A saltwater fish tank is no ordinary fish tank. A saltwater fish tank is a self-supporting ecosystem, as long as it is maintained properly. This means that every element in a saltwater fish tank relies on every other element for survival. Stability must be achieved by monitoring and maintaining specific factors, in order to keep the system stable. Since saltwater fish tanks are meant to achieve the same ecosystem as the ocean, which is a very stable one, all living things in the tank cannot tolerate many fluctuations. And since every living creature in any saltwater fish tank is taken from the ocean, you can maintain the stability of the environment by monitoring the PH, temperature, lighting, and salinity.
A one degree increase in temperature in a salt water fish tank could cause the fish and reefs to become ill and shocked. Therefore, you must monitor the heater in your tank to make sure it is functioning properly. The proper temperature in a saltwater fish tank, no matter how many gallons it is, is 77 degrees. This is because that probably the temperature the fish and coral were kept at, when they were at the fish store you purchased them from. If you have a larger fish tank, you should have at least two heaters. Lighting is very important in your saltwater fish tank. Not only because it makes the tank more of a show stopper, but because it important to health and over all wellbeing to your fish and corals. The florescent light should be kept on between 8 and 10 hours a day. When the florescent lights are on in your tank, it promotes the growth of algae, which the beautiful reefs and supper cool cleaner fish and shrimp survive on. The PH of a tank measures the acidity or alkalinity. A saltwater tank needs to be kept between 8.0 and 8.4. Buffers are