Water movement is incredibly important in maintaining a healthy saltwater tank
The key to keeping your saltwater aquarium fish happy and healthy is to create a tank environment that mimics the ocean as closely as possible. If you look at a typical fish tank in comparison to the ocean, what kind of differences do you notice? Aside from the confined space of an aquarium, you may also notice that the typical aquarium doesn’t have any waves. Waves play an important role in oceanic environments so it stands to reason that they are important in saltwater tanks as well. Incorporating waves into your saltwater tank is not as difficult as you might think – all you need to do is install a wavemaker.
Why Water Movement is Important
Water movement is an integral part of any oceanic environment because ocean water is constantly circulating. Though aquarium filters help to provide some circulation in the typical aquarium, it may not be enough for your saltwater tank inhabitants. In the ocean, corals and other reef inhabitants depend on fast water movement to deliver food particles and to sweep away waste. Without adequate water movement, your reef inhabitants may fail to thrive – they might end up slowly starving to death. Fast water movement can also be beneficial for aquarium fish because it requires them to expend more energy which helps them burn fat.
There are three different kinds of water movement. One kind, the kind produced by the average aquarium powerhead, is called laminar flow and it is one-directional. The type of flow that lasts for a short period of time and is followed by a weak reverse flow is called surge. The third type of flow, and the most difficult to achieve in the home aquarium, is called turbulence. Turbulence involves random flow in multiple directions. In order to achieve turbulence in your tank, you may need to install a wavemaker.
Incorporating a Wavemaker
A wavemaker is an electronic device that can be used to link multiple powerheads. By turning the powerheads on and off at random intervals, a wavemaker is able to produce turbulence in the home aquarium. In order to use one of these devices effectively you will need to install multiple powerheads at different locations in the tank. Depending on the model you choose, you may be able to program the wavemaker to produce slower water movement at night. When installing your equipment, make sure to position the powerheads far enough under the tank surface to prevent bubbling and salt spray.
Though water movement is incredibly important in maintaining a healthy saltwater tank, it is not the only thing you need to consider. In order for your reef inhabitants to gain the most benefit from water circulation, the water itself needs to be of high quality. To achieve this, consider installing an EcoBio-Stone in your saltwater tank. These stones are made from natural zeolite and they are infused with beneficial bacteria as well as the nutrients they need to thrive. Adding extra beneficial bacteria to your tank through the EcoBio-Stone will help to maintain the nitrogen cycle, thus keeping your tank water clean and clear.