Description
This article is from the Beginning
Saltwater FAQ, by Thomas Sasala with numerous contributions by
others.
11 General Notes
Keeping a quarantine tank is especially important for saltwater tanks.
It can be very difficult to treat a sick fish when it is continually
being harassed by healthier fish. Also, some medications, namely
copper, will kill invertebrates. You should NEVER put copper into your
main tank. Contrary to popular belief, you will never be able to get
all of the copper out of the tank. Also, using copper in a tank which
contains live rock will decimate the life forms populating the rock,
as most of them are invertebrates.
Source water for saltwater tanks is also very important. Although the
water authority says that tap water is fit for human consumption, it
may not be fit for your fish. Tap water typically contains chlorine
and chloramine, which will kill your fish. Although these will have an
immediate effect on your fish, there are usually other contaminates in
tap water which need time to affect the tank. In particular,
phosphates will cause massive growths of hair algae and potentially
cyanobacteria outbreaks (red slime algae). Without good quality source
water, your tank will not be the continuous joy you hoped it would be.
The best water purifiers on the market are reverse osmosis units.
These, coupled with de-ionizing resins, produce water which is 98%
pure. If the price of a RO/DI combination is too much, then you can
always use distilled water (not spring water). However, distilled
water may have been stored in copper containers which will kill
invertebrates.
Before you start your saltwater tank, find a good store near you. Good
stores will have knowledgeable staff and exhibit a general concern
about the care of the animals. If the store has few saltwater tanks,
with a lot of sick or dying fish, don't buy any fish there, even if
they look healthy.
The last point about keeping saltwater fish is to read, read, read.
The FAQ is no substitution for reading a good book. Some of the best
are The Marine Aquarium Handbook by Martin Moe, The Book of the Marine
Aquarium distributed by Tetra Press, and The Marine Aquarium Reference
also by Martin Moe. Also, don't be afraid to post to *.aquaria. Just
don't forget to include all the importance specifications (e.g.,
ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, temperature, how old the tank is, how
big the tank is, and what the inhabitants are). Happy fish keeping.
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aquaria, fish, acquarium, tank, fishkeeping, saltwater
