A marine aquarium differs from a freshwater in complexity and high maintenance.
More demanding freshwater to the quality and purity of water marine inhabitants. In addition to temperature, salinity, acidity, and the content of harmful substances are controlled.
Alkaline reaction has sea water. The solubility of ammonia and the risk of poisoning of the inhabitants increase. Mechanical filtration is insufficient. Nitrogen removal required: biofiltration.
Salt-resistant equipment for a marine aquarium is more expensive than usual. The salt is aggressive; when corroded, unadapted materials release toxic components. Experienced aquarists make part of the equipment at home.
Sea animals and plants are more expensive than freshwater.
Decide on flora and fauna, style of design. The choice will tell the volume of the vessel, the soil and the composition of additional equipment. In an aquarium of 200 liters or more, maintaining biological balance is easier.
For beginners, stores offer ready-made kits containing everything you need for a saltwater aquarium.
If you don’t want to do it yourself, order the sizes and design. Specialists will install. Further service is also available.
Types of saltwater aquarium
- For keeping fish and plants. Recommended for beginners.
- Combined, intestinal (coral polyps), lithops and invertebrates (sea anemones, shrimps) are added. Limitation: the combination of fish and invertebrates is not always permissible.
- Coral, with schooling fish.
- Reef, the most time-consuming type of aquarium. Hard corals, typical flora and fauna are located.
Aquarium
For the design of the premises, various forms are used.
- Corner saves space. Distributed in offices and public places.
- Wall mounted limited displacement. But fit into any environment. Inconvenient for maintenance.
- Panoramic with a convex front glass. With fantastic views and value. With the effect of increasing. Non-branded ones suffer leaks and require laborious repairs.
The classic aquarium (rectangular box) is equally suitable for the contemplation and cultivation of marine hydrobionts. Proportions (WxHxD) - 1 x 0.75 x 0.5.
For the walls using different properties of materials.
- Silicate glass. Traditional hard and brittle material. Used in standard products. Chemically resistant, hardly scratched. In some cases, they use non-splicing "triplex": laminated glass with a film.
- Acrylic (organic) glass for custom products. It easily bends and takes on any shape. Resistant to shock. Easily scratched, cloudy over time. Other things being equal lighter than silicate.
Location
Natural light, especially the sun, will cause the growth of unnecessary algae on glass and decorative elements. The interior does not look spectacular.
Nearby heaters overheat the aquarium. It is fraught with the death of expensive inhabitants.
Drafts cause unacceptable temperature jumps in the absence of an effective heater.
In noisy and hectic places, living inhabitants develop stress.
Volume
From 200 liters to maintain bio-balance and contain more species.
Stand
A stand is needed for reliable installation of the aquarium and compact placement of equipment. For a load of 300 kg, household furniture is not suitable.
Under a purchased aquarium, a stand is usually selected ready. Under the non-standard size - order or make independently.
The welded steel supporting frame suffers from aggressive seawater. Masters recommend a wooden frame or an assembly of 22–25 mm MDF (chipboard) without a frame. All parts are protected from water.
Height - 0.8–0.85 m, deflection or swelling of the countertop is not allowed. To compensate for uneven floors, adjustable legs are required.
Population
Caring for a marine aquarium will be easier if live filters are present - corals, mollusks.
Popular fish
- Fiery angel (Centropyge loricula), fire centropig. Color yellow or orange with black vertical stripes. Anal and dorsal fins with bright blue edges. It grows to 9–11 cm. It is aggressive towards male relatives. It is recommended to keep in one vessel from 500 liters of male and 2-3 females. Omnivores, most of the diet is plant foods. Filtration through activated carbon.
- (Paracanthurus hepatus), royal surgeon. Color blue with a dark blue pattern. Caudal fin yellow with dark trim. It grows to 9-12 cm. Loving, capacity from 300 liters, likes shelters. Omnivore, the main food is vegetable.
- Yellow Zebrasoma (Zebrasoma flavescens), yellow surgeon, yellow sailing zebrasoma. The color is bright yellow. It grows up to 9–11 cm. Life-saving, the capacity is from 250 liters with shelters. The flock is wary of new relatives. It feeds on plant food 3 times a day. As a top dressing - live and frozen food, boiled egg yolk and chopped fillet of sea fish, shrimp meat, mussels.
- Clown fish (Amphiprion), amphiprion. In aquariums, orange amphiprion (Amphiprion percula) is common. Color orange with white vertical rings. In length - 6–9 cm. In the wild they live in symbiosis with predatory sea anemones. Peaceful, in the general aquarium up to 70 liters per couple. They love shelters. They actively breed, the male protects the eggs. Omnivores, eat 2-3 times a day live or frozen food with herbal supplements. Noisy: rumble, click.
- The Royal Gram (Gramma Loreto) is an Atlantic fish of the percussion order. The color is purple, yellow in the tail. 5-6 cm in length. Territorial, with a lack of space, aggressive. For a couple of fish in a species aquarium, you need from 150 liters. They are omnivores, eating live and frozen food with plant nutrition.
Plants
Caulerpa taxifolia (Caulerpa taxifolia) in the wild is common in the Indian and Pacific Oceans and the seas of the basin. Creeping plant with foliage in the form of feathers from the stem. Stems up to 15 cm. In an established aquarium, you do not need to take care. Lighting 50-60 lumens per liter.
Deciduous Cowlerpa (Caulerpa prolifera) hails from the Indian and Pacific Oceans and the seas of the basin. Creeping stalk with pointed leaves 16–18 cm long. Unpretentious, preferably medium flow. Lighting 50-60 lumens per liter.
Acanthophora spicifera - red algae, grows on stones and solid reef fragments. Feeding for herbivorous fish.
Botryocladia skottsbergii - a useful inhabitant of living stones, red algae. It is a rounded pouch 4-8 mm long. Lighting doesn't matter. It is found in nature in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Coral
Hard corals and sea anemones belong to the class of coral polyps.
