Buying An Aquarium: Checkout 7 Things You Should Know

Before becoming the aquarium owner checkout 7 thing we have mentioned here by our expert experiences, So checkout things you should know before buying an aquarium

A. Testing The Salinity Of the Water

It is very important to maintain the right amount of salts in the aquarium to maintain the well being of the fish. To check the salinity, there are many tools available in the market, however, the refractometer is very cheap compared to the others. The refractometer is based on the principle of refractive index and comes with a prism and lenses to know the refractive index of the tank water and then it converts it into the salinity. A refractometer consists of a daylight plate, main prism assembly, calibration screw and an eyepiece. The refractometer should be first calibrated with commercial water so that its accuracy is maintained and then 2-3 drops of tank water should be placed on the prism assembly. After shutting down the lid of daylight plate, it should be kept in a light source, through which it will give the results and you can read it. Saltier the solution, higher its specific gravity. The specific gravity of the saltwater in an aquarium should be maintained at nearly 1.025. confirm that you checked 

Also, Read Out Saltwater Aquarium Setup

Some of the best refractometer for aquariums are:-

2. Ade Advanced Optics Salinity Refractometer

This device has a resolution of 1 ppt and comes with an automatic temperature correction feature which accurately gives the results of s.g… It has an accuracy of 0.1% and includes a screwdriver, a pipette and a covering case. 

3. Milwaukee MA887 Digital Salinity Refractometer

This device has a resolution of 1 ppt and comes with an automatic temperature correction feature which accurately gives the results of s.g. if the solution is between the temperature of 0-40° C. It is digital and has an accuracy of 2 PSU.

B. Tips To Set Up An Fish Tank

Choose the right tank with a back panel filtration connected with a sump tank and an aquarium with a capacity of more than 20 gallons. Keep the tank near an electric source where temperature between 76-80° C can be maintained. Buy one or two fish tank light in white and blue colour to provide the feel of night and day. You can get live rocks, algae and saltwater plants. A protein skimmer will produce bubbles and clears up the organic matter and helps prevent the tank from polluting. The sump pump will not work without a return pump, so get one too. For the bottom of the tank, get live sand and both life and fry rocks. Buy saltwater and mix it so that the salinity is near about 1.025 refractive indexes. Buy fishes like damsels, triggerfish, lionfish, groupers, chromises, clownfish, dottybacks and pufferfish. 

C. Best Nano Protein Skimmers

Protein skimmers help in maintaining the water quality of the tank. They will produce bubbles and clears up the organic matter and helps prevent the tank from polluting. They are small in size but are very essential. 

Here is a list of protein skimmers

1. Bubble Magus QQ1 Nano Protein Skimmer For 20 Gallon Reef Tanks

They are perfect for 25-gallon capacity aquarium tank. They collect the waste materials and also has a foam bubble reducer so that it doesn’t produce more bubbles. You can adjust the height according to the size of the tank.

2. Comline DOC 9001 Skimmer For Up To 37 Gallons

They are perfect for 37-gallon capacity aquarium tank. They collect the waste materials and also comes with a silencer, a needle wheel pump and airflow regulation system. They are energy efficient and has a magnet holder so that it can be placed in a corner. 

3. Aquatic Life 115 Mini Internal Skimmer For Up To 30 Gallon Reef Tank

They are perfect for 30-gallon capacity aquarium tank. They collect the waste materials and also comes with a silencer, a needle wheel pump and airflow regulation system. They should be kept 3 inches above the water line for operation.

D. Types of Hang-On Protein Skimmers.

1. Reef Octopus Classic 100-HOB For 55-105 Gallon Reef Tank

It can efficiently work in a 50-gallon heavy load aquarium tank or a 105 gallon light tank and is a 100 HOB. It features a silencer to cut on the noise. They collect waste materials and keep the water fresh and clean. They are very efficient and are cheap.

2. Reef Octopus BH-1000 HOB Skimmer For 60-130 Gallon Reef Tanks

It can efficiently work in a 60-gallon heavy load aquarium tank or a 130 gallon light tank and is a 1000 HOB. It features a silencer to cut on the noise. They collect waste materials and keep the water fresh and clean. You should certainly buy it as they are very desired among the users.

3. Reef Octopus Classic 90-HOB For 60-130 Gallon Aquariums

It can efficiently work in a 60-gallon heavy load aquarium tank or a 130 gallon light tank and is a 90 HOB. It features a silencer to cut on the noise. They collect waste materials and keep the water fresh and clean.

4. Bubble Magus QQ1 Hang-On Nano Protein Skimmer For Up To 25 Gallons

It is perfect for aquariums under the capacity of 25 gallons. It features a foam bubble reducer and collects the waste materials to keep the water fresh and clean.  You should certainly buy it as they are very desired among the users.

