accessories for my saltwater aquarium...?

Question

what accessories do i need for my saltwater aquarium (just starting one) like water conditioners and things like that (what kind of filters and things to add to the water for the fish) .........and is it nessesary to have an undergravel filter????? (i have a midwest tropical aquarium and it is 4' tall and 12" wide...like a long cilinder shape)...

Answer 1

Do not use an undergravel filter in a saltwater aquarium. What you need is highly dependent on what you are going to keep in there.

You need some sort of biological filter. Live rock is the best but it is expensive. Live rock can also be used for the cycling of it so you don't need fish during that time. For a simple fish only a biowheel type is fine and will also take care of mechanical filtration. For an aquarium that tall you will most likely need an extension for a biowheel type to get down far enough into the aquarium for good filtration.

Its possible to use tap water with conditioners in a cheap fish only saltwater aquarium. If your going to ever consider putting anything in it besides hardy fish only use distilled, RO, or DI water for it. Even in fish only set ups pure water is still the best. Using this water you also do not need conditioners.

You need some water flow in your tank. In a very tall tank like yours you will need a powerhead at the bottom and near the top. 10-20 times the aquarium volume per hour for total water flow is good.

You will need a heater. You need to maintain your temperature pretty steady around 78 degrees. (unless your going for an odd region specific tank where it needs to be kept at the temp for that area)

If your keeping only fish just some cheap flourescent lighting will work great. Corals have much higher lighting requirements.

You will need a basic test kit for saltwater. Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, salinity, pH. Again if you decide to go for something besides fish you will need more later. Read up on water chemisty and testing. There are many articles on this subject out there and it is one of the most important things to keeping any nice aquarium salt or fresh.

Good luck. Read everything you can find out there. I have never done a really tall tank like yours but would love to. I bet it will look great when done.

Answer 2

I'll disagree with some of the post here about the undergravel filter. I've always setup an undergravel filter in my marine tanks using crushed coral and dolomite (not a mix, just that I've setup several since 1991 when I got into the hobby). What I normally do is either buy the undergravel plates or I'll make a custom plate out of egg crate (that plastic grid that you sometimes see used with ceiling florescent lighting) with a plastic screen. I'll then have one or more 1" tubes with power heads on top to move the water through the gravel, up through the tubes, and back into the tank. I always use BioZyme to create a biological base to break down fish waste and any excess food from feedings.

Now that said, the dimensions of your tank are extremely odd so an undergravel filter does not seem appropriate in your case. You would not be able to create a suitable surface area for the amount of water in the tank. The other point about the swimming patterns of fish is a concern too (fish generally swim horizontally). Unless your fish are very small, the tank doesn't seem appropriate for anything larger than a guppy (couldn't think of a marine fish that stayed that small). About the only use I could see for that tank would be to modify it so that it could be a connector between two larger tanks (sort of like a display you might see at a restaurant).

Normal accessories for a marine tank:

heater - In a large tank, get two if you can so that if one dies, the other will be able to maintain a minimum temperature. The fish are expensive enough to warrant the backup.

lighting - Depending on what type of fish, the lighting requirements vary. Do your research and get the appropriate lighting or you'll spend a lot of money and be very upset with the results.

filters - You'll need filters but the types of filters varies (and so do opinions). My opinion is that an undergravel is appropriate in most tanks. I'd also recommend an external filter (I've used SeaStorm but many brands exist). I also built a homemade setup with a pond pump to push water into a tupperware container with a foam block and bio-balls. Protein skimmers are probably a good investment too.

If you want any of the other accessories like artificial plants, make sure to get ones that are completely plastic. Do not use any metal plants as the salt will break down the materials and possibly harm the fish.

Definitely purchase a good book or two on marine fish and aquarium setup/maintenance.

Answer 3

Are the dimensions correct at 12" diameter and 4' height? That seems an odd shape for a tank - especially for a saltwater where most fish stake out their territory by length and width rather than by height.

If these are the correct dimensions, I'm afraid that you won't find many fish suited to this tank - their swimming is horizontal, rather than up and down. Not to mention you'll have some difficulty cleaning down to the substrate and circulating oxygenated water that deeply with the average filter (and you don't want an undergravel filter in a saltwater tank - there's too much potential for toxic gasses to build up under the substrate at this depth, especially if you don't have inverts that will sift through the substrate to keep it oxygenated).

If these dimensions are not correct, please post an edit to the question - I'll be able to tell you more once I know the tank dimensions.

Answer 4

to respond to the 1st question, it truly relies upon on what you decide on. Freshwater animals are each bit as exciting and eye-catching as saltwater ones, yet some human beings have a definite interest in ocean existence, and positively there are a number of very beautiful saltwater animals. on the different hand, preserving a saltwater aquarium is a lot extra high priced and lots extra artwork than preserving an equivalent freshwater aquarium. The animals on your checklist are extremely difficult to maintain, rather the anemone and the octopus. Anemones are very annoying to maintain alive long-term in an aquarium. They stay for hundreds of years interior the sea (truly!), even if that's annoying to maintain one alive for 6 months in an aquarium. Octopuses are truly exciting, yet they require a incredible tank and numerous interest. you are able to no longer save them with fish, as a results of fact they're going to snack on the fish, aside from some forms of aquarium fish which will consume an octopus. previously you pass paying for for saltwater kit, you may desire to do numerous examining so which you will understand what to purchase, and, extra importantly, if saltwater aquarium preserving is for you. examining Yahoo solutions is a start up, yet you may desire to study a minimum of numerous good books on marine aquariums previously you're taking the plunge. To pass that step is a prescription for misery, the two for you and for despite animals are on your tank.

Answer 5

You need to start at the beginning. The tank needs to cycle and then slowly add the organisms. (are you there yet?)
As far as systems...I am thinking, protein skimmer, heater, possible chiller, etc. Owning a saltwater tank is quite involved and it is a delicate ecosystem. It would be a good idea to become friendly with a well-known fish store in your area for support.