Hard corals are distinguished by the presence of a skeleton. Colonies form reefs, atolls - bottom fragments of organic origin. Pocillopora or cauliflower are common in aquariums. Do not stop growing when cooled below 26 ° C.
Soft ones have a conditional skeleton. Common dendronephtia, gorgonarria, clavularia.
According to the method of nutrition, three types of corals are distinguished.
Autotrophic - receive nutrition (lime and oxygen) from algae-symbionts (clavularia). Relatively easy to maintain. Recommended water and light are required.
Heterotrophic - food is delivered by the flow. Contained with moving animals.
Mixotrophs are the most common type. Combine both methods of nutrition.
The last two types consume, in addition to light, phyto- and zooplankton (nauplii, rotifers), organic residues.
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Actiniums (anemones) lack a skeleton. Predators, poisonous strekal tentacles immobilize the prey and deliver to the mouth. Food - invertebrates, small fish. With a lack of food, they show mixotrophic properties. Shredded sea fish and squid are eaten in the aquarium (in no case do not give boiled shrimp). Suitable live and frozen plankton, special dry food.
The skeleton is replaced by intestinal muscles, enabling attachment to the ground and movement. Prefer to hide the "foot" between the stones. Constant movement usually means adverse conditions for all corals.
Do not tolerate temperatures above 29 ° C. Sensitive to oxygen deficiency and reduced salinity.
In marine conditions and in the aquarium, they willingly form a spectacular symbiosis with clown fish.
Corals are active natural filters. Not always compatible. Soft release mucus toxic to hard. Sea anemones attack soft species. Containment and compatibility conditions are different for individual species. The requirements for current intensity, temperature conditions, and nitrate content differ.
Invertebrates
Arthropod crustaceans: crabs and shrimps. Aquarium orderlies. They need shelters for the duration of the shell change. Usually contain crab shooters, boxers, hermits and harlequin shrimp.
Starfish are predatory bottom echinoderms. Echinoderms also include sea urchins. Stars feed on mollusks, corals, hedgehogs. Some species have an attractive color. Limited mobility. Top protected by carapace and needles. Below are the mouth and suction cups for sliding on the ground.
Asterina starfish caught in a vessel with living stones and corals can harm the latter. They actively reproduce, grow up to 15–20 mm. If you notice bright spots on the polyps, get a starfish-eating harlequin shrimp.
Tubular worms live on reefs. The body is in a protective tube of solid deposits or its own calcareous secretions. A flower-like whisk with a bright color contains respiratory organs and food-catching cilia. In danger, the whisk hides in the tube. Purifies water, not compatible with predatory fish.
Cephalopods require vessels of 500 liters or more. Cultivate nautilus, octopus, squid and cuttlefish. Predators are not prone to disease.
Nautilus have been little studied, due to the difficulty of their fishing. They live in spiral shells up to 0.25 m in circumference. They move due to the release of water. Complex in content. They live up to 15 years.
Octopuses are smart, curious. Amenable to learning. When frightened, it shoots a stream of ink that is toxic to the animal. Able to change color. Crawls out of the aquarium through the slightest gap. He loves shelter. Neighbors cannot stand. They live up to 5 years. In nature, individuals are found deadly dangerous to humans. Extreme people come across in aquariums.
Cuttlefish have an individual character. Smart, love to play. The mood changes color. When in danger, hides in a harmless ink cloud. They live up to 6 years.
Squids have three hearts. The skeleton is missing. With blue blood. Hemoglobin replaces copper-containing hemocyanin. Able to glow. Float due to the release of water. Prone to jumping out. Live up to 3 years.
Bivalve mollusks filter water. They feed on phyto- and zooplankton. They look elegant on living stones.
Most snails are herbivorous. They feed on simple algae without harming higher ones. Predatory species can harm corals.
Equipment
Marine aquaristics suggests stable conditions in the bank. When a significant amount of water evaporates, salinity rises. Get a system of auto-filling: buy or make yourself. Only osmotic water is suitable for topping up.
The electrical equipment and switching located in the cabinet and next to it must have a degree of protection of at least IP65. Sea water is a conductor.
Filtration
It is necessary for mechanical purification of water from solid particles. Filter through foam rubber, synthetic winterizer.
But the main thing is bio- and chemical filtration to remove substances harmful to the inhabitants. Ammonia is processed by bacteria into nitrites and nitrates. Bacteria live on bioceramics, plastic balls with a rough surface and on balls made of porous glass.
Chemical cleaning is carried out using activated carbon.
For cans from 150 liters, canister (external) filters are effective. A pump is used to pump water.
Productivity, choose from the calculation of 6-8 can volumes per hour.
In marine aquariums, sumps are more often used (from English sump, sump). It is a technical vessel divided into compartments with a capacity of 1/3 of the demonstration. It is installed under the main vessel in the cabinet.
In addition to the mechanical filter, the sump includes compartments for improving the quality of water.
- Calquasser - Increases calcium with Ca (OH) 2. It is a food for corals and plants.
- Skimmer (penny, flotator) - removes organic matter from water. When purged with a compressor, organics react with air bubbles. Foam forms on the surface. The foam is separated and transferred to a separate container, from where it is removed.
- Coal cell with chemical cleaning.
- Scraper - water is fed to a grid placed under a bright lamp. Algae actively absorbing phosphates, ammonia and nitrites grow on the grid under such conditions.
- Algal (refugium) - lit compartment with hetamorphous algae (“green hair”). Cleans from harmful substances, enriches with oxygen, balances acidity.
- The water heater in the sump does not clutter the demonstrator, does not spoil the view.
- An ultraviolet lamp disinfects.
Water circulation: it flows by gravity into the receiving compartment, from the return to the aquarium with the help of a pump.
Samp is purchased at the store or ordered. Experienced specialists make at home.
