Powerhead Aquarium
Monday, July 14th, 2008
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25 gallon Saltwater aquarium filtration?
I have a 104 fluval canister filter, 15 lb of live rock, and 130 watts of light from power compacts. I have been doing regular water changes instead of adding a protein skimmer. Does the canister provide enough oxygen for the fish in the tank or do I need to add a powerhead. Any recomendations for a super quiet skimmer for this size tank. THANKS.
Most of the oxygen transfer is going to occur at the surface of the water. Powerheads and such help a little. Read the article at my source listed below and you will find a much more detailed answer. The biggest change you need in my opinion is much more live rock. I'd add 20-30 pounds. If you can't afford that much rock try to find base rock. It will be live rock quickly enough and is much cheaper.
A Well-Balanced Saltwater Fish Tank
There are various ways to maintain a well-balanced saltwater fish tank. It is better for the fish tank keepers learn these things to properly maintain a livable aquarium.
Saltwater tanks are more difficult to maintain because marine life inside has little tolerance to fluctuations. They are used to a stable habitat underwater. Therefore, the key to maintaining saltwater aquarium is copying the general conditions of the sea to your tank such that the marine fishes hardly notice the difference.
It is very useful to study marine life and science of it to start this hobby. It may be quite difficult at first, but if you understand the ecosystem underwater, this hobby will be easier and more interesting for you.
The tank needs a huge amount of water to make it more stable and absorbs shock more easily. This prevents disturbing the equilibrium of water and makes the tank more peaceful for marine life.
For instance, a dead fish will only create a minor imbalance in a big tank, but if it dies in a small tank, there will be dramatic changes.
Nutrient cycles are important to sustain a tank. First, dissolved oxygen comes in to the system over the water-air interface or by the activity of an air pump. The second one is the carbon dioxide which goes out of the system into the air. Other significant nutrient cycles are phosphate cycle, iron, sulfur, and micronutrients. These enter as food and escaping as waste substances.
Water conditions should be checked. Keep it free from dirt. Dead fish or other decaying corals should be removed at once to avoid contaminating the tank. Also check water salinity. It shouldn't be too salty.
The saltwater is an alkaline, and the pH is the alkalinity or acidicity of fresh water. However, the hardness calculates total dissolved mineral content. In addition, the hard water is often alkaline and the soft water is always acidic. Other significant factors are dissolved organic content and dissolved gases content.
Chloramine is commonly used today because it is more stable. A saltwater fish tanks also need the presence of a mixture of salts and other minerals.
Other tanks are adapting to other water sources also. They change the alkaline content of water, the hardness, or dissolved content of gases and organics before putting it to the fish tank. Additives like sodium bicarbonate also help to raise pH.
The water that would be placed in the fish tank may also be filtered or purified in two different ways: deionization or reverse osmosis.
The water's temperature creates the basis of one of the two primary fish tank classifications. These are the tropical and cold water. Most water plants and animals can only adapt with a limited range of water temperatures. It is important that the temperature is consistent to minimize fatalities in the tank. Use a thermostat and heater unit or cooling unit to help regulate the water temperature.
Water movement is also significant in perfectly imitating a natural environment. This can be manipulated by the use of aeration from powerheads, air pumps, and proper design of internal water flow like the path of the filtration system points of inflow and outflow.
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