Salt Water Fish Tanks
Find out how to make salt water fish tanks
Making and/or maintaining salt water fish tanks or aquariums may at first seem quite a difficult job, but in
reality, this is less daunting than most people believe it is. True, when you are planning to build a salt water
tank for fish in your home, you are bringing in a part of the vast ocean within the confines of a puny acrylic
enclosure. And you are also expecting the fish that is supposed to play in the vast ocean to repeat the performance
in your room. But never mind, it is the fish that will play, not you! Your job is to see that the fish gets the
same pure sea water, the same tropical temperature and maybe, some of the corals to hide from view at
times.
You can setup the new aquarium at home and you can custom build it just the way you want. And once it is
ready, you can sit back and enjoy the view.
Here Is What You Will Need To Build Your Salt Water Fish Tanks At Home
1. Fish Tank/Aquarium: You must first decide on its size, shape and dimensions and whether it should be
made of glass or acrylic material as well as the type you are looking for. For instance, ‘fish-only’ tanks are the
simplest, while ‘fish-only with live rock’ tanks are fish, invertebrates and live rock. Reef tanks have live corals
in them.
2. Lighting will depend on the type of system you have in mind as also the kind of livestock that you want in
the tank. It is important to know that some types of fish like strong illumination, while others prefer misty
lighting. Reef tanks require light in appropriate spectrum for the corals.
3. Skimmers/Filters/Filtration equipment necessary for the fish tanks for salt water will also depend on the
type of fish or invertebrates that you want to keep.
4. Live Rock and Substrate or substratum on which the organisms will grow should depend on what the tank will
ultimately contain. Live rock will play a significant role for certain types of fish that are territorial by
nature. They need shelter where they can remain concealed in the face of aggression from other inmates of the
tank.
5. Powerheads or submersible water pumps that create unidirectional water current are necessary for
aquariums.
6. Sea Salt Mix/Saltwater & Hydrometer is needed for salt water fish tanks because they turn it into a
saltwater or marine aquarium. You must have the hydrometer to measure the specific gravity of the salt content in
the water.
7. Heater and Thermometer are essential to a marine aquarium. Although a single heater is good enough for a
small aquarium, you will need more if you have a bigger aquarium, and the thermometer is required to record the
water temperature.
8. Air Pump & Air Stones are necessary in a marine aquarium because using them you will be able to
increase the dissolved oxygen for healthy root growth. You should definitely have them for growing hydroponics in
an aquarium.
9. Test Kits, additives/supplements are needed for live rock and reef tank systems. These include various
organic chemicals and materials for healthy growth of the marine inhabitants.
10. Maintenance tools and Replacement parts are essential to keep the tanks in good shape throughout the year.
You will need tank cleaning tools, the algae scraping magnetic holder, siphon tubes, plastic buckets and a net to
take care and for everyday use.
Salt water fish tanks or marine aquariums that are beautifully adorned with live rock, corals and wonderful and
colorful fish gliding through the calm waters can look amazing. Not just kids, these aquariums are adored by adults
too. You can spend hours in front of them seeing the fish play in the water.
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