Lighting
Coral requires intense backlighting. Luminous flux - 70–80 lumens per liter. Traditionally, they use economical LED and fluorescent lamps with cold (from 6000 K) white light.
Metal halide lamps are not so economical. A hot bulb explodes when water gets in. Heats the jar. Ballast control gear is noisy, and electronic is expensive.
The duration of daylight hours in a marine aquarium is from 12 hours.
Aesthetes recommend a blue night "moonlight". Not necessary. But it’s interesting to watch the nocturnal species hiding in shelters during the day (shrimp, crabs, mollusks). It is realized with the help of filters or blue LEDs.
Maintaining the temperature
Recommended values \u200b\u200bfor tropical inhabitants are 24–26 ° C. Below 24 ° C, they do not stand for long, but they are sick. At 29 ° C, the solubility of oxygen decreases. Corals lose their color. Symbiotic algae die off or are discarded, which threatens polyps with death.
An urgent measure to reduce the temperature is to blow the surface with an air fan. A reduction of a couple of degrees is provided, even if the room is hot. Due to the evaporation of liquid.
Aquarium fridge
It is used if the fans cannot cope. Flowing, included in the external filter circuit, sump or in an autonomous circuit with a pump.
Standard models for capacities of 50–2000 liters are on sale. The cooling level is 4–5 ° C. Disadvantages: space heating and high cost.
Craftsmen make their own from the elements of an air conditioner.
Water movement
Filters and sampas do not create currents, but marine inhabitants need them. Acceptable results are obtained with a pair of opposed pumps. Total productivity - 10-15 can volumes per hour. 5-7 hours one pump is running. For 2-3 hours, the second is connected, they work together. Then the first is turned off. The cycle repeats.
The two-pump organization eliminates dead zones. Useful for corals. At night, the intensity of the pumps is reduced to avoid the absorption of sleepy residents.
Each type of invertebrate has its own current strength. If the coral does not open due to flow, all tests are in order, relocate.
Tests
Basic tests for sea water.
- Acidity (pH).
- Carbonate hardness (kH or dkH).
- Calcium or CaCO3.
- The content of nitrates (NO3).
- The phosphate content (PO4).
During the start of biological equilibrium, the nitrite and ammonia contents are monitored.
Salinity and density of sea water are measured by a refractometer. The readings are temperature independent, therefore accurate.
A hydrometer calibrated at 25 ° C (densitometer) with an immersion scale is not so accurate, but cheap. A somewhat more expensive switch or digital hydrometer, which measures the specific gravity.
The relationship of density, salinity and specific gravity.
Concentrations of substances are determined by purchased tests from manufacturers.
- Tetra;
- Red sea;
- Sera
- Aquayer.
Water preparation
The instructions “where to start water treatment” vary. Some offer dilution of tap water with air conditioning to remove harmful impurities. Others are distillates. To start the marine environment is harmful.
Use water passed through a reverse osmosis filter. Foreign matter is removed. Oxygen remains. The filter itself is useful for preparing a change or topping up.
For water treatment, use food grade plastic containers.
At the pet store, purchase sea salt for aquariums. Other types of salt will not work. Calculate the amount needed: 35–40 g per liter of water. Buy salt with a margin - it will be cheaper. And come in handy during operation.
In the selected container or aquarium with water, establish an intensive flow using a marine pump. For saturation of water with oxygen and mixing. Pour salt in portions with a measure of salinity. Sea water is prepared one day after complete dissolution of the salt.
Items
Living stones
Living stones - a fragment of a coral reef delivered to the store along with the inhabitants. In a marine aquarium, they act as a biofilter. Settled invertebrates are attached to the stones. Shelters for fish and crustaceans are laid out from the stones. The launch of bio-balance is accelerated.
They have a complex internal structure. The main inhabitants are not visible.
For a combined aquarium, purchase stones at the rate of 0.6–1 kg per 5 liters (25–50% of the volume), for a reef aquarium — twice as much.
Choose stones with a developed relief - potential shelters. The abundance of living vegetation indicates the quality of transportation.
Reef corals, sea anemones are also found. In favorable conditions they will survive.
Unwanted animals are brought in with the stones.
- Mantis cancers of considerable size are easy to spot upon purchase and remove. Predatory crabs are detected by night illumination. Use traps in the vessel.
- Polychaete worms are not all harmful and dangerous. Only individual fiery and carnivorous species.
- Sea anemones "glass roses".
- Planaria are removed from the stones before being placed in a jar. Prepare baths from solutions: Seacheam Reef Dip (5 ml / 4 L) or Coral RX (12 drops / L), Tropic Marin PRO-CORAL CURE (1 ml / 200 ml). Use aquarium water. Place the stone in the bath for 12-15 minutes. Rinse and send to the aquarium. In the vessel, the planarium is actively eaten by jubans and mandarin fish.
There is a way to save - dilute living stones with dry reef stones (SRK). It is obtained after processing and drying the living.
- Cheap due to lower shipping costs.
- Devoid of pests.
- Possibility of high-quality gluing of scenery.
- Shelf life is not limited.
Within six months, IBS are populated by flora and fauna from the living. Internal structure is suitable.
To remove organic residues hazardous with nitrates, it is necessary to withstand 1-2 months in osmosis.
Live sand
Consists of coral chips. It is obtained at the bottom in the vicinity of reefs. When wet, canned in plastic bags. Contains ready-made marine bacterial culture. Speeds up the launch of the aquarium.
Aquarists doubt the need for use. Because for the revitalization of the soil enough live stones. And ordinary coral chips adjust pH and add calcium and trace elements in the same way.
For the majority of the population, a substrate with rounded fragments of 2-3 mm is suitable. Provides ventilation and bottom bacteria.
Scenery
Usually laid out from living stones and IBS.
If you need to install a cunning decoration or on the frame, holes for pins are drilled or used.
Settled corals, before rooting, are attached to the stones with rubber or glued.
