Aquarium and Pond Care with EcoBio-Block

Saltwater Aquarium

Many newcomers to the world of keeping saltwater fish are wondering about the proper accessories for saltwater tanks. A lot depends on what kind of saltwater tank system you prefer. Do you want a reef tank system, a system with live rock and fish, or a system with just fish? Some accessories are considered to be basic; you would need them no matter which kind of system you chose.

Let us assume that you have already chosen the aquarium in the size you prefer. You know where you are going to place it in your home, and you have a suitable stand that can bear the weight of your tank when it is filled with water. You will need to decide what sort of lighting you are going to use. A hood for the top of the tank usually holds the lighting system you have chosen. Remember that for saltwater tanks, the lighting must be very similar to that of the sun. Otherwise, marine fish and coral will not do well.

Gravel, aragonite sand, crushed oyster shell and crushed coral are popular choices as a substrate for saltwater tanks. Since calcium is so important in maintaining the pH in the water of a marine tank, choosing a substrate like gravel, coral or oyster shell that can provide this mineral is a wise choice.

The plants chosen for saltwater tanks are generally live ones. Plastic plants, while attractive and hardy, cannot take a constant bath in salt water without a change in appearance. Live plants that are known to grow in salt water should be chosen. Live rock and coral are often considered as part plant, part decoration by the aquarium hobbyist. These choices grow and need nutrients just as plants do. The shapes and colors of coral are as beautiful a decoration as anyone could want.

Your aquarium filter should be chosen with both the size of the tank and the type of water that will be used in it in mind. A canister filter is a good choice. Saltwater tanks often prefer a filter that includes a protein skimmer. An aquarium heater will be needed as well. Choose a heater that is intended to use around 3 watts per gallon. You will need a thermometer, preferably digital, though some in the fishkeeping hobby do prefer the standard type of aquarium thermometer.

You will need a synthetic salt mix in order to make your salt water, available at any store that sells supplies for marine fish. Do not use regular table salt! A few buckets are handy to have to mix the salt water. In fact, five gallon buckets are a fine accessory for helping you maintain your tank. They can be used to hold plants, substrate, even fish if necessary for a short time. The proper mixing of the water is crucial for the saltwater tank. Just as the quality of the water that marine fish are used to in their native habitat is constant, so must the water that you mix and add to the tank also be.

A powerhead is an excellent choice as one of the proper accessories for saltwater tanks. Powerheads duplicate the wave action of the ocean. As so many of the marine fish sold today are wild caught, having conditions that match the ocean’s is crucial for success.
One of the best accessories possible for your saltwater tank is an EcoBio-Block. This product keeps the aquarium water clean and clear, and releases beneficial bacteria and nutrients into the water to help deal with the organic waste matter. It helps keep the ammonia, nitrate and nitrite levels down, and keeps the pH at a constant level. The EcoBio-Block can help you maintain your tank with very little work.

Avoiding Electrical Danger, and Having Electrical Safety With Your Aquarium

Electrical safety is a very important subject when dealing with aquariums.
Oftentimes the combination of water and faulty electrical equipment can cause fatal consequences for the aquarium enthusiast. A basic rule of aquarium management and electrical safety is to turn off all electrical power to your aquarium before putting your hand in the water.

The amount of electrical current that is needed to give a person an electric shock is surprisingly low. With a 110-volt supply, a current of only 10 milliamps coursing through your body to the earth can give a painful shock. A current above 50 milliamps is more likely to be fatal. Most modern aquariums today, incorporate several electrical devices. The average aquarium has a pump, a heater, and a lighting system. Each of these devices carries their own risks, the biggest being concern with the cables around the fish tank.

Make sure each and every cable coming out of your aquarium has drip loops.

One of the most important safety improvements that you can make to ensure electrical safety for your aquarium is to properly secure all loose cables behind the aquarium stand. Routing them through a single extension cord, before they connect to any mains, means that if anything goes wrong you only have to pull one plug. For electrical safety purposes, make sure everyone in your household knows about this plug, and that it’s clearly marked.

Another added protection is to make sure each and every cable coming out of your aquarium has drip loops. This means that they should reach down further towards your floor, before coming back up to be plugged in. This may mean mounting your extension block onto a wall in order to accomplish this for electrical safety. A drip loop allows any water, which might escape from the tank and run down the cable to gather at the bottom and drip onto the floor, rather than finding its way into an electrical outlet. It’s a simple piece of electrical safety, but it can be a lifesaver for you and your family.

GFI outlets are another important element to electrical safety for your aquarium. They provide the best source of protection, shutting down your power as soon as any problems develop. Although occasionally posing a fire risk, carelessly managed aquariums also can cause electric shocks, which are often painful and sometimes fatal.

The most common cause of these electric shocks is damage to the shielding around the element of your heater. If you have your hands in the water, when such damage has occurred you could get a very painful shock as the current travels down through your body to the ground. Touching bare wires also puts you at risk, as well as switching on devices while your hands are still inside the tank. For added electrical safety you should turn off all electrical devices connected to your aquarium before you make contact with the water.