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Saltwater Aquariums

Saltwater Aquariums. Equipment. 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

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Saltwater Aquariums

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  1. Saltwater Aquariums

  2. Equipment The essential items for your tank

  3. Gravel (Substrate) • Purposes: • decoration • biological filter • sand is especially good • provides hold for possible plants • maintain pH level of water • Crushed shells

  4. Heaters • Needed for tropical organisms • 78º F is ideal. • Thermometers • Monitors the temperature of the tank

  5. 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).

  6. 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

  7. Biological Filtration (living) • MANDATORY! • Certain species of bacteria break down toxic nitrogen compounds • Synthetic bacteria occurs naturally in: • Substrate • Bioballs • Biowheel

  8. Chemical Filtration (chemicals) • Added to mechanical method • activated carbon (charcoal) • placed inside filters which maintains clear water quality • UV sterilizer • Eliminates bacteria, algae and protozoans in the water.

  9. Mechanical Filtration (machine) • Removes solids or particulate matter before they can be decomposed • Examples: • filter pads • Sponges • protein skimmer • nets

  10. Saltwater Aquariums What You’ll Need to Know to take care of a tank

  11. Water Chemistry • Common Chemistry Tests • pH: 7.5 – 8.4 • Temperature : 77 - 80 • Salinity – 1.020 – 1.023 or 27 ppt – 32ppt • Nitrogen tests – 0 ppm • Most important ways to fix salinity and nitrogen problems: • Filtration • Water changes – dilution method

  12. Salinity • Define: total amount of dissolved salts in water • Maintained by: • Adding freshwater or saltwater • Measured by • Hydrometer uses specific gravity

  13. Nitrogen Compounds • Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate • Should all be around 0 ppm • Measured by paper or chemical tests • Could be high if: • Cycling of tank is not complete • Too much food • Too many fish

  14. 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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