Artificial decorations are made of stadont (inert plastic). Bought, made to order or on their own. Experiments with porous cement give good results.
Running a saltwater aquarium
Starting a marine aquarium for beginners begins with testing the water for salinity and preparing salted osmosis for a change. Test after 4-6 days after salting with pumps turned on around the clock. Spread non-living soil at any time, but connect filtering.
In case of a positive test result, place live sand and stones. Connect a filter or sump, lighting.
Remove dead algae and any suspicious organisms from the stones. A thorough inspection will save time in the future. Adaptation helps the introduction of an iodine-containing solution of Lugol (according to the instructions).
Decomposition of the dead organic matter of living sand will give a jump in the concentration of nitrogen-containing compounds. In this case, the bacterial environment of stones, soil and biofiltration is not developed.
Add stones gradually, 2-3 pieces per day. The first week, carry out daily testing for ammonia and nitrites. If the values \u200b\u200bare threatening, pause the download. Change part of the water, increase circulation.
The further life of the aquarium depends on the adjustment of biological balance. Take your time: the process lasts 4-8 weeks. Further settlement is possible while maintaining stable positive tests for 2 weeks.
Replace 10% of capacity weekly.
Planting plants
In freshwater aquariums, algae are the ultimate pest. Marine (except for nitrate and blue-green), higher multicellular, take an active part in the processing of organic waste.
If Cowlerps of living stones were not preserved during transportation, add. Planting in a marine aquarium is not necessary. Added to the marine environment finds a place of attachment on their own.
In the absence of herbivorous fish, it grows and interferes with corals.
Add at the same time as live stones: make launch easier.
Population
Plant fish gradually, 2–3 individuals. Place the container in the aquarium. After equalizing the temperatures, replace the fish water 1/4. After a couple of hours, repeat the change. After 4 hours, pour into the aquarium.
Monitor the concentration of nitrogen compounds. Indirectly, the state of the environment is judged by the appetite of the pets.
After 1-2 months, start planting corals. The procedure is similar.
Trace elements of the marine environment
Trace elements are contained in sea water in concentrations up to 1 mg / l. The influence on the flora and fauna of heavy metals and many other elements has not been recorded. To clarify the composition, a test is carried out in specialized laboratories ICP. Cost - from 4 000 rubles.
Before starting such a hobby, it would be correct to read as much literature as possible on this topic, so that at first it would not be possible to make common mistakes. Well, the main points of the plan, how to make a saltwater aquarium yourself, will be provided by our step-by-step guide: assemble the tank, install the main decorative elements, attach the turned off filters, fill up the fillers in them, conduct grounding; fill the tank with tap water, stand for a day, drain; fill the tap water three quarters of the volume, turn on the filters, heating (25-26 ° C)
and pump, defend the system for seven days; turn off the apparatus, clean the filter from coal filler and lay a new portion, add sea salt to the water (37 grams of salt per 1 liter of water); turn on the pump so that the salt mixes and dissolves, then turn it off; when the water settles, clean the bottom with a siphon - there will be a cloudy precipitate, it must be removed; lay the soil and make all the seaweed and decorations you have (stones, houses, sinks);
measure the density of water with a hydrometer, bring the indicator to 1’022-1’024 g / l, adding either fresh water or saline, at the same time fill the tank almost to the edges (indent from the top edge 4-5 cm); wait a week until the water settles, but after about three days, turn on the filters, pump, skimmer and heater, add the drug with bacteria or live stones (reefs); a week passed, the bacteria managed to decompose the dead organics,
and the filters cleaned the water; check the test for the content of ammonium, nitrite and phosphorus, as well as the acid-base balance (the norm of the first is not more than 0.5 mg per liter, the second - not less than 8.0); if the indicators deviate, it means that the decay is not over yet, simply put, something is rotting in the water - it needs to be found and removed (remove and clean all the stones and decorations);
when all indicators are normal, you can run the first settlers - fish, 2-3 small individuals; at this stage, you need to check the indicators daily and change the water until the bacteria populate the contents of the aquarium and can completely process the fish waste; when the process is established, launch new fish, 1-2 per week, carefully checking the indicators with tests, replacing water; everything gradually gets into a rut, and in three months you will have a reliable biosystem!
MARINE AQUARIUM EQUIPMENT
The first important purchase will, of course, be the tank itself. Its shape can be different, most often it is a container with a base in the form of a square, a rectangle, and forms with a convex front (survey) wall are less common. Displacement matters - it will take at least 200 liters, preferably 400 and more. Do not be tempted by 50 and 100-liter - sea animals in them are sick and die.
Probably the most important purchase will be an external canister filter. Experienced aquarists recommend the Eheim 2260 or 2250 and Fluval 403 or 303. Special filler materials are also needed - these are ceramic chips, charcoal and sponge.
Get a temperature regulator, a skimmer (a device for removing foam), as well as a pump or pump filter - this is a device for saturating water with oxygen, and in addition to the filter there is also a waste removal mechanism. Be sure to ground the aquarium: buy an RCD (residual current device) and call an electrician who will correctly output and connect it. 
The next purchase is a supply of coal and salt, bacterial preparations, acidity tests, a simple hydrometer (a float that shows how dense the water is) and a siphon for cleaning the bottom.
If funds allow, take another UV lamp with a power of 15 watts and a large canister (about 50 l) to dilute the salt in it. The first month of caring for the aquarium will require significant costs and effort, and then everything will become much simpler - daily feeding and about an hour a week for maintenance of equipment. 
Choosing the right amount
It goes without saying that the larger the volume of the aquarium, the more expensive its equipment costs. Although the best volume for the "sea" is considered a capacity of 200 - 250 liters. (it’s easiest to maintain a balanced ecosystem), you can start with smaller aquariums - the best option would be 50 - 80 liters.
A very small aquarium (for example, 20 l.), If desired, can also be made “marine”, but maintaining constant water parameters in it is quite difficult. The rectangular shape of the container is preferable to the cubic, and this is due to the possibility of organizing the right lighting, as well as placing stones.
