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Saltwater Aquariums
The essential items for your tank
Gravel (Substrate)Purposes:
• decoration
• biological filter
• sand is especially good
• provides hold for possible plants
• maintain pH level of water
•Crushed shells
Heaters
Needed for tropical organisms
78º F is ideal.
Thermometers Monitors the temperature
of the tank
Air Pumps
• simply bubbles air into the water
• provides dissolved oxygen for animals to breath
• NOT necessary if your tank maintains adequate water movement together with surface agitation (provided by the falling water from the filter).
Hood
• prevents organisms from escaping
• keeps water from evaporating so quickly and keeps salt spray inside tank
Lights
• bring out the colors of your fish
• If you have plants, provides necessary energy for growth
Biological Filtration (living)MANDATORY!Certain species of
bacteria break down toxic nitrogen compounds
Synthetic bacteria occurs naturally in: Substrate BioballsBiowheel
Chemical Filtration (chemicals)Added to mechanical
methodactivated carbon (charcoal)
placed inside filters which maintains clear water quality
UV sterilizerEliminates bacteria, algae
and protozoans in the water.
Mechanical Filtration (machine)Removes solids or
particulate matter before they can be decomposed
Examples: filter pads Spongesprotein skimmernets
What You’ll Need to Know to take care of a tank
Water ChemistryCommon Chemistry Tests
pH: 7.5 – 8.4Temperature : 77 - 80Salinity – 1.020 – 1.023 or 27 ppt – 32ppt
Nitrogen tests – 0 ppmMost important ways to fix salinity and
nitrogen problems:FiltrationWater changes – dilution method
SalinityDefine: total
amount of dissolved salts in water
Maintained by:Adding freshwater or saltwater
Measured by Hydrometer uses
specific gravity
Nitrogen CompoundsAmmonia, Nitrite, NitrateShould all be around 0 ppmMeasured by paper or chemical tests
Could be high if:Cycling of tank is not completeToo much foodToo many fish
BONUS: Predict the time period that would be best to add fish to a tank. Explain why you pick that time period. Use evidence from the graph.
Write it at the bottom of your paper!
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