Choosing Fish And Supplies For Your Acrylic Saltwater AquariumChoosing the fish and supplies for your acrylic saltwater aquarium is the fun part. This should be done after all of the other logistics have been thought of, such as tank size, placement and water type has been determined. You can work with an expert or on your own to create a breathtaking virtual piece of the ocean. If you're working on your own, you will likely need to do some research on fish types and coral types. You will probably have to research any plants you want to include as well.
You will need to keep in mind how everything needs to work together like a synchronized orchestra. All of the living creatures you choose will need to have the same water, light and temperature requirements. And all of the species will need to have their own space and get along. When you have researched and determined what type of fish you want to buy, it is best to shop from a reputable private fish store or dealer. If possible, you should study the fish before buying. Make sure you don't choose a sick or diseased fish. You can usually tell if a fish has a scale, fin or gill disorder. But make sure it's not breathing hard, scratching or hiding uncharacteristically. Also, try to observe the fish's eating habits before you buy it. It is important to not overcrowd your acrylic saltwater aquarium. There are rules of thumb to go by, depending upon whether your system is running good, average or poor. For a good system, you can put one inch of fish per gallon of water. For average or poor, you will want to keep it around one inch of fish per five to eight gallons of water. It is probably best to start out on the latter side anyway, and then add more fish as you get more experienced. Always keep in mind about your bio-load. Make sure you always have enough biological filters in place to support your biological load (fish) in the tank. Always add new fish slowly to allow the biological to adjust to the fish load. As for the kinds of fish to keep, you will need to know things like whether the fish is territorial or prone to fighting. For example, some fish are better in groups and will fight in pairs. If you include a reef in your acrylic saltwater aquarium, make sure that you don't include fish that are coral eaters. Finally, you will want to choose fish, plants, coral, props and light that will make a gorgeous color splash in your acrylic saltwater aquarium. Everyone will love to spend time admiring your rendition of the ocean. |