About.com Saltwater Aquariums

FAQ - How Often Should I Feed My Fish??

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:00:01 +0000

How often should your fish be fed, anyway? Once per day? Twice? Every two or three days? Feed too often and a lot of the food will end up on the bottom of your tank, creating even more nitrates. Not often enough, the health of your fish will suffer.

More: Marine Fish Food Comparison Easy way to compare the contents of the most popular fish foods.

More: Top Foods of Choice for Fish and Invertebrates. Compare Prices on the Top Flake, Granule, Pellets, Frozen and Natural Fish Foods.

DIY Glass Aquarium Plans

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:00:19 +0000

Have you been thinking about starting an aquarium or wanting to set up another one, but find you can't afford to do so? It is much easier than you might think to build your own glass tank. By following these simple Do It Yourself aquarium plans and instructions from your Guides you can do it, and save $$ in the process. What are you waiting for?

More DIY Info: Glass Thickness Calculator Determine the glass thickness which will work best for your DIY tank. You may be able to use a thickness which is less expensive with the same results.

More DIY's: DIY Refugium Plans & Setups Easy to build refugiums with many uses (grow your own copepods or algae).

More DIY's: DIY Seahorse Tank Seahorses prefer a different type of tank (taller, rather than wider) than you normally find in your LFS or online. Here are complete plans and instructions for a terrific DIY Seahorse Tank which will cost you about $25 to build.

The Importance of Proper Areation

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 01:00:23 +0000

Are air stone bubbles a sufficient source of oxygen? Just how efficient are those little bubbles that come out of air stones, or diffusers? Many aquarists believe they play an important role in an aquarium when it comes to oxygenation and aeration of the water, and that this air source is adequate. Not so! Low DO (Disolved Oxygen) levels in your tank water can cause a myriad of subtle problems. Fortunately, it isn't hard to increase your DO with little to no money.

Forums: Oxygenation?? Through education I've come to realize this exchange takes place at the surface level of the tank. Not in the bubbles down the ... Do you agree? We'd like to know.

Using Activated Carbon In Your Aquarium

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 01:00:46 +0000

Activated carbon has many uses in a saltwater aquarium. But, how often should carbon be used and how often should it be changed? These and many more questions are answered about using activated carbon in your system.

More: DIY Carbon Tube Filtration Use Hiatt's Tri-Based Pelletized Carbon and Hiatt's Right Now! bacteria and end up with a fantastic biological filter as well as near zero nitrates.

Choosing a Saltwater Aquarium Filtration System In 5 Easy Steps

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 01:00:22 +0000

With all of the possibilities out there, choosing a filtration system for your tank can seem like a daunting task. Fortunately, there is a fairly simple method for selecting the right filter system for your tank.

More: About Using Canister Filters Used for mechanical, chemical, and/or biological filtration in saltwater aquarium systems, these compact units can efficiently handle all of your aquarium filtration needs.

More About Canister Filters: Regular tank maintenance becomes a whole lot easier when you use these filters. Read the information in the Top Canister Filter Picks to see which one will work best for your tank.

True VS False Percula Clownfishes

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 01:00:20 +0000

Exactly how do you tell these two Clownfish species apart? Most people can't tell the difference between them, but if you know which three characteristics to look for, it's actually pretty easy. --

More: Top Clownfish Photos Gallery Here is a collection of outstanding photos of many species of Clownfishes.

Still More: Clownfish Profiles If you already have, or are thinking about adding a Clownfish to you tank, you might want to see what the requirements are for your specific species.

Forums: "True" vs "False" Percula Clown ID? It seems that there is still a lot of debate. Anyone have any input on the subject?
Photo by Steve Whitt

Curing Cloudy Aquarium Water

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:00:03 +0000

There aren't too many aquariums which have not experienced cloudy water at one time or another. Depending on the cause of the cloudy water, the problem can be either very easy to cure, or require more extensive procedures. Fortunately, the causes of cloudy aquarium water in each case can be determined by the color or tint of the water. Curing your Cloudy Aquarium Water can be easier than you might think.

More: Top Canister Filter Picks Among their other uses, canister filters are great for removing particulate matter from your tank water, making it crystal clear.
Photo by Debbie Hauter

What Are Wet/Dry Trickle Filters?

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:00:10 +0000

Wet/dry trickle filters have been a popular choice in biological filtration for a very long time in the saltwater aquarium hobby. However, as the technology in aquarium keeping has advanced and the desire to attain a "natural" reef system becomes ever popular, controversy surrounds this choice. ...

More: Top Wet-Dry/Trickle Filter Picks From a basic wet/dry only, to a wet/dry with sump, to a wet/dry with sump and built-in skimmer included, trickle filters are available in an array of styles and sizes to fit your particular saltwater aquarium's filtration needs. Designed to utilize biological, mechanical and chemical mediums, as well as a place to put a heater, skimmer or other additional aquarium equipment, these wet/dry filters can dramatically increase your aquarium's holding capacity.

DIY Automatic Tank or Sump Top Off

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:00:00 +0000

This Do-It-Yourself Auto Top Off system costs less than $25 to build, less than an hour to install and is truly automatic. No more hauling water every day to top off your aquarium. No more replacing burnt out pumps and heaters because your sump ran low on water. Totally automatic; all you have to do is occasionally replace the inexpensive filter.

More: Cheap, Easy DIY Sumps Why pay a small fortune for a manufactured sump when you can make your own for a fraction of the cost?

Which Brand Sea Salt Mix is Best to Buy?

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 01:00:43 +0000

When it comes to answering the age old question of which sea salt mix is best to buy for making up saltwater aquarium or reef tank system water, we cannot precisely say that one brand is better than another because of various factors that add into the equation. Things such as personal opinions, how the mix is prepared, affordability, and ... read on

More of this Feature: Sea Salt Mixes Comparison Table See how the various sea salts on the market stack up against Natural Sea Water.

More About: Elements in Natural Sea Water to Compare See what elements are contained in Natural Sea Water.

Sea Salt Mixes Poll: Participate and View Results What is the most popular sea salt mix? Which one do you use?