MARINE (SALT WATER) AQUARIUM 101

withCaptain Pete

Aquarium Size

• Bigger is better

• Gallons to fish ratio = 1-2 inch/gallon water*

• Size of fish matters

SUBSTRATEAs natural as possible:

• Crushed shell for pH buffering

• Gravel provides space for “good” bacteria to live in.

• Sand can be bad – substrate becomes anoxic

FiltrationMany kind of filters.All provide essentially the same service - Removal of contaminates and toxins

Examples:• Hanging Filters• Canister Filters• Wet/dry trickle filters• Corner filters• Protein skimmers

3 types of filtration in each filter• Mechanical• Sponges remove large particulates

• Chemical• Activated carbon (charcoal) removes

dissolved metals, inorganics and some ammonia

• Biological• Removes organic waste (NH3, NO3,

NO2)• Bioballs mimic “Nitrogen Cycle”

The Nitrogen CycleNatural process through which toxic ammonia produced by all animals is reduced to nitrogen and oxygen. Ammonia hinders fish from taking up O2 across gills.

Three groups of “good” bacteria

• Nitrifying bacteria = oxidize ammonia (NH3) to Nitrite (NO2)

• Nitrite (NO2) then is converted to Nitrate (NO3) by a second group of bacteria

• Denitrifying bacteria then process nitrate into nitrogen (N2) and oxygen (O2)

NITROGEN CYCLE IN MARINE SYSTEMS

air

water

food

nitrate NO3

Nitrification

Min

eraliz

atio

n

animal proteins

unconsumed f ood

f ecal matter

dead plant/ animal tissue

rem

oval

of o

rganic

com

pounds

protein skimming

ammonia NH4

nitrite NO2

water changes

dissolved nitrogen

N2

removal of NO3

Nitrification

denit

rifi

catio

n

1. Food enters the system and is metabolized by animals, producing waste.

2. Mineralization occurs when waste is converted from an organic substance to an inorganic substance (NH4) by Heterotrophic bacteria

3. Nitrification is a microbial process by which ammonia is sequentially oxidized to nitrite and nitrate by Nitrosomonas and. Nitrobacter bacteria.

4. Denitrification is the conversion of nitrate to nitrogen gas, carried out by denitrifying bacteria.

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2

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Water parameters• Salinity: 28-35 ppt• Dilute with dechlorinated water

• Ammonia: 0.5 ppm – take corrective action.• Water changes (10-25%)• Feed less• Clean filter but only with salt water

• pH should be slightly basic (7.5-8.5)