Marine Fish Care
A Brief Introduction
If you’ve enjoyed keeping tropical freshwater fish, you might like to
consider setting up a marine tank. Although more challenging than a
tropical freshwater aquarium, if done with care it will provide you with
a rewarding and fascinating result. Be aware, you should always research
the stocking of your tank carefully before proceeding. Your choice of
livestock will affect the size of tank and type of equipment you’ll
need. Marine fish are generally not as tolerant to fluctuations in their
environment as other varieties so it is essential to maintain water
quality consistently.
What Type of Tank?
A big tank is vital for marine life as maximum stocking densities are
lower than for freshwater aquaria. Larger tanks give increased stability
for your fish and make aquascaping easier too, so it makes sense to
splash out on the biggest you can afford. Remember your marine tank will
require additional items such as lighting and filtration - so the more
room the better.
Which Type of Fish?
The type of fish you choose will depend on many factors. Will they
exist happily alongside each other? Are their feeding requirements
similar? How big will they grow? Asking for advice is the best way to
ensure you end up with the best combination for your tank. Stocking
recommendations for reef tanks (a mixture of invertebrates such as
corals and starfish as well as fish) are even lower, making a fish-only
tank the easier and less costly option.
How Many Fish?
A marine tank can hold 20-30cm body length (excluding tail) of
slender-bodied fish per 100 litres of water. For a fish-only system, a
maximum of 2.5cm for 9 litres is recommended. For a reef tank, 2.5cm for
18 litres.
Feeding
Herbivorous marine fish may need feeding 2 or 3 times a day and
carnivores will require feeding around twice a week.
Maintenance & Care
As marine livestock is so intolerant of poor water quality, the most
important maintenance is regular partial water changes. It is advisable
to fit a protein skimmer, a device which removes proteins from the water
before they break down and become harmful. Lighting for your tank will
depend on your livestock - some invertebrates will have specific
requirements. Some standard filter systems may not be suitable for
marines. As always, it pays to ask for advice.
See also: A Practical Guide to your Aquarium
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