Dont Really Get Marine

[orange shark]

Hey,

I have no idea how to take care of marine fish and wanted to know some of the basics. Marine is salt water, so do you have to add aquarium salt everyday? How much salt is supposed to be in your tank? I would like to know things like that. If you could tell me anythinig extra about caring for marines it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, orange shark

 

[demonmagus]

http/www.fishforums.net/Thinking-Of-Star...nk-t138236.html



hope it helps - I'm a bit busy right now...

 

[orange shark]

http/www.fishforums.net/Thinking-Of-Star...nk-t138236.html



hope it helps - I'm a bit busy right now...

Ive read this but it doesnt clear up anything about salt (well I dont think it does!)

 

[shibby]

il do my best to remeber stuff

you add salt at the start when you first get the aquarium, you need to get a hydrometer/ refractometer that measure salinity, salinity needs to be 1.019 - 1.027

1.019+ - fish only
1.025ish - reef

when you do a water change you need to mix up salt and RO or dechlorinated tap water will do if its a fish only with no inverts corals etc .... if your just topping up evapuration you need to use pure water so not to alter the salinity! since salt dosent evapourate!

lots of research is best for care and ask any thing u want here, someone will help out, il do my best with my newbie knowledge!

 

[orange shark]

il do my best to remeber stuff

you add salt at the start when you first get the aquarium, you need to get a hydrometer/ refractometer that measure salinity, salinity needs to be 1.019 - 1.027

1.019+ - fish only
1.025ish - reef

when you do a water change you need to mix up salt and RO or dechlorinated tap water will do if its a fish only with no inverts corals etc .... if your just topping up evapuration you need to use pure water so not to alter the salinity! since salt dosent evapourate!

lots of research is best for care and ask any thing u want here, someone will help out, il do my best with my newbie knowledge!

So when I start it up I need to put around 1.019+ of salt and then I only need to add more in when I do water changes? Also, what are these protein skimmers I hear so much about???

Thanks, orange shark

 

[shibby]

you can get pre made RO water with salt from most lfs that do marines. and note: refractometers are ALOT more accurate then hydrometers!


protien skimmers help control waste by taking it out or something i think, im nto too good on there technical side since i dont use one.

there mainly used for bigger tanks, or if you want corals its prob best to get one cus corals can be more sensitive then fish to certain waste. its recomended if you can afford one but i dont believe its a neccesity. sufficent water changes can do just as well, like 10% weekly.

 

[orange shark]

So, i dont need a protein skimmer? Do i need RO water?

 

[shibby]

RO water is recomended but again not a neccesity IF its a fish only, corals and inverts wont be able to be kept very well in it though, there need RO water which is something like 2.00 per 25 litres in the UK.


and you again dont need a skimmer, might be wise if you have like a 50ukgallon tank just to help remove waste, or if you want to keep corals. though if its a small nano 20gal or under and you want corals ive seen people suffice with water changes.

 

[STD]

[So when I start it up I need to put around 1.019+ of salt and then I only need to add more in when I do water changes? Also, what are these protein skimmers I hear so much about???

Thanks, orange shark

Yup you get the tank to the correct salinity then when you do water changes make up water to the correct salinity and replace the water you have taken out with it

You top up with RO water

You tend to get more evaporation in a Marine tank as usually you have more lighting and more circulation

See here for an explanation of protein skimmers

http/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein_skimmer

 

[Musho3210]

You could also buy an RO/DI unit which can save you a lot of money and give you more options.

And you dont use just plain nacl salt, you need to use a special ocean saltmix that has salt in it PLUS all the other stuff the ocean contains like calcium, iodine, buffers etc. Since salt doesnt evaporate as fast as water, you top off with pure RO water daily to make up for the water that was evaporated. Get a refractometer, and i would suggest a skimmer since i find more benefits in running a skimmer than there are running skimmerless. But that is my opinion and you should follow what best fits you.

Please note that without a skimmer you may need to do more water changes to help with the nitrate levels. Or you could go with a refugium (which is a more natural way). I think the best salt water systems ive seen are ones that combine all three, skimmers, refugiums, and water changes.

 

[demonmagus]

also when you top up you use salt-less water, as the salt stays in the tank