| These basics are intended for a marine fish aquarium | | | | be the only part. Good mechanical, other types of bio |
| (and basic Nano Reefs), not an advanced marine reef | | | | filtration, and especially germicidal filtration are also |
| aquarium. A properly set up and maintained salt water | | | | important. |
| aquarium can be relatively easy to keep, in fact, | | | | More on Nitrate Removal Filtration; |
| sometimes easier than some freshwater fish such as | | | | (A) As mentioned above, Mud filters can be very |
| discus. | | | | useful for Nitrate removal; you can make a simple |
| These facts and opinions are based on my | | | | one with a HOB filter or sump aquarium. (With the |
| experience of keeping and professionally maintaining | | | | HOB you must place the media in fine mesh or nylon |
| marine fish (and reef) aquariums for over 27 years | | | | filter bags so as to not cause damage to the impeller, |
| with one of the largest aquarium maintenance | | | | also keep bags out of heavy flow area of filter). [1] |
| companies in Los Angeles, California. | | | | First use a 2 cm layer of #3 gravel on top. [2] Then |
| NANO REEFS: | | | | 5 cm of #00 sand. [3] Then you can make your own |
| For Nano reefs much of this basic information applies. | | | | anaerobic mulm from top soil; rinse fine top soil in a |
| I still recommend a UV sterilizer if it can be fitted to | | | | 10/1 bleach solution, then rinse again until clean (you |
| you nano reef (a small internal filter such as a Via | | | | can add a de-chlorinator to remove bleach). This goes |
| Aqua 305 Internal Filter" connected to a compact UV | | | | on the bottom of the sump in a layer about 2 cm |
| works well) | | | | thick. |
| *Cured live rock is a must. | | | | (B) Also as mentioned above; A lot of cured live rock |
| *A fine #00 sand with a ½" layer of #3 sand on | | | | is extremely helpful for nitrate removal |
| top works best in my opinion for cleaning and | | | | (C) Plants or green algae (such as caulerpa algae) in |
| de-nitrification. | | | | aquarium or refugium. |
| *Water changes and regular checks of water | | | | (D) Pre-Filters such as ATIs "Filter Max" on filter |
| parameters are a must (do not forget to check alkali | | | | intakes; these are easily rinsed and remove organic |
| reserve, the same as KH in FW). Water parameters | | | | matter before it can go thru the nitrogen cycle. |
| change more rapidly in a Nano aquarium. | | | | (E) Protein Skimmers |
| *Two power compact light, changed every six | | | | (F) Metal Halide lighting. I know this seems off |
| months and cleaned regularly in between. They | | | | subject, but I have found that Metal Halide lighting |
| should be one daylight and one actinic or two 50/50. | | | | helps with nitrate levels, even when other filters are |
| [1] Filtration; Good filtration is a must for a successful | | | | poor. I do not have scientific proof, but I believe the |
| marine aquarium. There are many different filters | | | | Redox potential (350 mV) this light helps maintain has |
| available too. | | | | a lot to do with this. |
| Canister filters are good for their capacity, but can | | | | Filter redundancy is also important, as filters/pumps |
| become Nitrate factories is not rinsed very regularly. I | | | | can break down. Extra filters also increase bio and |
| do not recommend Fluvals due to their poor impeller | | | | mechanical filtration. An economical combination would |
| design. Via Aqua. Eheim, Jebo, and Magnum are the | | | | be a sponge filter, internal filter, and a hang on back |
| ones I recommend. | | | | (power filter). |
| Wet/Dry filters are good, but usually are poor | | | | For more on filtration, please see this site: "Aquarium |
| mechanical filters. The bio ball media in them also | | | | Filtration" |
| should be rinsed regularly in de-chlorinated water to | | | | [2] Lighting; A 10,000 K Daylight bulb is a start, better |
| prevent a buildup of organic material, increasing | | | | would be a 50/50 daylight/ 420nm actinic bulb, or |
| nitrates. | | | | better yet would be one of each. |
| Sump systems with live rock, plants, and sponge | | | | [3] Test Kits; an ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, ph, and KH |
| filters work well. The live rock is excellent for aerobic | | | | (alkalinity) test kit are all important. |
| filtration (ammonia and nitrite removal) and anaerobic | | | | [4] Water Chemistry; Start with a good marine salt |
| filtration (nitrate removal). The live plants and green | | | | and mix it to a specific gravity of 1.019- 1.021 for fish. |
| algae are good for nitrogen fixing and phosphate | | | | Add trace elements and aquarium buffer. SeaChem |
| removal. The sponge filter is a simple to clean aerobic | | | | makes an excellent product called Reef Calcium which |
| bio-filter and mechanical filter. | | | | maintains KH, adds bio available polygluconate |
| As for live rock, I strongly recommend using it. Make | | | | complexed calcium. Many products available do not |
| sure it is cured, many stores sell live rock right after | | | | add both calcium and magnesium (such as |
| it comes to them, and this is not cured live rock. Live | | | | Kalkwasser), and they are BOTH necessary together |
| rock arrives to the stores wrapped in newspaper and | | | | for proper chemistry and fish health. It should be |
| mostly dead by this time, it takes up to 6 weeks to | | | | noted, that unlike freshwater fish which absorb the |
| fully cure live rock. Fully cured live rock has the | | | | water around them, marine fish drink the water |
| benefit of containing aerobic and anaerobic bacteria; | | | | constantly, which affects their internal body |
| the later helps convert nitrates to nitrogen which is | | | | chemistry to the surrounding water. |
| released harmlessly into the atmosphere. Cured live | | | | Maintain Ammonia and nitrites at 0, pH at 8.2-8.4, kH |
| rock also contains many "creatures", many of which | | | | at 200 ppm, Nitrates below 20 ppm. Change water |
| are both interesting and beneficial. You may also | | | | regularly using a gravel vacuum, especially in areas of |
| create your own using rock high in calcium carbonate, | | | | waste accumulation, this will help maintain low nitrates. |
| or even dead coral skeletons by placing them under | | | | [5] UV Sterilization; UV Sterilizers are in my opinion, |
| healthy cured live rock for a couple of months in a | | | | not essential, but are VERY important. UV Sterilizers |
| healthy aquarium (reef set ups are best for this). It is | | | | help with disease prevention and also help maintain a |
| important to use very porous rock for the proper | | | | proper Redox Potential (oxidation properties of |
| benefits of live rock | | | | water). The Redox Potential is often overlooked by |
| Hang on back filters are very limited, but can be used | | | | many aquarists both SW and FW. For more |
| too, especially if combined with other bio filters. | | | | information please see my article about "Aquarium |
| Internal filters are also limited, but once again are | | | | UV Sterilization and how it works " |
| good combined with others. | | | | [6] Proper Fish and feeding; do not over crowd a |
| Ecosystem mud filtration is effective for nitrate | | | | marine aquarium. The amount of fish depends on the |
| removal (due to the large colonies of anaerobic | | | | aquarium surface area and the type of fish. My article |
| bacteria), they are much simpler to use than a | | | | "Basic Aquarium Principles" addresses this subject. |
| protein Skimmer in my opinion (which I believe are | | | | Feed your marine fish according to the type of food |
| over sold for fish aquaria). | | | | they naturally eat in the wild. Aquatic based foods |
| Unfortunately there are many stores pushing these | | | | such as HBH Marine Flake or Spirulina 20 Flake are |
| systems as the end all of filtration, and they are not. | | | | good generic fish foods for Tangs, angels, clown fish, |
| They are a good part of a system, but should not | | | | ECT. (Angels also need sponge in their diet). |