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So you’re really keen to get into marines – but what equipment will you need?
TIP
WHEN CHOOSING A MARINE SET-UP, MAKE SURE THAT THE SYSTEM CAN BE
FITTED WITH ALL THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT. YOU CAN BUY A SYSTEMISED
AQUARIUM WITH EQUIPMENT ALREADY FITTED, IF YOU ARE UNSURE.
Get into
marines!
A protein skimmer is one piece
of equipment that you may not
be familiar with. It is an additional
form of filtration that mechanically
removes proteins and waste from
salt water. It does this by creating
lots of tiny bubbles inside that
become coated with protein, and
then overflow into a collection
cup. The collection cup can be
emptied and cleaned periodically,
removing waste from the system.
Why you need a protein skimmer
Traditional filters break down
waste by converting ammonia
to nitrite and then nitrate. We
remove the end product, nitrate,
by changing water. In an aquarium
you don’t want any ammonia,
nitrite or nitrate, and a protein
skimmer helps by removing it at
the source.
Marine fish and invertebrates
will not tolerate any pollution in
the water, and a protein skimmer
acts a primary, mechanical filter.
Skimmed water is cleaner and
healthier.
Protein skimmers can mean a
higher start-up cost when keeping
marines, but their benefits are
well documented and many of the
world’s best marine aquariums
are filtered using this method.
Some marine aquariums don’t
use any other form of filtration
apart from a protein skimmer and
live rock. This method is called
the Berlin System, and more
information will be available from
the marine expert in store.
A trip to your nearest coastline, or watching a marine nature
documentary, will reveal that the oceans are constantly
moving, be it from wave action, currents or the Gulf Stream.
Marine life is totally dependant on water movement to
bring them their food and wash away their waste, and that
movement should be replicated in the aquarium.
Flow is provided by pumps, filters and powerheads.
Calculate the total volume of your aquarium and provide
enough turnover to pump the entire water volume ten to
twenty times per hour. This will be sufficient for most corals,
fish and invertebrates. If you use an external filter and protein
skimmer, the flow from these devices can also be factored in,
so an aquarium of 180 l. / 40 gal volume, for example, should
have a turnover of 1800 lph / 400 gph or more.
An essential piece of equipment when keeping marines. A hydrometer
tells us how salty the tank water is, and we need to know this because
marine life needs a certain level of salt in the water to survive.
We make up our own salt water at home by mixing pure, fresh water,
preferably RO water, with synthetic sea salt. To tell us how salty the
water is, we use a hydrometer.
This usually consists of a
plastic box with a swing
needle inside, or a floating
object that looks a bit like a
thermometer. Whenever you
use a hydrometer to measure
salt levels, make sure you
bring the water to the correct
temperature first.
Protein skimmer
Powerheads
Hydrometer