Setting Up and Maintaining a Saltwater Aquarium
SETTING UP AND MAINTAINING A SALTWATER AQUARIUM IN THE HOME
By Sarah M. Burgett
BIOG 159
Fall, 2011
When one makes the choice to install a saltwater aquarium in their home, all the prospects can be overwhelming. Much thought must go into the setup and upkeep of an aquarium in one’s home. It is important to make wise choices in regards to the tank itself, as well as all the other components that will become a part of the marine environment. By making wise decisions, the aquarium owner can take steps to ensure not only the health of the fish, but his own personal enjoyment.
Perhaps the first choice one encounters is that of the tank itself. An appropriate tank is the largest one that can be accommodated in one’s home, preferably 25 gallons or more. Larger tanks are easier to maintain than smaller ones. Since a larger tank can hold a larger volume of water, the conditions of the water remain more stable, and are less apt to be affected by unavoidable mechanical failures, as well as waste products of the fish (Thraves 12). If a heater were to fail, the larger volume of water would cool more slowly than would a smaller volume, thus maintaining the conditions of the tank for a much longer period. In addition, a larger aquarium is always more humane for a fish than a smaller one (Kolle 75).
Tank capacity is not the only concern when it comes to choosing a tank. There are many shapes of tanks available on the market, but the best choices are those that have the largest surface areas of water. A larger surface area will allow more oxygen to enter the water from the air, thus creating a healthier marine environment (Gutjahr 7). For this reason, tall, narrow tanks are poor choices. Landscape-oriented tanks are better. One should choose a sturdy glass tank, rather than a plastic one. Plastic tanks are not able to withstand water pressure as well as glass. Plastic is also easily scratched, which can affect an observer’s view of the fish inside (Kolle 73).
While
By Sarah M. Burgett
BIOG 159
Fall, 2011
When one makes the choice to install a saltwater aquarium in their home, all the prospects can be overwhelming. Much thought must go into the setup and upkeep of an aquarium in one’s home. It is important to make wise choices in regards to the tank itself, as well as all the other components that will become a part of the marine environment. By making wise decisions, the aquarium owner can take steps to ensure not only the health of the fish, but his own personal enjoyment.
Perhaps the first choice one encounters is that of the tank itself. An appropriate tank is the largest one that can be accommodated in one’s home, preferably 25 gallons or more. Larger tanks are easier to maintain than smaller ones. Since a larger tank can hold a larger volume of water, the conditions of the water remain more stable, and are less apt to be affected by unavoidable mechanical failures, as well as waste products of the fish (Thraves 12). If a heater were to fail, the larger volume of water would cool more slowly than would a smaller volume, thus maintaining the conditions of the tank for a much longer period. In addition, a larger aquarium is always more humane for a fish than a smaller one (Kolle 75).
Tank capacity is not the only concern when it comes to choosing a tank. There are many shapes of tanks available on the market, but the best choices are those that have the largest surface areas of water. A larger surface area will allow more oxygen to enter the water from the air, thus creating a healthier marine environment (Gutjahr 7). For this reason, tall, narrow tanks are poor choices. Landscape-oriented tanks are better. One should choose a sturdy glass tank, rather than a plastic one. Plastic tanks are not able to withstand water pressure as well as glass. Plastic is also easily scratched, which can affect an observer’s view of the fish inside (Kolle 73).
While
Cited: Gutjahr, Axel. Setting up an Aquarium. Trans. U. Erich Friese. Hauppauge, NY: Barrons Educational Series, 2008. Print. Kolle, Petra. 300 Questions about the Aquarium. Trans. Mary D. Lynch. Hauppauge, NY: Barron 's, 2008. Print. Skomal, Gregory. Saltwater Aquarium, 2nd edition. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Publishing Inc., 2006. Print. Thraves, Stuart. Setting up a Tropical Aquarium Week-by-Week. Buffalo, NY: Firefly, 2004. Print.