Are you a saltwater aquarium expert?

Saltwater Aquarium: Key Points

• Marine aquariums keep marine plants and animals in a contained environment.

• Marine aquaria are divided into fish only, fish only with live rock, and reef aquaria.

• Marine fishkeeping requires more equipment than freshwater systems and more stringent water quality monitoring.

• Marine aquariums are more expensive to maintain due to the cost of inhabitants and equipment.

• Saltwater tanks were first kept in Venetian glass jars by the Romans.

• First balanced marine aquarium was created in London in 1846 by Anna Thynne.

• Personal saltwater fishkeeping began in the 1950s with basic rectangular glass aquariums.

• Synthetic salt mixes were developed to replicate the chemical environment of the tropical ocean.

• Marine aquariums have more complex filtration requirements than most freshwater aquariums.

• Lighting in marine aquariums containing corals requires more intense lighting.

• Various light sources include natural sunlight, fluorescent, VHO fluorescent, T-5 fluorescent, compact fluorescent, LED and metal halide.

• Marine aquariums can range in volume from less than 80 litres to over 1,200 litres.Aquarium Lighting, Water Testing, and Conservation

• There are four main types of aquarium lighting: incandescent, fluorescent, metal halide, and LED.

• Power compact fluorescent bulbs are the most common type of fluorescent bulbs used for house lighting and need to be replaced every six months to a year.

• T-5 HO lights are the newest variation of fluorescent lights and are more expensive but more efficient than other fluorescent lighting options.

• Metal halide lights are the highest output lighting commercially available and can penetrate light to the bottom levels of most aquariums.

• LED lighting is the most recent addition to aquarium lighting technologies and is adjustable to most power levels, making it energy-efficient and low-impact.

• Water quality testing in aquariums includes pH, nitrogen cycle, and other trace elements.

• Acclimation is a process used when adding new marine life to an aquarium to prevent shock from sudden changes in water chemistry.

• Water changes are a staple of good saltwater maintenance and involve removing a fraction of the total volume of the aquarium and replacing it with new pre-mixed saltwater.

• Municipal or tap water is not recommended for a marine aquarium because it contains high levels of nitrates, phosphates, and silicates.

• Most species kept in marine aquaria are caught in the wild, although tank-raised specimens are becoming increasingly common as a viable alternative.

• Much collecting is done in Indonesia and the Philippines, where use of cyanide and other destructive collection methods, while discouraged, is unfortunately common.

• Conservationists criticize commercial-scale harvesting of naturally occurring live rock, which takes many years if not centuries to form and is a vital habitat for countless marine species.Marine Aquarium Keeping: A Summary

• Keeping marine aquariums can be an expensive hobby, with initial set-up costs often exceeding $2,500 for a 100 US gallons (380 L) reef tank.

• The development of large-scale commercial breeding operations has made marine fishkeeping more widespread.

• The use of frags (fragments) for corals is a way for marine aquarists to obtain new and unique corals with minimal impact on the natural environment.

• When selecting corals, rare species and those without a history of being successfully kept in captivity should be avoided.

• Marine fishkeeping has grown in popularity compared to freshwater fishkeeping.

• The marine fishkeeping industry has commercialized the hobby.

• The initial setup cost of marine aquariums is a major disincentive for some people.

• A budget-minded home hobbyist can spend less than $2,500 and still get a satisfactory result.

• Marine aquariums require specific equipment, such as protein skimmers and high-quality lighting, which can add to the cost.

• Marine fishkeeping can have a positive impact on mental health and well-being, and is seen as a relaxing and rewarding hobby.

• Marine fishkeeping requires research and education to ensure the health and survival of the fish and corals.

• The marine aquarium keeping industry provides various resources to educate hobbyists, including books, online forums, and conferences.