Four Easy Tips To Make Your Saltwater Tank Thrive!

Food

The most important need that any creature has is the necessity for food. It is important to mimic the kind of food that a fish would usually eat in the ocean. Before buying a fish, find out what it usually eats in the wild. Some fish are used to eating live prey. Some have very specific dietary needs that you may not be able to provide for, such as if the fish only eats a specific kind of sponge coral. Most fish, especially if they are tank raised eat flake, frozen, or freeze dried food. These varieties are readily available at your local pet store. The cool thing about fish food, especially if you have a small tank, is that they don't go through it the way that dogs or cats go through food. A 2.2 ounce container of flake food can last upwards of a year for a small tank! In addition to food, there are vitamins that may be added to the meals to replace any nutrients that may have been lost in the freezing or drying process.

Just as we humans do not prefer to eat the same thing every single day, neither do fish. If possible, keep several varieties of food on hand. For my clownfish I keep flake food and freeze dried brine shrimp. These two types of food are available at my local pet store and quite cost effective being as a meal to them is only a few flakes at a time.

Do not overfeed!

Watch out to not over feed the fish. This can cause a build up of debris with in the tank. Only feed an amount that can be consumed within the first two to five minutes. Attempt to remove any excess food after feeding time in order to keep the tank tidy. Keep in mind how much was consumed previously and attempt to replicate that on the subsequent feedings. Over feeding fish is a common mistake, especially among new aquarium owners.

Provide a natural habitat

Have you ever heard the saying that a happy baby is a healthy baby? Effectively, the same is true for fish. Fish must be made to feel as safe and secure as possible in their new home. It is best to try to recreate their natural habitat. Research to seek out what kind of particular corals, sponges and plants the fish have in their open water environment. If a particular fish lives on a coral reef, attempt to incorporate that into the grand scheme of the aquarium. Also consider the swimming habits of the fish you intend to keep. Regal tangs and tangs in general like wide open swimming spaces. Other species are shy and need a lot of hiding spaces. By providing a natural environment stress will be minimized by offering ample opportunities for fish to behave normally.

Don't overcrowd!

Avoid overcrowding the tank. Overcrowding occurs when there are too many fish in the tank. This is a frequent problem that cam be easily avoided. A general rule of thumb is one small fish per every ten gallons of water.