Marine aquarium

The sea water or salt-water aquaria is a branch of the aquarium hobby. It includes all activities associated with keeping and care of marine organisms in the aquarium.

• 3.1 North Sea Aquarium
• 3.2 Mediterranean Aquarium
• 3.3 mangroves aquarium
• 3.4 aquarium for big fish
• 3.5 Deep Sea Aquarium
• 3.6 Nanoriffaquarium 3.6.1 technology

Seawater

Natural seawater is a solution of ions of different salts (especially sodium chloride, magnesium sulfate, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride and sodium bicarbonate ). The average salinity is about 3.4% (34 g / L), in individual cases, deviations are possible (Red Sea up to 4.2 %). For aquaristic purposes seawater is usually produced in which one purifies tap water by reverse osmosis and mixed with sea salt mixtures. Zoos and major public aquariums, which are on the coast, sometimes also use natural sea water when it is clean enough. With a hydrometer or a refractometer the salinity can be controlled.

Coral Reef Aquarium

The coral reef aquarium is the most common for residential customers Meerwasseraquarienart today. Advances in the understanding of coral reef ecosystems and technological advances make it possible today to pick up a tiny part of the colorful world of the reefs home. Fish, invertebrates and the necessary technology are sold through dealer.

Technology

There are several ways to run a saltwater aquarium, eg the Berlin system, Jaubert system, Deep Sand Bed, zeolite method, sludge filter or algae retreat. They all serve primarily the reduction in nutrients. Filters for water treatment, such as those used in fresh water aquariums, have not been proven. Mostly take a protein skimmer and live rock filter function.

All reef aquariums need strong lighting, since most of the commonly corals live in symbiosis with unicellular algae, zooxanthellae. These produce through photosynthesis from carbon dioxide and water oxygen and organic compounds that serve the diet of coral. Today, metal halide lamps (HQI ), optionally combined with blue T5 or T8 lamps, or used pure modern T5 lamps. Mushrooms are also high-performance light-emitting diodes are used. Both exclusively, or in combination with T5 lamps.

In addition, a strong water movement needed to be used for a variety of circulation or current pumps. The aquarium water should be completely circulated at least ten times an hour. The flow is necessary so that the water diffuses through the living rocks, and thus the metabolic products of the sessile corals are removed.

In coral reef aquarium a temperature of 24 to 28 ° C should prevail. Often the pumps and lighting generate so much heat, that an additional heating rod as in fresh water aquariums, is not necessary. During the summer months, many stony corals friends have problems with the water temperature. You should not exceed 30 ° C. A temperature above 30 ° C has a devastating effect on the zooxanthellae. These begin to die. Thus, the nutrient flow is interrupted to the coral polyps and the coral dies. In the wild, can be observed in many coral areas this process already. Due to climate change, the sea water begins to warm and the corals die. What remains is a white coral skeleton.

Pisces

Today in occupied with coral reef aquariums mainly damselfish, gobies, wrasses, Dragonets, dwarf angelfish and other coral fish are kept. Doctor fish can be found in almost every reef aquarium. Especially popular is the Yellow Segelflossendoktor. They should keep the algae than herbivores short, which can overgrow corals in excessive growth. Dwarf angelfish, blennies and algae-eating invertebrates such as some hermit crabs and snails can keep them in smaller tanks the algae shortly. Anemone fish are among the reef fishes and are also held frequently, since they show an interesting behavior. In pure fish aquariums and butterfly fish, trigger fish and file fish, which often lay hands on invertebrates can be kept.

Almost all traded fish are wild-caught, caught in coral reefs. Exceptions are anemone fish and dwarf cichlids that can be grown in aqua farms. A breeding of most other fish is because of tiny larval stages and their long planktonic life not previously possible. However, there are some Nachzüchter who specializes in the breeding of marine fish, but well worth the effort in the cost-benefit ratio as a perquisite little, but helps to reduce the number of wild harvesting.

Invertebrates

In the reef aquarium, especially sessile cnidarians such as corals, soft corals, anemones, disc anemones be kept. Sea anemones are no longer as popular as they often wander around in the aquarium and vernesseln sessile invertebrates. More suitable for aquariums Invertebrates are hermit crabs, various shrimp, clams, brittle stars, feather worms and Serpulidae.

Can the aquarium friend has access to a wide range in the aquarium animals increased Especially with the cnidarians. Some providers have specialized in particular colored corals to multiply. Some shrimp and hermit crabs you can now breed in the aquarium.

