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Tropical Saltwater Fish
Marine fish come in a vast array of sizes, colors, shapes and
dispositions providing plenty of choice for fish fanciers. They may
remain small or grow to be very large and many have different
temperature, feeding and compatibility requirements that must be
considered before selecting and setting up your new aquarium.
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Saltwater Fish
Make your salt-water from a marine mix formula providing all the
major, minor and trace salts necessary for optimal health. Salinity
levels vary, from a specific gravity of 1.025, for live reef
systems, to 1.010 sg for marine fish only. It is very important that
changes in salinity be made gradually. Water quality should be
monitored regularly, checking and correcting levels of ammonia,
nitrite, salinity and pH. Water changes should be made according to
the type of system (often for undergravel filters, less for Berlin
coral reef systems, etc).
Housing
Aquariums should be chosen according to size, materials and safety
relative to the type of fish. A lid or hood should be added, to
prevent fish from leaping out and to avoid other pets or people
reaching in. Proper lighting should be used so that it illuminates
the fish without stressing them or overheating the water. The
appropriate temperature range should be considered and a heater,
chiller or both (heat pump) should be installed to control the water
temperature. Substrate, and such features as natural live rock,
corals, marine plants or artificial decorations should be chosen
carefully to be certain they are safe.
Diet
To remain healthy, fish must be fed according to their specific
needs (for example, tangs should be allowed eat some sort of
vegetative diet over several hours each day) and proper frequency of
feeding must be maintained.
Cleaning
Follow the manufacturer's instructions on maintaining filtration
equipment and clean the aquarium itself when debris begins to
collect on the bottom or algae starts to cover the viewing panels.
Never use soap or detergent in cleaning aquarium equipment.
Health
Check your fish daily for signs of stress, disease, fighting or not
eating and take appropriate action. Optional, but recommended,
equipment to help keep your marine fish in a healthy environment
are: Protein skimmers (to help remove excess organic material
dissolved in the sea water) and sterilizers (such as Ultra Violet
Sterilizers or Ozonators, which help keep any harmful infectious
agents in check).
Warnings
When buying decorations for your aquarium beware of toxic materials
such as metals or plastics that can leach out deadly chemicals into
the water.
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