5. Coralife Super Skimmer For Saltwater Fish Tanks Up To 65 Gallons

It is perfect for aquariums under the capacity of 65 gallons. It features a needle wheel to create bubbles and the device also collects the waste materials to keep the water fresh and clean.

6. Bak-Pak 2 Protein Skimmer For Tanks Up To 60 Gallons

It is perfect for aquariums under the capacity of 60 gallons. It collects waste materials to keep the water fresh and clean.

E. How To Use Live Rock In A Saltwater Aquarium?

The live rocks are mostly reef, they are the stony structure under coral reefs is known as live rock. They are the group of the skeleton of reefs. They grow by absorbing chemicals year over year. They come in a range of shape and are usually called life because of the algae, crabs, worms, sponges present in them. They are known as the best biological filter you can buy, they have bacterial colonies which are essential for the aquarium. They also help in maintaining the quality of the water in the tank. They help in maintaining the pH and the number of nutrients like phosphates and silicates. They also play the role of the food source for angelfish, butterflyfish and tangs. They can also be used as a source of shelter for fish. You can easily fit 1.5 to 2 pounds of live rock in your tank. They make your tank attractive and beautiful.

Also, Have A Look At Molly Fish Care Guide 

F. Wet/Dry Sump Filters For Freshwater & Reef Tanks

These filters are best for the aquarium which are heavily stocked. They trickle water slowly and produce a large amount of oxygen. They offer three types of filtration which are- biological, chemical and mechanical. 

They are basically a container of water kept outside the aquarium which moves water out of the tank and then pushes it back in after the filtration. They help by increasing the water volume of the tank and keep the conditions more suitable for the aquarium. They are very good for an aquarium. You can also keep other equipment in this like protein skimmer, calcium reactor and water pumps. 

They are mostly of three types

1. Bio-Media Sump Filters

They are bio balls perfect for the water tanks with a high-pressure flow. They are more effective in larger quantities. They can be kept in both freshwater and saltwater aquariums. They are cost-effective and user-friendly

2. Berlin Filtration System For Saltwater Reef Tank

They are best for reef tank with a protein skimmer and live rock. They are very popular among the reef tank users. They include

A. Live rocks – The live rocks are mostly reef, they are the stony structure under coral reefs is known as live rock. They are the group of the skeleton of reefs. They grow by absorbing chemicals year over year. They come in a range of shape and are usually called life because of the algae, crabs, worms, sponges present in them. They are known as the best biological filter you can buy, they have bacterial colonies which are essential for the aquarium. They also help in maintaining the quality of the water in the tank. They help in maintaining the pH and the number of nutrients like phosphates and silicates.

B. Protein skimmer – Protein skimmers help in maintaining the water quality of the tank. They will produce bubbles and clears up the organic matter and helps prevent the tank from polluting. They are small in size but are very essential. They keep the tank clean and fresh for the fish and also make it look beautiful.

C. Aquarium lightning – They make the tank look beautiful and also provide life to the plants. They are good for the fish who like warm light and also help in the growth of a certain type of plant. They help in maintaining the organisms on the live healthy.

3. Refugiums

They prove fruitful in converting ammonia to nitrites and then nitrates. They are good for freshwater aquarium.

G. How To Choose An LED Light For Reef Tank?

Lights are very important in an aquarium tank like blue light are the main source for photosynthesis in a coral. Corals need a light with 8000- 20000 K for photosynthesis however freshwater plants need 6500-7000 K. Corals to require the different colour of light for photosynthesis according to their natural habitat. The right light can help by increasing the light of the corals. Check the PAR, the intensity, the durability and also if they look beautiful on the fish.

Types of LED light for reef tank-

1. ViparSpectra 165 W LED Light For High Light Demanding Corals

They are suitable for all corals and come with a cooling fan and a heat sink with a life span of 100,000 hours. It comes with a 6 ft cord which provides for was mobility. They include 55 LEDs with high PAR output. You need more than one light on a tank above 20 gallons. It has two separate colour in white and blue colour which helps in providing an alternative for day and night, making the tank look more beautiful. It can help increase the life of corals and plants. They look very beautiful and are very famous among the users.

2. OceanRevive® Arctic-T247 120W LED Light For Most Coral 

They are suitable for all corals and come with a cooling fan and a heat sink with a high life span. It comes with a big power cord which provides for high mobility. They include 48 LEDs with high PAR output. You need more than one light on a tank above 20 gallons. It has two separate colour in white and blue colour which helps in providing an alternative for day and night, making the tank look more beautiful. They are power efficient and boast a range of 5 colour which is blue, royal blue, white, red and green.  It can help increase the life of corals and plants. They look very beautiful and are very famous among the users.

For Further Reading:

• Discus Fish Care Guide
• Plecostomus Fish Care Guide

Always check out the things we have mentioned up before buying an aquarium and make a good decision