Stony corals attitude

Stony corals are mostly reef -forming, as they deposited lime. So early as the Paleozoic, since about 500 million years ago, there are stony corals. They have played a major role in shaping our world. Almost all corals live within a warm belt. The colder it gets, the less hard coral species will be found. They usually do not grow at depths below 50 m, as they are very light-dependent due to the zooxanthellae. Stony corals may be solitary, so to speak, as a huge Einzelpolyp, or in colony form with few individuals live up to many thousands. Stony corals are not easy to maintain sensitive organisms and, for beginners, they are not suitable.

The basin should be very stable when stocking with hard corals and the technique without any problems. Stony corals can thus be set only after at least six to twelve months in a newly set up tank, this may not be too much dominated by soft corals. Stony corals pool should have little fish stock to avoid the accumulation by feeding and fish waste too much phosphate and nitrate in the basin. Best suited for socialization are doctor fish, hawkfish, blennies, shrimp and starfish. On the other hand, nitrate and phosphate also an essential component of all living beings. A small proportion must always be present, otherwise any growth would stop. The art is always to keep these values ​​in reasonable proportion.

Light factor:

In particular, the corals are by their particular life - dependent and diet on sufficient light. Your supply is usually algae, which are embedded in their tissues through photosynthesis and make energy available. Some corals, however, prefer darkened locations because they do not feed photosynthetically, but Zoo - take or phytoplankton to himself. Still other animals are located in central zones of light, flash light would inevitably lead to the decline of this animal colonies. It is therefore very important to know the light requirements of individual animals and to satisfy in the sea water pool.

Fish are not so sensitive. Principle for a reef tank HQI lamps come in question, which according to the current state of knowledge and T5 fluorescent tubes can be used without problems. For a pure fish tank fluorescent tubes are perfectly adequate.

Factor flow:

A clean circulate through cleverly attached flow pumps - each part of the basin should at least be traversed temporarily -. Prevents suspended particles to settle and " moldy " in front of him to The protein skimmer, mechanical filtration and the filtered or plankton -eating organisms are those disposed of good. Moreover, the waste of invertebrates are swept away by this, the water surface should always be in motion, so that the gas exchange across the surface works well and no pellicle forms on the surface for at least 5 -. . to 10 times per hour, the tank contents should be circulated to change with changing pump every 6 hours, the direction is. best.

To mimic a flow which corresponds to the movement of water in the natural habitat of the animals, the retailer offers sophisticated pumping systems.

• Powerhead pumps; Ideal are power -head pump with filter wool as a mechanical quick filters as they are cheap and reliable. A disadvantage, however, is that the electrics in the water and release the heat pump.

• Return pumps; Who has a strong return pump from the filter tank, can produce via corresponding branches also about enough flow.

• Plastic magnetic drive centrifugal pumps; Modern plastic magnetic drive centrifugal pumps are able to run relatively low noise and low maintenance and high efficiency. Your electrical system is outside of the pelvis and is no heat from the water.

Water factor values:

In order to offer the animals conditions where they feel comfortable, regular checks of all important values ​​must be performed. Much mishap caused by negligence in this area. The accessories industry now offers the most important test method so that it is possible to detect and correct significant irregularities. If a equipped with the appropriate aquarium equipment properly set up and staffed, a basis is created that it works satisfactorily in the long run. The longer a marine aquarium is in operation, the greater the problems there can be with some substances. Until now, all difficulties are solved in not far, but serious deficiencies can be avoided yet. The following water values ​​will be different often have to measure, but regular checks are essential. Before placing the animals, the aquarium water must first be tested to determine its suitability. Important are the following water parameters: ammonium / ammonia, nitrite, carbonate hardness ( Kh ), pH, temperature, density. For a continuous operation, the knowledge is needed about the following substances: nitrates, phosphates, redox potential and oxygen. If a problem occurs and there is a suspicion of poisoning, should the following analyzes in the order specified by result: density, temperature, ammonium / ammonia, nitrite, pH, copper, zinc and aluminum. Treatment with copper sulfate is only useful in conjunction with a copper test. At each water test is to be noted that it is stored and used in strict accordance with manufacturer's instructions. All measured values ​​and subsequently carried out measures should be entered in a measurement protocol.

Other types of aquariums

For the keeping of marine animals that do not live in coral reefs, there are other types of marine aquariums.

