Fishtanks And Aquarium

If there’s one thing I wish I knew when I started running a saltwater aquarium, it would be how to use automatic equipment to keep my tank stable. The most dangerous thing in a saltwater aquarium is wild swings in the water quality. The three things that change most rapidly in a saltwater system are temperature, salinity, and nutrient levels. Dramatic swings in water parameters can have seriously impact the health of your fish and other livestock, and using machines to automatically fix them to ensure a healthy, beautiful aquarium.

The most crucial piece of equipment is an aquarium chiller. This is a refrigeration machine that makes sure your tank stays at a certain temperature. Heaters are just a simple heat source - they keep warming up as much as their power allows, but this changes when the temperature in the room does. Aquarium chillers use delicate sensors and powerful technology to automatically chill the water whenever the temperature goes up. This allows you to use strong lights and heaters without having to worry - the aquarium chiller will keep your tank’s water temperature stable.

Another important tool is an auto top-off system. A floating switch automatically turns the machine on to refill your tank when the water gets low. Changes in salinity are one of the most dangerous things that can happen in a reef aquarium, and auto top-offs remove the risk. It doses pure fresh water into your tank and keeps everything stable.

The third important piece of equipment is a protein skimmer. NO3 and NO4 builds up naturally in your aquarium as a waste product from feeding your pets. These can spiral out of control very quickly, and cause algae and bacterial blooms that can choke or starve your fish and corals. Protein skimmers keep nutrients level by constantly working to remove waste from the aquarium.

These pieces of equipment aren’t always cheap, but it’s important to remember that they’re an investment. Then again, think what replacing all your fish and coral would cost over time. I would never start a new aquarium without these three machines.