Saltwater Aquarium Maintenance Tips That Will Keep Your Marine Aquarium in Top Shape
By Darin Sewell

Once your saltwater aquarium has been set up and is full of healthy fish the last thing for you to do as the aquarium keeper is to maintain it. Saltwater aquarium maintenance is similar to freshwater aquarium care. There is however a few things you should remember when taking care of your marine fish tank.

Good Saltwater Aquarium Care That Will Keep Your Tank Healthy.

Change at least 25% of the water monthly. This can be broken down into on big water change but for marine fish it is better to do it in 2-4 smaller changes to avoid PH shock. Water changes help to replenish trace elements and reduce nitrates and phosphates. When changing the water remember to vacuum the bottom of the tank to remove any fish waste that has settled, if you have live rock use a small power head to blow the rock clean then siphon the water out.

Always make sure the water is the same salinity, temperature and PH as the water you are taking out of the aquarium again to avoid any type of shock to the saltwater fish.

Clean all filters and protein skimmers in your marine aquarium at least once a month. These are the life line in your tank and keep your water clean and pollutants low. Failure to keep them in top shape can lead to high nitrates, phosphates, algae blooms and stressed fish. If you run activated carbon in your filter change it monthly.

Clean your pumps and power heads every few months to keep their flow levels at optimal levels. Dirty pumps can also radiate heat into the tank and increase the temperatures to dangerous levels. Keeping them clean will avoid this.

Remember when doing your saltwater aquarium maintenance to never use harsh chemicals in or around your marine aquarium. These chemicals can kill fish and delicate corals or invertebrates like shrimp, crabs and snails are especially vulnerable to them. Most pet or fish stores sell special aquarium cleaners, or if you are in a pinch some simple vinegar and water will work fine.

Look over all tank inhabitants for signs of injury, disease or missing animals. Sick and missing fish can and do happen. If your fish are sick you will have to take evasive measures to treat their illness. If there is missing fish yo may never find them, if you have crabs in your tank they will eat a dead fish very quickly leaving no trace.

Want a beautiful Saltwater Aquarium with healthy vibrant fish? Our saltwater aquarium guide will show you step by step how to set up your tank and avoid the common mistakes that lead to fish death, algae and an ugly tank. To get the secrets to creating a stunning marine aquarium in your home visit http://www.dseventures.com

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