Saltwater Aquariums

The essential items for your tank

Gravel (Substrate)Purposes:

• decoration

• biological filter

• sand is especially good

• provides hold for possible plants

• maintain pH level of water

•Crushed shells

Heaters

Needed for tropical organisms

78º F is ideal.

Thermometers Monitors the temperature

of the tank

Air Pumps

• simply bubbles air into the water

• provides dissolved oxygen for animals to breath

• NOT necessary if your tank maintains adequate water movement together with surface agitation (provided by the falling water from the filter).

Hood

• prevents organisms from escaping

• keeps water from evaporating so quickly and keeps salt spray inside tank

Lights

• bring out the colors of your fish

• If you have plants, provides necessary energy for growth

Biological Filtration (living)MANDATORY!Certain species of

bacteria break down toxic nitrogen compounds

Synthetic bacteria occurs naturally in: Substrate BioballsBiowheel

Chemical Filtration (chemicals)Added to mechanical

methodactivated carbon (charcoal)

placed inside filters which maintains clear water quality

UV sterilizerEliminates bacteria, algae

and protozoans in the water.

Mechanical Filtration (machine)Removes solids or

particulate matter before they can be decomposed

Examples: filter pads Spongesprotein skimmernets

What You’ll Need to Know to take care of a tank

Water ChemistryCommon Chemistry Tests

pH: 7.5 – 8.4Temperature : 77 - 80Salinity – 1.020 – 1.023 or 27 ppt – 32ppt

Nitrogen tests – 0 ppmMost important ways to fix salinity and

nitrogen problems:FiltrationWater changes – dilution method

SalinityDefine: total

amount of dissolved salts in water

Maintained by:Adding freshwater or saltwater

Measured by Hydrometer uses

specific gravity

Nitrogen CompoundsAmmonia, Nitrite, NitrateShould all be around 0 ppmMeasured by paper or chemical tests

Could be high if:Cycling of tank is not completeToo much foodToo many fish

BONUS: Predict the time period that would be best to add fish to a tank. Explain why you pick that time period. Use evidence from the graph.

Write it at the bottom of your paper!