aggressive fish with each other.
Next we need to have all the equipment that runs the aquarium. Get a tank that will fit in the space or display area that you have in mind. Make sure it fits wanted area from the start and that there is enough room for the kinds of fish that plan on being in there.
Lighting should be next on the list. Again you'll need to know some information about the fish. Some species prefer low lighting while others like to swim in a lot of light. Your choice here will also be affect if live plants or reefs are planned to be placed into the tank. Make sure to cover the lighting requirements of everything placed into the saltwater aquarium.
Filters are the next most important. Without a quality filter, bacteria and disease can get out of control in the tank leaving your fish in danger. This also helps clean the water of anything excreted by the fish.
To finish up, there are a few other important items that are needed to properly run a saltwater aquarium. A heater is use to regulate the temperature of the water at the required levels of the fish. Bigger tanks may need more than one of these. As make sure to buy some substrate. This is the stuff commonly seen at the bottom of the aquariums and looks like rocks and pebbles.
Hopefully, this guide will help in the creation of your first saltwater aquarium. Do some research and keep the fish's needs in mind and everything should go fine.
Saltwater aquarium plants add color and interest to your marine tanks and form part of any well thought out marine tank. But thats not all they do. Macroalgae and marine plants will also make the ecosystem in your tank healthier. Macroalgae are particularly beneficial as they provide a natural form of filtration in the saltwater tank.
Saltwater aquarium plants take in nutrients from the water in order to carry out their biological functions and growth. This action reduces the accumulation of toxic nitrates and phosphates and other impurities in the water. When you use plants in your marine tank the idea is to reproduce your fish and other organisms natural habitat. A tank that contains saltwater aquarium plants is likely to be a healthy one.
Here are some examples of saltwater aquarium plants that you can choose for your marine tank:
Halimeda or cactus algae are hardy saltwater aquarium plants and wont be fed on vigorously by most marine fish. It is also non-invasive so it wont damage nearby corals or invertebrates. It does need good light to grow in however as well as enough calcium for growth. Halimeda are sensitive to high nitrate and phosphate levels and dont like to be pruned.
Penicillus or shaving brush are saltwater aquarium plants that do a great job at absorbing excess nutrients like nitrates and phosphates from the water. They are usually not fed on by most fish and invertebrates except sea urchins. Plant the pencillus in the substrate and make sure the area is well-lit. If you add an iron supplement and trace elements regularly your pencillus should thrive. Pencillus has a hard calcium carbonate skeleton like halimeda an coralline algae and will do well across a range of conditions.
What about macroalgae? Macroalgae are saltwater aquarium plants that come in a variety of different shapes and sizes. They are to be found in a range of colors red, green, brown and blue. These saltwater aquarium plants are able to photosynthesize. This means they use a pigment called chlorophyll to make their own food for growth and other functions.
In general these saltwater aquarium plants get most of the nutrients they need from the water in the marine tank. These include nitrates and phosphates. This makes them good allies in keeping your tank clean. You will need moderate to strong light for the growth of macroalgae. The way to avoid macroalgae growing out of control is to control the environment in which it lives. This means the water chemistry and amount of available light.
So are there bad saltwater aquarium plants? Certain kinds of algae can become problematic in a marine tank.
Bubble algae is one of the most common pest saltwater aquarium plants. Bubble algae forms green bubbles on any hard surface, for example live rock. It can occur in masses of bubbles or single or in small groups of big bubbles. The bubbles might be smooth or rough. Bubble algae look nice, BUT they arent!
These saltwater aquarium plants grow fast and can take over your tank. Once you discover it the best thing to do is remove it and keep it under control. It can damage other plant species. You can usually remove it by hand. When you do, try not to break the bubbles as this might cause it to spread.
You can try to introduce certain types of fish like the Sohal Tang or Red Sea/Indian Ocean Sailfin Tang (Acanthurus sohal) to eat bubble algae. The best means of control, however, seems to be the Emerald Crab". These crabs wont damage your corals but will eat the bubble algae. It is a good idea to learn about other such interactions between saltwater aquarium plants and herbivores as they might save you time and trouble in the future.
The emerald crabs are a great idea for the reef aquarium where they wont fight with other inhabitants. There are even coral farmers who use emerald crabs to control algae around their hard corals! So you can protect your saltwater aquarium plants by stocking some of these little helpers.
So whats your next step? Now that you know a little bit about the good and the bad kinds of saltwater aquarium plants, its your job to make sure you learn more. Your local aquarist will be able to tell you more about which saltwater aquarium plants are most suitable for your tank, level of expertise and the other species you want to stock.
You can also do more research on the Word Wide Web, visit your local library or buy books on the subject. Dont ever buy your saltwater aquarium plants on a whim because you like the way they look. Always make sure you know as much about their nutrient, environment and lighting needs as possible. That way you can avoid making mistakes that cost time and money or even threaten the health of your tank in the long term.
Do choose saltwater aquarium plants that you find attractive as this is part and parcel of keeping a marine tank but never let your desires cloud your common sense. Once you have all you plants set up you will be able to enjoy the animal plant interactions that are so much a part of the marine ecosystem. The purpose of any aquarium is to provide both the fish and you with hours of pleasure and enjoyment. A healthy tank is a happy tank so do take the time to do your research.
Saltwater aquarium plants are very beautiful to look at and interesting to grow so make sure that you take the time to enjoy the plants in your tank. Find out if it is possible to propagate any of these plants from, how to increase or decrease their growth and what nutrients they need to stay healthy. Never share plants between aquariums unless you know they are 100% disease free and always put the health of your tank at the top of your list of priorities! Have fun and enjoy your saltwater aquarium plants!
Both Justin Oliver & Sam Weston are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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