STONES FOR MARINE AQUARIUM
Such stones are also called living, since they are genuine fragments of coral reefs from the ocean, and numerous colonies of beneficial bacteria live in their cavities. Some samples have real thickets of polyps (sea anemones) on their surface, and small crustaceans, crabs, and sea worms inside.
Having brought home the purchased stones, they should be processed - washed under a stream of hot water, be sure to wear strong gloves, since the listed types of unwanted inhabitants leave painful and dangerous burns and bites. Having set stones, observe life in it in the dark - hungry and active passengers will soon find themselves. At the stage of dealing with them, use special medicines or remove animals with tweezers.
A few more words about the second favorite element of the decor are sea shells in the aquarium. The decoration of the seabed, they are completely unsuitable for our purposes, but beginners often want to use them - it's beautiful after all! The main reason to abandon shells is the hardness of the water, which is steadily increasing due to these sources of calcium carbonate (in fact, chalk). Not all aquarium fish will hurt and die, their possible proximity to shells depends on the species, but they probably will not be able to reproduce. 
Filtration and water recovery systems
The most important and difficult point in equipping a marine aquarium, because the water in it must be perfectly clean and contain a minimum amount of nitrates. If in natural conditions nature takes care of this, and sea currents constantly bring fresh and clean water, then in the aquarium the problem of water purity can be dealt with only with the help of special equipment. Samp is a container made of organic glass, divided by partitions into compartments in which various aquarium equipment is installed.
Sump is usually equipped in an aquarium cabinet, but has direct communication with the aquarium. It can be bought (now there is a large selection of sumps with all the necessary equipment on sale) or made independently, in which case the aquarist has the opportunity to uniquely select the aquarium equipment that is most suitable for him. The main principle of the sampa is a closed cycle.
Using a return pump, water flows from the sump to the aquarium, and then, exceeding a certain level, it enters the overflow box and then flows by gravity back to the sump. What should be in the sump? Foaming column (skimmer). Using this device, organic matter that is constantly present there is removed from the water even before the moment of its decay. Even dirt invisible to the naked eye quickly gathers on the bubbles that the skimmer creates and accumulates in a special compartment, from where it is then easily removed. Biological filter. For these purposes, a separate sump compartment is usually filled with filter material.
This can be coral chips, as well as special bio-balls or other porous organic material. The larger the surface of the biological filter, the more bacteria are there, and accordingly, the quality of biological filtration improves. We must not forget about the amount of oxygen necessary for the process, as well as the speed of the water flow through the filter. Together, these three factors create the biological stability of the entire system. Seaweed (refugium).
Algae can very effectively remove nitrates from water, in addition, microplankton, which serves as a food for many inhabitants of a marine aquarium, propagates in algae. For the organization of algae over one of the compartments of the sump with running water, lighting is done, while the lamp must be powerful enough (70-100 W). Algae (hetamorph) are placed at the bottom of the compartment, which, under conditions of high nitrate content and bright lighting, grow and multiply very well. Their number must be controlled, because with excessive growth, algae absorb too many trace elements from the water, and this is harmful to corals. 
The flow of water in the algae should be slower than in the entire aquarium. Return pump. It is usually installed in a special compartment of the sump with a variable water level. At the same time, the compartment is made large enough to contain the entire volume of water that will merge from the aquarium in case of an emergency power outage or a pump breakdown. To reduce the amount of confluent water in a similar situation, near the end of the return tube lowered into the aquarium at a distance of 1.5 cm, holes are made below the water level.
When the level drops, air enters the holes and the drain stops. It is necessary to pay attention to the power of the return pump. The optimal solution would be a pump that manages to pump about 10 volumes of the aquarium in an hour. In this case, the decomposition products will be removed in time from the aquarium, and the water will be saturated with oxygen sufficiently. Autofilling. The system of compensation for water evaporated from the aquarium, which greatly facilitates the life of its owner, as daily level tracking is quite tedious.
The pump (in specialized stores at the moment there is a large selection of them) is installed in a separate compartment of the sump according to the instructions. Additional compartments. It is recommended to purchase or make your own sump, providing for the availability of spare compartments. Methods for water purification in a marine aquarium are constantly being improved and, possibly, additional compartments will be required to install any innovation. In addition, a water heater can be installed in the sump, which in this case does not spoil the appearance created by the aquarist of the "sea" landscape.
FISH FOR SEA AQUARIUM
To make your home sea pleasing not only with its bright beauty, but also with a peaceful atmosphere, populate the reservoir with medium-sized and non-aggressive species. As new species populate, study the literature to find out which ones coexist easily and which conflict. If you decide to keep exotic predatory fish, you have to limit yourself to one species so as not to turn your aquarium into a torture chamber.
But do not be embarrassed, the choice of fish without exaggeration is great. Enjoy the diversity of marine aquarium inhabitants: parrot fish; Triggers hedgehog fish (without neighbors); soldier fish; angels: centropig, diacanthus and about 20 more subspecies; moray eels (without neighbors); fox fish; wide family of butterfly fish; zebrasoma and other surgeon fish; pseudochromises; clown fish; grams; dogs (without neighbors); tangerines; Argus bulls and many others.
Life expectancy is different for everyone, but with good care, successful acclimatization and timely treatment, most species live 3-4 or about 10 years, and angel fish all twenty. Naturally, from the first days it will be necessary to take care of feeding for the fish, given that different species eat differently: there are herbivores, carnivores and omnivores, and some, for example, squirrel fish, eat exclusively live food.
Choose the inhabitants so that it is easier to compose a diet for most or all at once. Do not flatter yourself that you can dig up worms, feed house flies or get along with bread crumbs. For marine fish, branded food is not a whim, but a necessity, so be aware of your responsibility to animals and be prepared to constantly buy good food of a certain type. 
