The Basic Equipment For Keeping a Stable Aquarium
If there's one thing I wish I knew when I started running a saltwater aquarium, it would be how to use automatic equipment to keep my tank stable.
Most problems in saltwater aquariums come from instability and rapid changes in the water quality.
The three things that change most rapidly in a saltwater system are temperature, salinity, and nutrient levels.
Dramatic swings in these water parameters can have a serious impact on the health of your fish and other livestock, and using machines to automatically adjust them is the best way to ensure a healthy, beautiful aquarium.
The first important piece of equipment is an aquarium chiller.
This is an automatic machine that keeps your temperature at a set level.
Heaters are just a stable heat source - they keep heating as much as their power allows, but this changes when the temperature in the room does.
An aquarium chiller uses powerful sensors and refrigeration technology to automatically cool the water whenever it gets too hot.
This allows you to use strong lights and heaters without having to worry - the aquarium chiller will keep your tank's water temperature stable.
Another important tool is an auto top-off system.
This senses when the water level in your aquarium begins to drop and adds water to the tank.
Salinity changes are one of the most dangerous things that can happen in a saltwater aquarium, and an auto top-off removes that risk.
It doses pure fresh water into your tank and keeps everything stable.
The third important piece of equipment is a protein skimmer.
Nitrites and nitrates build up naturally in your aquarium as a waste product from feeding your pets.
These can spiral out of control very quickly, and cause algae and bacterial blooms that can choke or starve your fish and corals.
A protein skimmer consistently removes this waste from your aquarium as soon as it builds up, helping you maintain low, stable NO4 and NO3 levels in your tank.
These pieces of equipment aren't always cheap, but it's important to remember that they're an investment.
The money that you'll save by preventing maintenance and having expensive animals die will more than cover their cost over time.
I wouldn't start a new aquarium today without all three of these machines in place.
Most problems in saltwater aquariums come from instability and rapid changes in the water quality.
The three things that change most rapidly in a saltwater system are temperature, salinity, and nutrient levels.
Dramatic swings in these water parameters can have a serious impact on the health of your fish and other livestock, and using machines to automatically adjust them is the best way to ensure a healthy, beautiful aquarium.
The first important piece of equipment is an aquarium chiller.
This is an automatic machine that keeps your temperature at a set level.
Heaters are just a stable heat source - they keep heating as much as their power allows, but this changes when the temperature in the room does.
An aquarium chiller uses powerful sensors and refrigeration technology to automatically cool the water whenever it gets too hot.
This allows you to use strong lights and heaters without having to worry - the aquarium chiller will keep your tank's water temperature stable.
Another important tool is an auto top-off system.
This senses when the water level in your aquarium begins to drop and adds water to the tank.
Salinity changes are one of the most dangerous things that can happen in a saltwater aquarium, and an auto top-off removes that risk.
It doses pure fresh water into your tank and keeps everything stable.
The third important piece of equipment is a protein skimmer.
Nitrites and nitrates build up naturally in your aquarium as a waste product from feeding your pets.
These can spiral out of control very quickly, and cause algae and bacterial blooms that can choke or starve your fish and corals.
A protein skimmer consistently removes this waste from your aquarium as soon as it builds up, helping you maintain low, stable NO4 and NO3 levels in your tank.
These pieces of equipment aren't always cheap, but it's important to remember that they're an investment.
The money that you'll save by preventing maintenance and having expensive animals die will more than cover their cost over time.
I wouldn't start a new aquarium today without all three of these machines in place.
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