Moving from freshwater to a saltwater aquarium is no longer the daunting task it was once 10 years or so ago. Nowadays , the marine tank is generally available to even the beginner Aquarist so long as he's pleased to hit the books and learn the fundamentals. Before one decides however , to give the marine tank a try there are 4 simple concerns to take into account before plummeting into this amazing hobby.
Cost Factor
Cost is a big factor for pretty well any endeavor today as money is short for most of us. In a normal tank set up routine for saltwater one would routinely outline a plan regarding the kind of tank to make. Whereas this is a critical step, the pricetag factor must be considered first as it is the foundation of what you financially "can do". Consider this step as a fail safe for inexperience. The explanation being it is really easy to get in over your head by picking what tank model you need first. One should rather decide what size tank you are able to afford and should you fail however much you can afford to lose. To acquire the best chances for success you might consider a Nano or small marine tank so that you can indulge in the pursuit and at the very same time keep the costs inside your resources.
Private Equilibrium
It may appear funny for somebody's stability to be a consideration but this is an area unfortunately quite ofter forgotten about. The stability I am referring to but is your abode and will you be moving? Marine tanks are awfully flaky and great care must be taken as the marine tank is Not something that "moves" well and will experience high losses when it is moved. Also it requires a few months to get the tank entirely up and running so if you are going to be moving in the following year, wait of course until after the move to indulge. Cost is one thing but these are living organisms and should not be considered easily replaceable.
Aquarium Placement
Hopefully, if you have selected a little tank for your first attempt with a marine tank. If so then this point won't be as vital but nevertheless, even a small volume tank can be very heavy. One liter of water weighs in at one kilogram or 2.2 pounds. Water weighs approximately 10 pounds per Imperial Gallon. So a small twelve gallon tank would weigh 120 pounds. Therefore in consideration not simply a solid floor is needed for bigger tanks, the stand or support where the tank will reside must also be in a position to deal with the load and shouldn't hinder the natural travel areas in the home. Natural light is also a consideration as placement in an intense light source will be exasperating as algae growth will be quite prominent. Therefor place your tank that gets low indirect light rather than direct brilliant light. Temperature is also simpler to control in cooler areas. Also consider a power source that is by the tank. You'll need power very close to avoid extension cords which are threatening and unreliable.
The Plan
Once you have decided on the size and locale of your marine tank, it is then time to decide on what model you would like to apply to your tank. Is it FISH Only FISH ONLY WITH LIVE ROCK (FOWLR) or a REEF TANK. Prior to making this call however one must appraise the local availability of stock for your tank. There is not any use in desiring a reef tank when you can't find any decent beasts to inhabit the tank. There are naturally online dealers that are extremely reliable but personally I like to get my stock regionally so I will really see what I'm getting. This of course isn't invariably possible but should be a consideration. This is also the research phase and you are going to need to hit the books and local Aquarist organizations either bricks and mortar or online to help you to decide what would be a good setup for your size of tank. Compatibility of species is of utmost seriousness in a marine tank so gathering some basic research data will save a lot of grief and cost.
I personally over the years have made each one of these mistakes and in a few cases truly suffered for it. Take it slow and perform a little research and even a total amateur can set up a tiny reef tank and luxuriate in the beauty it offers.
Cost Factor
Cost is a big factor for pretty well any endeavor today as money is short for most of us. In a normal tank set up routine for saltwater one would routinely outline a plan regarding the kind of tank to make. Whereas this is a critical step, the pricetag factor must be considered first as it is the foundation of what you financially "can do". Consider this step as a fail safe for inexperience. The explanation being it is really easy to get in over your head by picking what tank model you need first. One should rather decide what size tank you are able to afford and should you fail however much you can afford to lose. To acquire the best chances for success you might consider a Nano or small marine tank so that you can indulge in the pursuit and at the very same time keep the costs inside your resources.
Private Equilibrium
It may appear funny for somebody's stability to be a consideration but this is an area unfortunately quite ofter forgotten about. The stability I am referring to but is your abode and will you be moving? Marine tanks are awfully flaky and great care must be taken as the marine tank is Not something that "moves" well and will experience high losses when it is moved. Also it requires a few months to get the tank entirely up and running so if you are going to be moving in the following year, wait of course until after the move to indulge. Cost is one thing but these are living organisms and should not be considered easily replaceable.
Aquarium Placement
Hopefully, if you have selected a little tank for your first attempt with a marine tank. If so then this point won't be as vital but nevertheless, even a small volume tank can be very heavy. One liter of water weighs in at one kilogram or 2.2 pounds. Water weighs approximately 10 pounds per Imperial Gallon. So a small twelve gallon tank would weigh 120 pounds. Therefore in consideration not simply a solid floor is needed for bigger tanks, the stand or support where the tank will reside must also be in a position to deal with the load and shouldn't hinder the natural travel areas in the home. Natural light is also a consideration as placement in an intense light source will be exasperating as algae growth will be quite prominent. Therefor place your tank that gets low indirect light rather than direct brilliant light. Temperature is also simpler to control in cooler areas. Also consider a power source that is by the tank. You'll need power very close to avoid extension cords which are threatening and unreliable.
The Plan
Once you have decided on the size and locale of your marine tank, it is then time to decide on what model you would like to apply to your tank. Is it FISH Only FISH ONLY WITH LIVE ROCK (FOWLR) or a REEF TANK. Prior to making this call however one must appraise the local availability of stock for your tank. There is not any use in desiring a reef tank when you can't find any decent beasts to inhabit the tank. There are naturally online dealers that are extremely reliable but personally I like to get my stock regionally so I will really see what I'm getting. This of course isn't invariably possible but should be a consideration. This is also the research phase and you are going to need to hit the books and local Aquarist organizations either bricks and mortar or online to help you to decide what would be a good setup for your size of tank. Compatibility of species is of utmost seriousness in a marine tank so gathering some basic research data will save a lot of grief and cost.
I personally over the years have made each one of these mistakes and in a few cases truly suffered for it. Take it slow and perform a little research and even a total amateur can set up a tiny reef tank and luxuriate in the beauty it offers.
About the Author:
The author has indulged in both tropical freshwater and marine tanks on and off for over twenty years. Supplying a complete series in the works on marine tank setup for noobs on his new site.
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