Organization of the right course
The current is a vital factor for marine life. It purifies water, brings food and oxygen and determines all the natural cycles of marine animals. In a marine aquarium, flow is especially important for live rock. Only with intense water movement can they fully fulfill the function of a biological filter.
In conditions of natural habitat, marine animals get used to quite strong currents, which are sometimes replaced by calm. Therefore, in a marine aquarium, some pumps can be turned off at night. The minimum volume pumped by the pump per hour for the "sea" should be 10-15 volumes of the aquarium, although the optimal indicator would be 50 volumes. The flow of water should not flow directly to invertebrates.
It is better to direct it to the stones so that they are washed as intensely as possible. For these purposes, usually use two pumps installed opposite each other. In this case, the minimum number of stagnant zones remains in the aquarium, in which microlife can die due to lack of oxygen
Aquarium fridge
The usual temperature for a saltwater aquarium is 25-26 degrees. If its lower limit is easily adjustable with a water heater, then in extreme heat very often there is a problem with cooling the water to the desired parameters. An aquarium refrigerator is not a cheap pleasure, but if you consider that in an especially hot season all aquarium inhabitants can die due to overheating, the installation justifies itself.
If you decide to acquire exotic marine fish and create marine underwater reefs at home, you need to know where to start a marine aquarium. The higher the tank capacity, the more expensive all the necessary devices will cost. The optimal volume of the aquarium is 200-250 liters, in such a tank it is easier to balance the aquatic ecosystem. You can choose an 80-100 liter rectangular tank in which it will be easier to maintain lighting and other processes.
The first thing you should pay attention to when buying water supplies is that it must carry water with a high concentration of salt. Before buying devices, think about exactly which pets you want to see in your home pond. Consider their size, lifestyle, norms of water parameters for living, and only then go shopping.
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Marine Aquarium Lighting
The correct life cycle of all living organisms depends on the precise organization of lighting. The power and spectral flux of light must be special for each type of plant and animal. The minimum brightness for a saltwater aquarium with soft corals is 0.5 watts per liter of water, with hard corals: 1 watts per liter. A marine aquarium needs good lighting, since zooxanthellae live with corals, these are algae that need bright light. In addition, saturated light will give a brighter color to corals.
Animal groups Invertebrates that love shady places should live in a shaded aquarium, which can be with lots of arches or stones. The quantitative indicator of light is also affected by the light spectrum (light temperature). Soft corals need white and bright lighting, and deep-sea corals like low-power spectra. If you illuminate the aquarium with two white and two blue lamps - they will create comfort for all types of corals.
Where to start lighting the tank with sea (salt) water? The lamps with the highest power are made of metal and halogens with a power of 150-500 watts. They are suitable for aquariums with high walls, as light can penetrate deep into the bottom without being scattered around its perimeter. Some varieties of lighting devices have a night lighting function regulator that creates an imitation of moonlight, which is important for the reproduction of plankton.
In addition to metal halide bulbs, T5 lamps for daylight can be used in the aquarium. They are characterized by compactness and high power. With their help, you can make night illumination with blue LED bulbs. Another plus of such bulbs is that they simulate the dawn and sunset during switching on and off.
Nowadays, LED lighting products are popular, which serve a long time, consuming little electricity. Some such lamps can control light temperature by reproducing a sunny day cycle. The amount of daylight in a marine aquarium is 10-12 hours.
How is salt water filtered and updated?
A saltwater aquarium should be distinguished by crystal clear water, with the lowest concentration of nitrates. Cleanliness in a closed pond can provide special equipment. The first is the sump, which is a reservoir of organic glass, which is divided by means of partitions into cells (compartments), where different types of aquarium mechanisms are installed.
Watch a video about what a sump is, how it is built and works.
Samp directly communicates with the tank and is installed in an aquarium cabinet, which can be constructed independently, or purchased in a store. The mechanism works according to a closed-loop scheme: from the sump, water enters the tank, after pumping from the return pump. When it is recruited in the right amount, water enters the overflow tank, and already it goes back to the sump. A skimmer is placed in the sump - this is a device that purifies water from organics when it has not yet decayed. Small particles of dirt quickly accumulate in the bubbles from the skimmer, and concentrate in the prepared cell from which they are removed.
In addition to the sump, the marine aquarium should have a biological filter, which is placed in a separate cell (compartment) of the sump. As a biofilter, porous material of natural origin or coral chips can be used. The flow rate of the water through the filter also matters.
Refujium, or algae - with the help of algae, you can purify water from nitrates, in algae can reproduce plankton, which is needed for the food of some fish. To make algae, you need to make a lamp lighting of 70-100 watts over one sump cell with running water. At the bottom of this compartment, a hetamorph of algae should be placed, which, under good lighting conditions, multiply rapidly. However, with rapid reproduction, they can take a lot of microelements from the water, which is detrimental to corals.
Return pump and automatic topping up
The return pump must be installed in a special sump compartment that controls the amount of water. A volume compartment is assumed here, because during an emergency power outage, he could pump all the water that could drain from the tank. You need to know about the power of the return pump - it must pump in the event of an emergency the volume of the tank multiplied by 10, and in just 1 hour. During this time, all undecomposed organic matter will be removed from the water in time.
See how to properly salt water for a saltwater aquarium.
A marine aquarium is characterized by rapid evaporation of water. To resume its volume in a short time, an automatic topping system (auto-refill) is used. It consists of a pump, which is mounted in a separate compartment of the sump as indicated in the instructions. In addition to it, in an aquarium with salt water there should be special compartments that are made by oneself or purchased. In the sump, you can install water heating, which regulates the temperature of the water. All marine home ponds are mini plots from the warm, "tropical" sea.
