Are Saltwater Aquariums Difficult To Mantain?

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Pazzoman

Piranha
MFK Member
Apr 5, 2009
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Hey Everybody!

Well I have a question for people who own saltwater aquariums. I'm very interested in purchasing and maintaning a saltwater aquarium. I'm not worried about the costs of the tank and materials, just general basics. Like for example:

How often must salt be added to the aquarium?

How often should the filter be clean?

How often should the tank and decorations be cleaned?

How do you know when your tank is crowded?

Stuff like that, well thanks a million guys.

P.S. My first tank may most like be a 30-50 gallon...
 
Pazzoman;3892600; said:
Hey Everybody!

Well I have a question for people who own saltwater aquariums. I'm very interested in purchasing and maintaning a saltwater aquarium. I'm not worried about the costs of the tank and materials, just general basics. Like for example:

How often must salt be added to the aquarium?

How often should the filter be clean?

How often should the tank and decorations be cleaned?

How do you know when your tank is crowded?

Stuff like that, well thanks a million guys.

P.S. My first tank may most like be a 30-50 gallon...
Click to expand...


salt doesnt ever get added to the aquarium. You top off evaportion with FW just like FW fish tanks. When you do a water change you mix in a bucket then fill the tank. Once a month water changes. Water evaporates salt doesnt.

Decorations??? live rock should never be cleaned.

Same as FW with stocking , its common sense kinda
 
Pazzoman;3892600; said:
Hey Everybody!

Well I have a question for people who own saltwater aquariums. I'm very interested in purchasing and maintaning a saltwater aquarium. I'm not worried about the costs of the tank and materials, just general basics. Like for example:

How often must salt be added to the aquarium?
only during water changes, it is added to the water your adding to the tank.

How often should the filter be clean?
depends on the type of filtration, many people with low stocking or reef stocking only rely on there live rock and protein skimmer, the skimmer must be emptied when it fills up
How often should the tank and decorations be cleaned?
you should have power heads for a powerful flow rate this should keep them clean
How do you know when your tank is crowded?
tough question, but if you don't want to do alot of water changes i would stock 1/3-1/2 the maximum equivalent of freshwater fish.
Stuff like that, well thanks a million guys.

P.S. My first tank may most like be a 30-50 gallon...
Click to expand...
2 pieces of advice
1 get a good skimmer
2 get a good skimmer
 
These guys got it down flow and filtration get the best skimmer you can afford. Also establish a good 1lb per gallon, at least the more the better within aesthetic reasoning, of live rock in order to get started. After that give it a few weeks then start skimming when you add livestock. For lighting base it on inhabitants some corals need high power lights, fish only you can get away with either sun light or a strip light.
 
Pazzoman;3892600; said:
Hey Everybody!

Well I have a question for people who own saltwater aquariums. I'm very interested in purchasing and maintaning a saltwater aquarium. I'm not worried about the costs of the tank and materials, just general basics. Like for example:

How often must salt be added to the aquarium? well the only time u need any salt is if your salinity is too low other then that your water changes will have salt in the water. But if you top off your tank you Won't need any salt in the water

How often should the filter be clean?
I do it once every other week. change carbon montly or bi-monthly depending on setup.

How often should the tank and decorations be cleaned?
depends on what your decoration is and what is on it most likely you'll have algae on it or coraline algae some people do a 24 hour soak in white vinegar then rinse off thoroughly and soak in water to rid any vinegar from the decoration
How do you know when your tank is crowded?
well the tank should have 1 fish per 5 gallons, inverts don't count on the bio-load so you should have a good snail population to control algae and suck depending on setup of system
Stuff like that, well thanks a million guys.

P.S. My first tank may most like be a 30-50 gallon...
Click to expand...

A great tool that is about $16.00 is this book I been in hobby for 15+ years and recommend this to all potential saltwater hobbyist as well as experienced one's it helps you get familiar with all essentials and helps you save money and give's you a great foot to start on its a 75 page book but worth its weight in gold for the great knowledge. here is the link

http://www.marinedepot.com/The_New_...uarium_Books-House_Brand-BKNMA-FIBKSW-vi.html

mr.reef24

P.S. any time you have a question feel free to Private message me as well
 
^ lol you could start your own book and I could put my cowfish info in ;)
 
Pazzoman;3892600; said:
Hey Everybody!

Well I have a question for people who own saltwater aquariums. I'm very interested in purchasing and maintaning a saltwater aquarium. I'm not worried about the costs of the tank and materials, just general basics. Like for example:

How often must salt be added to the aquarium?

How often should the filter be clean?

How often should the tank and decorations be cleaned?

How do you know when your tank is crowded?

Stuff like that, well thanks a million guys.

P.S. My first tank may most like be a 30-50 gallon...
Click to expand...

More expensive.... YES
Harder.... NO (Caveat: depends on livestock)
 
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