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Marine Tanks or Salt Water Tanks
If
you’re starting a marine (saltwater)
tank, here are some helpful hints:
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Water Change: Marine aquariums
need more frequent water changes
than freshwater tanks. It’s
advisable to change 25% of the
water in your marine tank every
three weeks.
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Making Saltwater
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Evaporation : A glass top should
be placed over your marine tank
to control evaporation. This
will also prevent condensation
for the metal tank hood from
dripping into your aquarium. Use
distilled water, not saltwater,
to make up for the loss due to
evaporation.
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Calcium: A good supply of
calcium is essential to a marine
aquarium, especially one that
houses invertebrates. Regular
water changes should be
sufficient to maintain proper
calcium levels, but in some
cases a calcium-boosting product
will have to be added to your
water.
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Testing: There are six basic
water tests that should be
conducted regularly in a marine
aquarium. These are tests that
measure ammonia levels,
nitrites, nitrates, pH level,
salinity (water hardness), and
copper.
Here are
10 Steps To Remember When Adding Saltwater to the New
Tank
- Water
should be added after all filtration systems, pumps,
heaters, substrate and rocks have been put in place,
but before plants are added.
- Use
packaged sea water mixes to make water, following
the manufacturer’s instructions very carefully.
- Fill
the tank a little over half-way with water, then add
plants.
-
Continue adding water to the tank, and be careful
not to damage the plants, but don’t fill the tank
completely.
- Stop
adding water when it reaches to within 2 inches of
the top-off level. (Save the remaining water.
- Switch
on filtration and heating systems and let the
aquarium run 10-12 hours to dissolve the salt in the
water.
- Use a
floating hydrometer to test water salinity/density (SG
value). IF the water is too salty, top off the tank
with fresh water. If the salinity reading is stable
or not salty enough, top the thank with the rest of
the water made from the pre-packaged mix.
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Install cover glass, followed by hood and lighting.
- Install
thermometer to inside of the front glass.
- Float
bags containing your fish in the water for 15
minutes before releasing them into their new home.
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