Custom Saltwater Aquarium
The hobby of creating a custom saltwater aquarium is quite engaging and, with a careful and thoughtful set-up, can give you years of viewing pleasure. However, choosing to make the leap from keeping a few goldfish to really getting engaged in keeping marine creatures is a big step up in cost, effort and complexity.
A great many people are drawn to saltwater aquariums when they see the delightful array of creatures they can keep on display. Many saltwater fish are brightly coloured and a far wider range of creatures can be kept. Each custom saltwater aquarium is an individual work of art, whether you choose to use store-bought parts or make your own from the ground up.
Equipment
First you'll need to not only decide where you want the aquarium to be but also, what form it will take. There are many innovative aquarium designs on the market, but if none of these fit the perfect spot you have in mind, then you might want to consider making your own. This can be done with glass and epoxy or acrylic.
There are quite a few supplies you'll need to buy to perform the set-up and maintenance on a saltwater aquarium. Some people try to make do with the old tank they used with goldfish, but that won't likely cut it with a marine environment for very long, if at all. Testing kits to monitor nitrates, salinity and solute materials are also a must.
Planning the Environment
The custom saltwater aquarium world you're crating must function as a complete eco-system, so you'll need to plan very carefully to make sure each species compliments the others. This begins with planning a physical environment that supports the habits of the creatures you choose. For instance, most fish like to have little craggy spaces and nooks to sleep or just hang out in.
The rocks may be living or mineral, and you may choose all manner of living plants and animals that are just sitting there, but all these are usually put in the aquarium at least a month before the first fish arrive, often before the tank is fully filled, to make it easier to place the items and to not overfill it.
Adding the Fish
Choose fish that get along and have similar requirements. Don't just buy something on a whim because it's pretty. This can lead to stress and disease. Don't add them all at once, but just a few at a time to give the environment a chance to equilibrate before adding more. Building the community of your custom saltwater aquarium up slowly will greatly increase your chances of success the first time out.
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