Running a marine aquarium is quite simple:
- Collect 75% of its capacity in the tank, infused water;
- Pour sea salt of company origin into the water;
- Run the pump and water heating, expect the dissolution of salt in water;
- Adjust the salinity of the water to 30-35 ppm using a refractometer;
- Take measurements of the water temperature (allowable temperature - 25 ° C);
- Cover the bottom with washed sand at a level of 2 cm. Set the finished decorations;
- 24 hours after infusion of water, you can put live stones. Within 7 days, an aquatic environment will be formed;
- First, mollusks and arthropods are introduced into the tank. Seven days later, unpretentious fish. Corals - after another 2 weeks. The biological balance in the marine aquarium will be established in three months.
A marine aquarium is a rather complex ecosystem, characterized by its beauty and variety of species. Everyone who decided to create such beauty at home should not only have sufficient knowledge in this area, but also have considerable financial capabilities. In addition, the aquarium requires constant care and compliance with the rules of maintenance. Only in this case can one succeed and create a truly beautiful reservoir.
The installation of the aquarium must be approached wisely
Advantages and disadvantages
This kind of ecosystem is very difficult to create at home. Aquarists need to consider a huge number of factors that can affect not only the appearance of the reservoir, but also the life of its inhabitants. It is important to know where to start making a saltwater aquarium. Professionals advise to prioritize correctly and weigh all risks. To make this easier, it is necessary to study all the positive and negative sides of the reservoir of salt water.
The advantages of aquariums include the following:
- attractiveness;
- decorativeness;
- exotic appearance;
- variety of inhabitants;
- less need for frequent cleaning;
- income from the sale of fry of rare fish.
In this video you will learn more about the aquarium for beginners:
In addition to all the positive aspects, there are also negative ones. There are quite a lot of them, therefore, before undertaking the arrangement of the marine ecosystem, it is necessary to study all the features of maintenance and care.
The disadvantages of aquarists include:
- the difficulty of creating and maintaining optimal environmental conditions;
- the need to conduct checks on the quality and composition of water using special reagents that can only be bought in specialized stores;
- arrangement of proper filtration and aeration of the aquarium;
- the need to use a certain type of soil;
- the difficulty of replacing water, which can only be done using special equipment;
- high financial costs for creating a reservoir and maintaining it in perfect condition.
There are a number of disadvantages in aquariums
Types of reservoirs
For the construction of a marine aquarium, it is necessary to clearly determine its appearance. There are 5 options that depend on financial capabilities, available space and personal preferences.
Types of salt reservoirs:
- Fish. This option is suitable for beginner aquarists, since to create it you only need to buy the right types of fish and run them in an empty aquarium. Such a cheap way involves the use of predatory marine life, which does not require additional decorative ornaments.
- Mixed. This type is one of the most popular. It harmoniously combines not only fish, but also some species of invertebrates. The disadvantages of such an aquarium are the complexity of the content and the presence of specific knowledge.
- Coral. It is based on the breeding of corals and a small number of fish species that are harmless to them.
- Reef. This is the most expensive type of aquarium. In it, professionals are trying to recreate the reef ecosystem and bring it as close as possible to natural conditions.
- Shark's. Such a reservoir requires not only significant cash costs, but also the presence of large areas.
Preparation and selection of components
Any marine aquarium for beginners involves the purchase of a large number of expensive equipment and its components. In addition, in the process of creating and operating a salt reservoir, it will be necessary to purchase individual items and replace them with old ones.
Necessary equipment
The first step is to choose a capacity in which the marine ecosystem will be recreated. Its size and shape depend on the desire of the owner and available space. In most cases, it is recommended to choose tanks with a square or rectangular base. They are more stable, reliable and will never roll over.
Do not forget to purchase the necessary equipment Another important factor to consider when buying an aquarium is its volume. To create comfortable conditions, future residents need at least 200 liters of free space. An ideal option would be to acquire a capacity of 400 or more liters. Small tanks are not allowed in marine aquariums, as marine creatures will feel cramped in them. Because of this, they will begin to have health problems that can lead to death.
In addition to the aquarium itself, you will need such devices:
- External canister filter.
- Thermostat.
- Device for removing foam (skimmer).
- A pump or pump filter to saturate a fluid with oxygen.
- The mechanism for the disposal of waste and waste products.
- Residual current device, which is useful in case of unusual situations.
- Siphon for cleaning the bottom.
- An aerometer to help measure the density of water.
- An ultraviolet lamp and a large canister for salt preparation before going to the aquarium.
There are a number of essential aquarium devices.
Most of the equipment listed is expensive and can only be found in specialized stores or on the Internet.
Filtration system
The most important and complex equipment is a water filtration and regeneration system. It helps maintain perfect fluid purity and regulate the amount of nitrates in it.
In the wild, this problem is solved thanks to the sea current, which brings clean and oxygen-rich water every few seconds. When maintaining a marine aquarium at home, it is necessary to recreate the natural process using special equipment (sampa). This device is a vessel made of organic glass, which is divided into several compartments. They contain all the equipment necessary for the aquarium.
Sampa directly contacts the aquarium itself and maintains normal conditions for small creatures to live in it. The basis of her work is a closed loop.
Thanks to the return pump, water flows from the sump to the tank and then into the overflow pipe. After this, the liquid returns to its original location and the process repeats.
Artificial Flow
One of the important success factors for creating an aquarium is the formation of the correct course. In the wild, it brings marine life not only vital oxygen, but also small food.
At home, you have to imitate this natural phenomenon and adapt it to the needs of aquarium pets as much as possible. In this case, it is very important to alternate strong water flows with a full calm. This will bring the environment of keeping fish and other living things closer to natural conditions. To do this, you can turn off some pumps at night and leave minimal waves.
Water flows are best directed to stones. So they will be washed in a high-quality manner and effectively carry out their work.
You can also create a flow For marine artificial reservoirs, stones that were collected in natural nature are used. Most often, they are fragments of coral reefs, which may contain microscopic life for a long time.
Before putting purchased stones into the aquarium, you need to perform a few simple preparatory steps:
- You need to thoroughly wash the purchased goods under hot running water. This should be done with rubber gloves to avoid bites and burns from small organisms living in porous stones.