North Sea Aquarium

In a North Sea aquarium fish and invertebrates from the North Sea will be held. Since they are not in the trade, the residents need to be captured by the aquarium itself or purchased from fishermen. Be the temperature of a North Sea aquarium must be between 10 ° C in winter and not more than 20 ° C in summer. This can usually be achieved only by a cooling unit. While it is often North Sea aquarium in public aquariums, they are very rare in private individuals.

Mediterranean Aquarium

The same applies to the attitude of residents of the Mediterranean. You have to catch yourself. Here, the temperature can rise up to 24 ° C in summer. There are many public aquariums that show Mediterranean animals, with private persons, they were almost entirely supplanted by the more colorful inhabitants of tropical seas.

Mangroves aquarium

In the mangrove mangroves aquarium residents of the area are maintained. Many animals live amphibious, half on land. Mudskipper, other species living in shallow water gobies, Winker and land crabs are typical inhabitants. The aquarium can ( Rhizophora mangle ) with the Red Mangrove seedlings are planted. This type of aquarium can be realized as a brackish water aquarium.

Aquarium for big fish

In public aquariums and zoos often attractive large fish such as sharks, stingrays, moray eels, groupers, snappers and trevally are held. For very large systems, visitors can often run in a glass tunnel through the aquarium. There are considerable technical expenses necessary to keep the water clean. These include very large protein skimmer, trickle filters and sand filters.

Deep Sea Aquarium

In a few public aquariums such as the Berlin Zoo Aquarium you can see fish from greater depths of the oceans. The pools are dark or very little lit so that you only see the sparkling light organs of deep-sea fish. Living in nature in depths up to 400 meters pinecone fish are among the few whose attitude is so far possible. In the Rotterdam Zoo, there are more recently an aquarium for rearing deep- sea fans.

Nanoriffaquarium

This is called a saltwater aquarium of small size, which are operated by low use of technology. In general, it is here at around tropical saltwater aquariums, are held in which relatively undemanding marine organisms. The pool sizes are usually aquariums standard sizes of 12, 20, 25, 27, or 36 liters, less commonly, more or less, depending on how defined by individual aquarists term Nanoriff. Where the term " Miniriff " is often used. This designation is in most cases only about 54 liters a common term. Some aquarists have also been below the 12 liter mark - clear. Mostly Nano reefs are called " offshoot " of a large seawater aquarium set up to maintain certain types and to observe which are overlooked in a normal sea water aquarium. Originally Nanoriffaquarien come from North America and have been enjoying a range of publications in scientific journals popularity.

Technology

Lighting

Nanoriffaquarien are often operated with small fluorescent tubes with 4, 6 or 8 watts. Other bulbs are known as compact fluorescent lamps, with the usual trade name Dulux and a G -23 jack, as well as normal energy saving lamps. Here, the light color plays a major role. This should be white with just one light source. In addition, lighting suitable blue bulbs, which you can buy not only as a fluorescent tube, but also in the form of compact fluorescent lamps or normal energy saving lamps are available. The use of a reflector increases light output. The salt-water aquariums today widespread HQI burner ( metal halide lamps ) with the lowest power consumption of 70 watts are basically not a Nanoriffaquarium, as these have a very high heat output and the basin would literally cooked.

Filtering and flow

The filtering of a Nanoriffaquariums with the help of aquarium filters adheres very limited. Biological filtration is taken over by bacteria in the live rock. In general, only a small pump is installed, which circulates the aquarium as the "big " at least 10 times per hour. This strongly depends on the stocking. The water circulation but can also be acquired through a small screen. This is used in nano reefs but only the coarse dirt filter and not the biological filtration. The second type of flow, air lift suitable. These are more suitable for a smoother flow.

Other technology

In most reports on Nanoriffaquarien in various media, only a pump and lighting will be installed. The illumination of any kind, a heating element is often unnecessary, because the waste heat is already sufficient in general. Also a pump heats the water in addition. For larger Nanoriffaquarien the heat pump and lighting is no longer sufficient, so that a controllable heater must be installed with about 25 watts. Summer or there is another problem in which an additional unit must be used: The Nanoriff is additionally heated by the elevated temperatures of the outside. The temperature must not exceed 29 ° C rise for the successful maintenance of coral, not even briefly. Therefore, an appropriate fan should be directed at the water's edge on the water surface, so that the evaporative cooling is utilized. The evaporated water must as often as possible be replaced by fresh water. The salt content is more often than otherwise to control in this case. A small protein skimmer is only useful for nano reefs with fish, where it can be replaced here by a more frequent partial water changes.