Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Lighting In Saltwater Aquariums

An aquarium is a closed environment that is kept by you in your own home, acting like a mini aquatic ecosystem. In order to ensure the growth and survival of your little ecosystem, you have to consider the natural habitat in which the flora and fauna inhabit and reconstruct it within your aquarium.

The perfect amount of light and a balance between day- and night-time lighting is thus crucial to the health of your aquarium. The tank size, the fish kept, and the plants grown all factor into how you should properly illuminate your saltwater aquarium. Fresh water tanks are easier to light than salt water tanks, so you may consider keeping organisms from fresh water.

Incandescent lights are not suggested for aquariums, as the bulbs do not emit light in the blue or UV spectrum, which is detrimental to the productivity of your plants. In addition, incandescent lights have a red-yellow spectrum of light that encourages the growth of undesirable algae.

The ratio of heat to light from incadescent bulbs is also higher than other types of bulbs, making it suitable only for a terrrarium environment. Instead, florescent bulbs should be used for aquariums.

Florescent bulbs emit light that cover many of the colors of the full spectrum. The small amount of blue and UV light from florescent bulbs can be supplemented by actinic lights, which can generate light in those ranges of the spectrum.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Saltwater Aquarium - What You Should Buy

For the newer aquarist in a hurry to set up their first aquarium, most appealing thing is to buy out a full saltwater aquarium set. These sets are very much comfortable to have but with limitations. The article hereunder goes in to the advantages and disadvantages of a set aquarium in order that you are enabled to buy the best sets and additionally other things not available along with the set.

Procuring saltwater aquariums as a set normally results in savings. Manufacturers get the benefit of selling a full product by this against sale of light fixtures, tanks etc. A fish only aquarium comprises of a tank, lighting arrangement, an air stone and supporting structure. If you buy this set you can very well exhibit the fish.

However aquarists want more than just this isn’t it? Unfortunately you do not have a fish only with live rock aquarium-FOWLER, as it is known- set in the market. So if you wish to possess a FOWLER tank the live rock has to be purchased separately. The benefit in buying a set FO tank is that you do not have to bother about searching foe ancillary fittings required for your tank.


FO aquariums require fixtures of the same make as additions. More complications step in with saltwater aquariums. Sets come mostly with tank, air stone, substrates, rocks and a saltwater kit, which provides strips for pH measurement, thermometer and optionally a filter. It helps in avoiding the tedium of much moving around for purchasing and arranging the parts to fit in properly.

It also necessitates much spending at one time. Saltwater aquariums are by and large not having adequate lighting. This aspect warrants a look-in while making the purchase of the aquarium set. Reef aquariums having a 24-inches depth will require VHO-Very High Output lighting instead of the usual less- light fluorescent tubes. Specially if the tank has plants then low light will have miniscule impact.

There is also a vital need for filtration system that is often not cared for; this system is crucial for the animal and plant life in the tank. Since the filtration systems are quite expensive it is easily perceivable why manufacturers cannot include them in the set. So when you are keen on a saltwater set make it a point to buy one with filters already assembled in.

Most brands sell saltwater aquarium sets with thermometers and heaters already in place in the set. Better be an intelligent buyer. To buy with all fixtures is the wiser option; find out a saltwater set with a sump arrangement that is almost an extension of the tank. Biological, chemical and mechanical filters occupy appointed places here only. Furthermore heaters, thermometers, protein skimmers, chillers and a few more contraptions can very much be more helpful.

A saltwater aquarium with sump setup and other arrangements will be more expensive decidedly but with a little calculation you will observe that you save a lot more by set purchase than by piece-by-piece purchase.

The technical backing comes up for the larger sets probably rather than smaller ones; there is a two year warranty for most sets including all parts. By this you do not encounter the problem of having to size up the defect for setting it right.

In most cases they will straightaway replace the parts directly. So for buying the right set you will look for quality and quantity. You will have the best buy with consideration to the after-sale care that is in offer.