- Then the stones need to be placed in an empty aquarium and observe what is happening for several days. During this time, the hungry inhabitants who hide inside will crawl out in search of food. This usually happens in the evening or at night.
- Detected creatures are removed, and the stones are processed with special preparations that will help get rid of the remaining organisms.
Do not forget to prepare the bottom for stones The main mistake of beginners is that, in addition to stones, they also add shells. Such a decorative element, although it looks beautiful, does not bring any benefit to the home marine ecosystem. On the contrary, because of the high content of calcium carbonate, water hardness increases, which adversely affects all inhabitants of a salt reservoir.
Buying living things
The whole beauty of the aquarium lies in the variety of life forms that are in it. Therefore, it is very important to choose not only fish, but also invertebrates, as well as corals.
Sea fish
The main inhabitants of the salt reservoir are fish. There are a huge number of them and each of them requires special care or conditions of detention. However, there are several marine inhabitants who are unpretentious and perfectly tolerate even the most negative influences. They will be the best option for beginners and help them understand all the details of the process. . These fish include:
- amphiprion Clarke, Ocellaris, Frenatus;
- dog fish;
- swallow fish;
- lionfish;
- fox fish;
- cardinal;
- yellow zebrasoma.
There are a number of simple fish for beginners in the aquarium. There are quite demanding fish, which are contraindicated for beginners. Without proper care, they will not live much time and only spoil the impression of the created aquarium. These marine creatures include:
- angel fish;
- antias;
- surgeons
- butterfly fish;
- shabby.
You should buy fish in trusted stores that know how to handle and maintain them. Only in this case you can buy a healthy and strong individual.
When choosing the inhabitants of the aquarium, you should be guided by the rule that states that for one centimeter fish you need at least 2 liters of water.
The main mistakes of beginners:
- Buying too many marine fish.
- Run into the aquarium without quarantine.
- Use of incompatible species.
- Purchase of adults.
- Constant replenishment of the aquarium with new fish.
- Acquisition of fish only in its appearance.
Invertebrate acquisition
To create a full-fledged ecosystem of the sea, it is necessary to launch not only fish, but also several species of invertebrates into the aquarium. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the conditions of their living in the wild and provide for the consequences.
Some invertebrate species can also be purchased. You can add these types of invertebrates to the aquarium:
- small snails;
- small shrimp;
- sea \u200b\u200burchins;
- hermit crabs;
- some types of sea worms;
- stars;
- bivalve mollusks.
Breeding coral
One of the most important inhabitants of a marine aquarium can be corals. For beginners, it is best to choose unpretentious species. Moreover, they should be readily available and inexpensive. When adding corals to a container, it is important to consider the fact that these are living things that are able to grow and grow in size. Therefore, do not fill them with the entire bottom of the marine aquarium.
Corals will decorate your aquarium very well Some species can be aggressive and harm their cohabitants. In such cases, it is better to abandon them and replace them with more peaceful ones.
Types of coral:
- Soft (clavularia, briarium, zoanatus, ricordia and many others). These species are ideal for exploring coral. They do not require special conditions of detention and thorough care.
- With large polyps (acanthastraia, caulastraea, aminophyllum, cycloserine and others)
- With small polyps (acropore, pocyllopore, montipora). These species are very demanding and their breeding can only be done if there is enough knowledge in this area.
- Sea anemones, anemones. These species have only one polyp and look great in an aquarium.
A marine aquarium is a complex and costly pleasure that requires special knowledge and skills. However, with the right approach to business and following all the recommendations of professionals, you can create your own salt pond and populate it with beautiful views of the inhabitants.
Sea aquarium, perhaps, is one of the most fascinating, complex and interesting hobbies. You have to spend a lot of time, nerves and money to create a real work of art that will surprise every guest. A marine aquarium in the interior will give your home a unique coziness and sophistication. Moreover, caring for him, in contrast to the generally accepted opinion, is not too complicated. It is much more difficult to launch correctly - it depends on how quickly your pond becomes the standard and the envy of friends. Therefore, approaching this issue is especially serious.
Where to install the aquarium correctly
First of all, select the place where the tank will be installed. However, the requirements for the place are exactly the same as when installing its freshwater pond. Direct sunlight should not fall on it, nearby should
there should be a socket (for filters, lighting and other equipment), but the heating devices should be located as far as possible.
It would be better if the cabinet under the aquarium in a marine style, stands on linoleum, and not on the palace or carpet. The fact is that even with the most careful cleaning in your pond, some of the water will still fall on the floor. Well, wiping the water with a rag from linoleum is much easier than with carpet. Keep in mind that even a small tank is very heavy, so the cabinet must be stable and on a solid base.
If your apartment does not have too much free space, then the corner is perfect. It will take up very little space, but at the same time it will easily fit a fairly capacious capacity, which will be able to meet all your ambitions.
Start the launch
Of course, here it is necessary to proceed from one’s own predilections. Someone will like a large coral reef with a couple of three fish, and someone will prefer a bit of scenery and more fish. Therefore, giving advice on the number of corals is difficult - it is very individual. The same can be said about the types of corals - when buying, you must take into account their compatibility with each other, the requirements for water, lighting and the complexity of the content. You can find out more about corals and invertebrate animals, their types and contents here. An important criterion is also cost. Plan your budget in advance! And do not forget to consult with specialists.
Aquarium light
Regarding the issue of lighting, it is recommended to use fluorescent lamps in combination with metal halides, if you are planning a reef, or if you only have fish, then there will be enough luminescent lamps - they give the correct spectrum of light, while not raising the temperature of the water, unlike metal halide lamps. You can consider aquarium lighting in more detail.
That, in general, is all. Well, if less experienced acquaintances turn to you, you can easily tell them how to properly launch the system and try to warn against all the errors that a marine aquarium has for beginners. So, good luck and vivid impressions!
