marine tanks

[serz]

Hiya,
We are looking at getting a marine tank but just want to do some research first. I was told that you have to do water tests every 2-3 days and i was wondering how long you have to do this for. I ask this as we go on holiday a lot and its either my nan that looks after my tropical fish and my reps or if my family come with us then its my oh's dad so they wouldnt have a clue were to start with a marine tank and water tests. So are they a very hard thing to keep on top of and if i went away for a week without the water being tested would all the fish die?

Many thanks in advance

Serz x

[labmad]

Originally Posted by serz

Hiya,
We are looking at getting a marine tank but just want to do some research first. I was told that you have to do water tests every 2-3 days and i was wondering how long you have to do this for. I ask this as we go on holiday a lot and its either my nan that looks after my tropical fish and my reps or if my family come with us then its my oh's dad so they wouldnt have a clue were to start with a marine tank and water tests. So are they a very hard thing to keep on top of and if i went away for a week without the water being tested would all the fish die?

Many thanks in advance

Serz x

For the test kits themselves they are the same as tropical ones, which you will be used to, all you do is buy the 'marine' version, like the APH ones they do tests fot tropical/marine and coldwater

I use the salifert tests om my marine, although as it has been running a lil while now, i only need to use them now and then.........

As for keeping the fish etc - it is pretty straight forward to be honest, just dearer usually to stock, especially when you start buying corals if your wanting a 'reef' type system

PS - Chech out my marine tank in the classifieds, it is for sale, at a STEAL for £350, for all you need, inc corals and fish etc etc

[maybrick]

Originally Posted by serz

Hiya,
We are looking at getting a marine tank but just want to do some research first. I was told that you have to do water tests every 2-3 days and i was wondering how long you have to do this for. I ask this as we go on holiday a lot and its either my nan that looks after my tropical fish and my reps or if my family come with us then its my oh's dad so they wouldnt have a clue were to start with a marine tank and water tests. So are they a very hard thing to keep on top of and if i went away for a week without the water being tested would all the fish die?

Many thanks in advance

Serz x

The testing of the water if for you to understand what is going on in your tank (i.e nitrates/phosphates etc). The testing doesn't do anything for the water...it tells you when you need to do things.

The main issue is that unless you go for an automated top-off system (these have there own issues and drawbacks) then the tank cannot be left alone for a week.

Left alone the water will evaporate and the salinity will rise as a result.

So as long as any tank-sitters understand that and know how much fresh unsalted r/o water to add then you will be fine.

Also impress on the tank-sitters that feeding the inhabitants is a bad idea. A great temptation is to overfeed the system, which will cause fatal issues. An average marine fish can survive on whats living naturally in the tank for a few days to a week easiliy enough.


Marine keeping is a great hobby and generally fairly easy.

But it is time consuming and expensive.

[serz]

thanks for the replies thats great. So what kind of salts ect do you add to the water. The coral salts i mean and anything like that. How often do you feed the marine fish then?

[maybrick]

Personally i use Tropic marine, which is just habit really. There are lots of different brands.

Most of the commercial mixes are fairly similar in terms of chemistry and price.

I don't keep corals as, frankly, thats a level of hassle and expense too far. Lol. So i just stick to a fish only system.

Feeding is relative to the fish, i use flake food and frozen foods a couple of times each per week. And i generally have a some nori (seaweed) in the tank for the herbivore/algae eaters.

Underfeeding = hungry fish.

Overfeeding = polluted tank = dead or unhappy fish.

[dazdaraz]

ive used loads of different types of salts, at home and at work.
personally i think red sea coral pro salt easiest to use.
and u dont have to use any of the additives u do with
most of the others.
and it dissolves quite quikly aswell

daz