MARINE AQUARIUMS TYPES

A wide variety of commercially available aquariums are designed specifically for marine organisms. The large number of styles, shapes, and sizes will fit just about everyone's taste. Designs include freestanding rectangular, spherical (fish-eye), and square tanks - as well as models that resemble a low coffee table.

Regardless of shape, the two basic materials used in construction are glass and acrylic. There are advantages and disadvantages to each type.

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SIZE OF AQUARIUM

Determining the proper size of the aquarium depends on the number and type of fish, the available space and economical constraints. To the new marine hobbyist the best advice is the larger the aquarium the better.

Marine aquariums must be larger than their freshwater counterparts. Whereas a 10-gallon tank can be perfectly suitable for freshwater fish or goldfish, the same size can cause major problems when maintaining marine fish. Many species of marine fish are very territorial and require large areas to coexist peacefully with other species. Secondly, smaller aquariums may foul rapidly, so once a problem occurs you have little time to correct the situation. Therefore, the larger the aquarium the better. As a general rule, start with a standard rectangular with a capacity of 20 to 40 gallons.

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Tank Shape

You should give careful consideration to the shape of your aquarium. The various available shapes have a direct effect on the watery environment. Long tanks provide greater surface area and reduce depth. High tanks provide greater depth and reduced surface area. The greater the surface area of the tank, the better the gas exchange at the water surface - and therefore the more rapid the dissipation of carbon dioxide and the absorption of oxygen. Certain aquarium shapes can appear pleasing to the eye, but may not have the environmental advantages offered by more standard designs. For example, fish-eye tanks provide an ultramodern appearance, but are generally unsuitable because of an extreme reduction in surface area. The number of animals that can be maintained in such tanks is quite limited. In addition, maintenance of the fish-eye aquariums is often very difficult and time-consuming including the cleaning of the gravel, addition and removal of decorative items and fish, and simple cleaning of the inside surfaces.

As a general rule, if two aquariums of the same volume differ in the size of their surfaces, select the one that provides the greater surface area.

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Aquarium Weight And Placement

A very important consideration in deciding the size of the aquarium is its total weight when in full operation. In determining where the aquarium is to be placed, you must consider the combined weight of the aquarium, water, decorations, coral rock, and so on.

An aquarium can be placed on a piece of furniture if it capable of supporting the weight. Keep in mind that saltwater eventually will get on the furniture. It is therefore recommended that you purchase a cabinet or stand specifically designed to support an aquarium. Numerous styles of wood or wood-grain finish cabinets are sold, often with storage space for air pumps, filters, and other equipment. Other cabinets or stand provide space for additional small aquariums.

You should also be certain that the floor in your home would support the weight of an aquarium. If you live on the upper floor of an apartment or condominium, check to determine what weight can be supported.

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FILTRATION (PROTEIN SKIMMERS, OZONE GENERATORS, AND ULTRAVIOLET STERILIZERS)

The basic equipment for a marine aquarium is similar to equipment needed for a freshwater aquarium. The most important pieces of equipment are the filters, responsible for the purification of the aquarium water. Various types of filtration equipment are available, each performing single or multiple functions. Some filter equipment is optional, while others are an absolute necessity for purifying the aquarium water.

Protein Skimmers - or foam fractionators as they are best known, are one of the most efficient means of removing dissolved organic materials from the water. Although there are various designs for protein skimmers, the basic principle remains the same. As air is added to the reaction chamber, the small bubbles produced by an air diffuser come into contact with dissolved materials. The bubbles carry the attached organics to a surface chamber, where they form a foam. The foam continues to build until the volume of foam is forced into a dry collection chamber, where it liquefies. The organics are disposed of once a sufficient amount has accumulated.

Ozone Generators and Ultraviolet Sterilizers

The use of ozone and ultraviolet sterilizers will effectively remove dissolved organics in marine aquarium water, and are also effective in destroying agents responsible for fish diseases.

The units generate ozone, a form of oxygen that is a highly energized form of three oxygen molecules. This form of oxygen is capable of oxidizing, or breaking down, various chemical compounds and destroying disease-causing microorganisms. The major disadvantage of ozone is that one must maintain a narrow acceptable concentration because ozone's toxicity to fish and other aquatic organisms. Secondly, the amount of ozone in water is not easily measured not easily regulated, making it virtually impossible for an aquarist to know if the concentration in the aquarium water is approaching toxic levels. Therefore ozone gas must never be added directly to water, but to a reacting chamber first before the treated water returns to the aquarium. Various small ozone generators are available commercially for marine aquariums. With this in mind, ozone should be considered an option, especially for a person new to the marine hobby. Marine aquariums can operate well without ozone generators.

Ultraviolet sterilizers primarily control the concentration in the water of bacteria, viruses, and fungi, all potential causes of fish disease. Irradiation is best used in larger aquariums with large numbers of fish, in which the system can benefit by reducing the buildup of microorganisms.

Various types of units are available commercially. Since many factors play a role in the efficacy of this type of equipment, it is important to select the proper type of unit.

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