• Questions about marine aquarium

  • Wendy2244

Please advise knowledgeable people about marine aquariums. I am planning to buy an aquarium and would like to clarify the prices at least approximately. I want to say right away that I am not familiar with marine setups, just the basics like what a protein skimmer is and why it's needed, etc. Right now, I have a regular freshwater aquarium with a filter, heater, and everything else. It's all clear and simple. Our aquarium, it seems, comes with all the equipment for 1,428 UAH, which is quite acceptable. But what comes next, what substrate, what chemicals are needed (or not needed) for marine setups? After browsing websites and looking at equipment priced at 5-6-10 thousand, I see that the filter alone costs 4,574.90 UAH. How can the entire aquarium setup with a filter and something else cost 1,428 UAH, which is cheaper than just the filter? I would be very grateful for any answers and advice.

Leslie

Let's be honest: If you want a proper 500-liter marine aquarium with live creatures, it will cost you no less than $5000 (American). If you want to save money, it still won't be cheaper than 3000 currency units.

Laura9093

A person provided a link to a 72L aquarium, and you gave them a price for a 500L one. Where's the logic?

Gabrielle5053

The logic in the second link, where a filter for aquariums up to 500 liters is presented. By the way, it's an absolutely unnecessary device. If we are talking about the aquarium in the first link, then here is a good answer.

Alan273

The plan is to have an aquarium of up to 100 liters, but I don't know what kind of expensive filter is needed for it, because I'm a complete beginner when it comes to marine aquariums... I also don't understand why a protein skimmer is needed and what it actually is. I would like to know what kind and how much chemicals are needed for a marine aquarium. In the previously mentioned topic, a chiller for the aquarium was purchased for as much as 400 currency units; what is that and WHY is a chiller needed in an aquarium???

Karen

I highly recommend visiting here, downloading, and reading carefully. Most questions will resolve themselves.

Patrick4439

I will definitely download it, thank you. But can someone explain to me in a few words? Let's say I bought an aquarium, added substrate, placed rocks, filled it with water with salt, turned it on, added fish, and that's it? Or is that not everything?

John3335

Yes, the order is about the same, but between the points "turned on" and "started the fish," the aquarium needs to "mature."

Jessica5016

Well, just like with starting a freshwater tank, you shouldn't introduce fish right away. But it's easier there: you change the water once a week, siphon the substrate to remove dirt, clean the filter if it gets clogged, and that's it. But what about the saltwater?

Christina9947

One option is to take this approach...

Lisa

The process is as follows: 1. Fill the aquarium with osmosis water and salt it (to the desired salinity, usually 1.023-1.025). 2. After a day of salting, when the water is well mixed and has reached the desired temperature (25-27 degrees), add live rocks. 3. Add sand or crushed coral. 4. Test for ammonia; when it is 0, you can start adding animals, but do so gradually to avoid overloading the still fresh system. From there, read the forum and gain experience. It's not complicated. No chemicals need to be used at the beginning; we'll see how it goes from there. I wish you good luck in the very interesting and beautiful hobby of "marine aquaristics."

Stephanie4990

And if there isn't one... Is regular tap water suitable? And what water should be used for substitutions? Should it also be osmotic? Or is distilled water acceptable?

Susan

In my opinion, osmosis is the first thing a marine aquarist should acquire. It is not necessary to use tap water, and one could even say it is not allowed. Distilled water can be used, but there is no guarantee of its quality and the absence of various impurities. Water changes are done with osmosis water, and the evaporated water is also replenished with osmosis. The better the water preparation, the fewer problems there will be with the aquarium in the future.

Chad231

Tap water will NOT do! Everything is done with either osmosis or distillate, but from a pharmacy, not from an auto parts store!

Spencer7805

There is practically no difference between osmosis and distillate.

Anne4851

The price difference... How much will 100 liters of "questionable quality" distillate cost? Then at least two liters a day for evaporation and plus replacements, it's stressful, exhausting, costly, and also risky. It's easier to install an osmosis system and sleep peacefully, and ideally, after osmosis, also install ion exchange resins.

Joyce

2 liters a day evaporation?? Are you kidding... I have 0.3 ml evaporation per week in my freshwater aquarium..

Alexander

There is no need to compare a marine aquarium and a freshwater one! Many factors in a marine aquarium affect water evaporation... In my 800-liter aquarium, 5-7 liters evaporate per day. Moreover, I don't have a fan, which would further increase evaporation... Generally, in most cases, open-type marine aquariums lead to increased water evaporation, plus a protein skimmer is a good evaporator, etc. Two liters is an approximate figure.

Daniel8015

You will surely forgive me, but please read something about the launch and all that first. They are telling you everything correctly. And don't rush.

Craig7302

People are right; in open aquariums, evaporation is crazy. This is proven. I had a freshwater aquarium with a standard lid, and when I removed it and installed hanging lighting, the water evaporated terribly. So keep that in mind...

Vanessa6144

There is a term in the fleet - "made for marine use," you may have heard of it, which means that the quality of the equipment is several orders of magnitude higher, and therefore the price component is too. Physical and biochemical processes in a marine aquarium occur according to different standards. Therefore, the inhabitants of a marine aquarium are more demanding of living parameters, and their prices are quite high. So the thesis about 2 liters is just a small detail in the overall picture of "marine temptations."

Alicia5489

Is it really possible to pour sand when there is already water and stones inside? It will turn into a mess. Can't we put the sand in first and then pour the water?

Javier5186

Again, a beginner's question, sorry in advance. What are ion exchange resins used for?

Rodney

for water purification at 100% After the resins, TDS shows 0! After osmosis, at best 8 - 10.

Robert800

I apologize for the inconvenience, but please read at least something first before asking. First of all, a well-formulated question will yield a more accurate answer. Secondly, determine what you want before asking your question.

Mary

I apologize as well. Is there a FAQ for beginners here? For example, I am honestly trying to read something about the necessary equipment for my 450 liters, but everywhere they suggest reading forum topics, which in turn suggest reading those same topics again... but where are the topics that actually explain something and don't just redirect you? It's unclear.

Natasha

Something like a beginner's guide is planned, but for now... Create a topic, tell us what you want to see, and we will respond, advise, and critique.