The Pet Fish Care Blog

Salt water aquarium is also known as marine aquarium. The installation of salt water aquarium is an expensive and time consuming affair. Once established, the salt water aquarium needs to be maintained properly for the comfortable living of the inmates, the fishes. There are several things involved in maintaining salt water aquarium for healthy and healthy living of the fishes. Let’s discuss about it here.

The water level must be checked daily. The chemical content of the water needs to be monitored once in two weeks.  The PH, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia and temperature should be maintained at right level. One should know the required level of the chemicals mentioned above for the fish that you had purchased. Any deviation from the permitted or required level is unacceptable. There are chemicals that are available in fish shop store to maintain the chemical level, just buy and use them.

The salinity of the water required to be monitored. In case the salinity is more, de-chlorinated water must be added. If the salinity is less, required quantity of salt must be added. Every week, ten percent of the water in the tank needs to be replaced with chlorine free water. Once on a month, it is better to replace twenty five percent of the tank water in the same way.

The salt water aquarium must be kept clean and neat. The tank should be free of algae. Monitor the side, bottom and top of the tank for algae. If noticed, clear the same at once. The filters that are provided in the water tank must be checked once in a week. The alkalinity of the filter pads must match with the manufacturer’s direction. If not, the same needs to be replaced at the earliest.

The debris found in the tank and gravel placed at the bottom of the tank must be cleared thoroughly. The temperature of the water tank needs to be monitored. Water heaters are available which can be purchased and kept ready for usage in case of emergency. One has to spend sufficient time in maintaining the salt water aquarium for quality living of the lovely inmates that provide entertainment to you and your family.

For fish lovers, investing in aquarium is more than hobby. There are two major types of aquarium. They are marine aquarium and non-marine aquarium. In Marine aquarium sea fishes are kept and in non marine aquarium fresh water fishes are kept. The field of aquarium is so developed now, that we can change the temperature of the aquarium by switching on a water heater. We can provide intense or dim light that makes the fish life comfortable inside the aquarium.

In addition to the temperature control system, you have so many other water purification systems which can be used to increase the oxygen availability, reduce the level of toxic chemicals and clean the debris in the water tank. Some equipment is mechanical, some are electronic and some are biological.

In addition to this, wonderful equipment called automatic food distribution cum fertilized dosage system is also available. This equipment is of immense help as it takes out the hassle of remembering when to feed, what to feed and how much to feed.

The fish lovers will be astonished to know that fish tanks are now available in different sizes, colors, materials etc. You have tanks that are fitted with advanced electronic equipments. Many different equipments are available that help to improve the comfort of the fishes that are placed in the aquarium, be it fresh water fish or marine water fish. One must learn about the requirement of fresh water fish, marine water fish and cold water fish before starting the aquarium. One must know about the dangerous fish that are not recommended foe beginners like piranhas.

Let’s discuss about Gasteropelecidae family here.

1. Gasteropelecidae- this family include fishes that can fly [hatchet fishes]. These are found in northern reaches of South America. Distinctly deep figures are their characteristic features. These fishes have the ability to fly. They could do so by raising the chest fin and attempting to float in the sky, hence the name flying fish. The fish owners are advised to have a hood above the aquarium if they have flying fish. The hood should be placed at least 15 feet above the tank to prevent these fishes from falling out of aquarium.

2. Carnegiella marthae- this species is also known as blackwing hatchet fish- the origin of this species is Peru, Amazon area, and Venezuela. This species can attain a size of inch and a bit more.  The keel, ridge and chest will be black. This species perform better in aquarium. They are easy to maintain. Easy food habits, good breeding in captivity and calm temperament are the reasons why people prefer this. These fishes breed much like hyphessobrycon.

3. Gasteropelecus Levis or silver hatchet fish- the origin is Amazonian lower region.
This can grow an inch more than the blackwing variety. They have silver body with parallel stripes of blue- black tinge. They are not averse in sharing the aquarium with other fishes. They require clean water and its breeding habit is similar to blackwing variety and hence under study. Their breeding habit in captivity is yet to be understood as the study is on.

Like Gasteropelecidae family, fishes belong to cyprinidae too have very interesting species. The fishes will have bigger body and bone when compared to gasteropelecidae. They are found in Europe, North America and some parts of Asia and Africa. Few species have barbell fins instead of adipose fins. The Indian counter part is known as mahaseer. This is a fresh water fish. They have toothless jaw, soft fins, and round scales.

You had decided to go for salt waster aquarium. You had also selected the species type that is going to be housed. The next important procedure is filling the salt water aquarium. There are many steps that one needs to follow carefully in filling the salt water aquarium. Let’s discuss about it here.

The filling of the salt water aquarium is not a difficult job but it requires little patience. You need to ensure that the species selected are provided the best environment for their healthy and happy living. We can’t sacrifice the comfort of the fish species for the sake of our passion by confining the species in uncomfortable environment.

First priority is to buy healthy fish. Have a very close look at them in the fish shop. Observe their behavior carefully for some time. Are they swimming in the water tank swiftly? Try and find out. Take a look at the cleanliness of the water. Have a talk with the salesman of the shop. Try to clear all your doubt about the said subject. In case you are not satisfied with the subject knowledge of the salesman or the shop owner, just head for another store without any hesitation. Never purchase any fish that are not healthy.

Never think of placing all the species at a time. The fishes need to be added one by one or maximum two at a time. Adding fishes day by day can also be considered. Let the fishes placed live comfortably for some time, then you can think of adding another species selected.

Before all, check the water level of the tank. The PH and the temperature of the water need to be checked to suit the species. The water temperature should remain constant and shouldn’t change frequently. Frequent change in temperature will affect the health of the fish. It is recommended to use a thermostat to monitor the temperature variations. You should have the water heating equipment ready in store.

Once the filling is complete, ensure that they are fed properly. You must know by now, what the fish will eat? You should also know how much they eat? One should know how often they eat? In general, the salt water fishes need to be fed once in three days. The food needs to be kept at 75-80 degrees for some time before being placed in the tank. Pieces of shrimps, romaine lettuce, commercial fish feed etc can be tried.

Some may wonder, whether it possible to have salt water aquarium? .Having a salt water aquarium is possible and it is lot of fun too. There are many benefits in having salt water aquarium. The important thing is that you can have wide range of fishes in salt water aquarium as they find it very comfortable. Like the advantages there are many disadvantages too in salt water aquarium.

Hence one must know the advantages and disadvantages of the salt water aquarium and compare them with fresh water aquarium before arriving at any decision. Let us discuss about the difference between the fresh water aquarium and salt water aquarium and the pros and cons of the same.

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