| Home Saltwater Aquarium , Many people would like | | | | difficult to maintain and require additional equipment. |
| to own and maintain a saltwater aquarium but they | | | | That is not necessarily true. For the most part |
| shy away from them, turning instead to the | | | | converting a freshwater tank to a saltwater tank is |
| freshwater variety because they have been told that | | | | simple. Most of the equipment both tanks use is the |
| saltwater aquariums are difficult to maintain and | | | | same, with only a few notable exceptions. One such |
| require additional equipment. That is not necessarily | | | | exception is the aquarium substrate. Instead of using |
| true. For the most part converting a freshwater tank | | | | the gravel that your fresh water fish preferred |
| to a saltwater tank is simple. Most of the equipment | | | | tropical fish fare better with a substrate that is made |
| both tanks use is the same, with only a few notable | | | | of live sand or crushed coral. Most filtering systems |
| exceptions. One such exception is the aquarium | | | | work well in both freshwater and saltwater |
| substrate. Instead of using the gravel that your fresh | | | | environments, but many aquarium owners take |
| water fish preferred tropical fish fare better with a | | | | advantage of the opportunity to upgrade their |
| substrate that is made of live sand or crushed coral. | | | | system, i is also important to remember that the |
| Most filtering systems work well in both freshwater | | | | filter you are using in your saltwater tank circulates |
| and saltwater environments, but many aquarium | | | | the water throughout the entire tank. Disturbing the |
| owners take advantage of the opportunity to | | | | water's surface maximizes the amount of oxygen in |
| upgrade their system, i is also important to | | | | the water. If you are planning to maintain a fish only |
| remember that the filter you are using in your | | | | aquarium you shouldn't have to worry about |
| saltwater tank circulates the water throughout the | | | | upgrading your lighting system. The only time the |
| entire tank. Disturbing the water's surface maximizes | | | | lights will have to be upgraded is if you start adding |
| the amount of oxygen in the water. If you are | | | | coral reefs to your tank. |
| planning to maintain a fish only aquarium you shouldn't | | | | A mistake many aquarium lovers make when they |
| have to worry about upgrading your lighting system. | | | | are converting their freshwater tanks to saltwater |
| The only time the lights will have to be upgraded is if | | | | tanks is assuming that all they have to do is add a |
| you start adding coral reefs to your tank. | | | | little salt to the water and voila, a saltwater tank. All |
| A mistake many aquarium lovers make when they | | | | they have done is create an environment that will kill |
| are converting their freshwater tanks to saltwater | | | | any coral reefs, tropical fish, and freshwater fish that |
| tanks is assuming that all they have to do is add a | | | | they place in the tank. The bacteria in saltwater is |
| little salt to the water and voila, a saltwater tank. All | | | | completely different from the bacteria in freshwater. |
| they have done is create an environment that will kill | | | | People who want to speed the waters cycling |
| any coral reefs, tropical fish, and freshwater fish that | | | | process should scoop some aquarium substrate from |
| they place in the tank. The bacteria in saltwater is | | | | a warm saltwater aquarium and transfer it to a |
| completely different from the bacteria in freshwater. | | | | temperate saltwater aquarium. Before you add fish |
| People who want to speed the waters cycling | | | | to your freshly converted tank, make sure you |
| process should scoop some aquarium substrate from | | | | purchase a refractometer and hydrometer to test |
| a warm saltwater aquarium and transfer it to a | | | | the salinity of your water. The salinity should have a |
| temperate saltwater aquarium. Before you add fish | | | | specific gravity that is between 1.020 and 1.026. |
| to your freshly converted tank, make sure you | | | | Saltwater causes rust. Check your tank and filtration |
| purchase a refractometer and hydrometer to test | | | | system regularly. If you notice rust starting to form, |
| the salinity of your water. The salinity should have a | | | | it's time to replace your equipment. |
| specific gravity that is between 1.020 and 1.026. | | | | Before you start stocking you saltwater aquarium |
| Saltwater causes rust. Check your tank and filtration | | | | with fish do a little research. Many variety's of tropical |
| system regularly. If you notice rust starting to form, | | | | fish require a different type of food the freshwater |
| it's time to replace your equipment. | | | | varieties. Several of these variety's have to be fed |
| Before you start stocking you saltwater aquarium | | | | combinations of fresh, frozen, and live food in |
| with fish do a little research. Many variety's of tropical | | | | addition to fish flakes. Frozen food should not be |
| fish require a different type of food the freshwater | | | | kept in your freezer for more then three months. If |
| varieties. Several of these variety's have to be fed | | | | you are purchasing a fish that is going to need a |
| combinations of fresh, frozen, and live food in | | | | great deal of live food, find out what kind of |
| addition to fish flakes. Frozen food should not be | | | | arrangements are going to have to be made to keep |
| kept in your freezer for more then three months. If | | | | the food alive before consumption. |
| you are purchasing a fish that is going to need a | | | | Most fish owners recommend purchasing a small tank |
| great deal of live food, find out what kind of | | | | that can be used as a quarantine tank. Placing a sick |
| arrangements are going to Switching From a | | | | fish in a quarantine tank will make treating it easier |
| Freshwater Aquarium to a Home Saltwater | | | | and increase its odds of survival.have to be made to |
| Aquariums | | | | keep the food alive before consumption. |
| Many people would like to own and maintain a | | | | Most fish owners recommend purchasing a small tank |
| saltwater aquarium but they shy away from them, | | | | that can be used as a quarantine tank. Placing a sick |
| turning instead to the freshwater variety because | | | | fish in a quarantine tank will make treating it easier |
| they have been told that saltwater aquariums are | | | | and increase its odds of survival. |