Guide for marine water aquariums Instruction for entry into an exotic world The most important tips Reef aquarium 1 Contents Marine water aquariums – Dear reader, a special fascination 4 “… just wonderful!“ When visitors see a tropical You will need: coral reef aquarium they usually go into raptures. The exotic colours have an almost magical effect. Basic equipment 6 Marine water 11 Admittedly a marine water aquarium first has to “grow” for its splendour to unfold. This can take Installation and decoration 12 up to two years so you will need to be patient. Unfortunately not everyone can do that and some How to proceed – step by step 14 newcomers give up prematurely because they fail to appreciate the contexts adequately. Composition of your water 16 Maintaining water values at the With this Guide we would like to help you under- optimum level 18 stand those contexts better and do the right things from the outset. With that in mind we have brought Providing good light 20 the essentials together in such a way that you How to stock your aquarium 22 don’t have to read any lengthy treatises. You get the basics at the outset. The right way to feed your fish 24 Keeping your aquarium in good shape 26 You can also look for technical literature which goes into greater detail or join an aquarium club You will also need 27 but, most importantly, you should get in touch with a specialist dealer in marine water aquariums if List of keywords 30 you have any queries. If you need advice or help ... 31 We wish you success and joy with your marine water aquarium. Your EHEIM Aquarium Team 2 3 Marine water aquariums – a special fascination Magnificent coral reefs, shimmering fish, a lively bustle of bright A few basic concepts which you should be familiar with hues and shifting shapes and colours. A marvellous and exotic underwater world which is attracting new enthusiasts all the time: If you speak to an aquarium-keeper form skeletons. The dead skeletal material marine water – or reef – aquariums are becoming increasingly popu- or read up on the subject, you will is regularly overgrown with living tissue lar. Not only are they an exceptionally eye-catching feature in the home, but also frequently come across various terms and this is how coral reefs are eventually a special source of fascination for observers, who see how corals grow, how which are seldom further explained. formed. Over thousands of years huge the colours change, how a new life unfolds and are always discovering exciting This results in confusion and misunder- reefs and islands were formed in this things. Nowadays you no longer need to be an experienced aquarium keeper to standing, so here are a few definitions: way, including the Bahamas, Bermuda go in for reef aquariums. and the Maldives. Marine water or reef aquariums Tropical stony corals (sometimes called Fresh or marine water aquariums – Marine water aquariums are rather more Saltwater or seawater aquarium is actually soft corals or leather corals, amongst what’s the difference? demanding. First the tap-water must be the general term for any aquarium which is other things) derive their nutrients chiefly purified and enriched with salt. Caring for used with saltwater (including specialised from small, single-cell algae (zooxanthel- In a freshwater aquarium fish and other corals and other animals requires more types such as North Sea, Mediterranean lae), which settle symbiotically in their occupants live in a state of symbiosis attention, a lot of patience and more and mangrove aquariums etc.) tissue. In a well-lit marine water aquarium, with plants. The water comes out of the expensive equipment. It is only partly corals can survive and grow for years tap and has to be filtered and processed true to say that marine water or reef There are pure fish aquariums (occupied without feeding. but, basically, everything is straightforward. aquariums mean a lot of work, because solely by fish), as well as aquariums for Thanks to their relatively uncomplicated in recent years quite a lot has happened. invertebrates (e.g. nano aquariums), but As well as “zooxanthellate” corals there equipment and the fact that they are New discoveries about the sensitive what is usually meant is a reef or coral- are several other types but they feed on comparatively simple to look after, fresh- eco-system of a coral reef and technical reef aquarium. This is a tropical marine each other and are not easy to keep in an water aquariums are also suitable for advances have made a lot of things much water aquarium in which corals form a aquarium for beginners. beginners. The outlay is within limits. simpler. Even beginners can keep a reef close living community (this is known as aquarium if they abide by the rules. biocoenosis), with fish, crabs, echino- Live rocks derms (creatures with spines) and a large number of micro-organisms and small In the world of aquariums “live rock” animals. means pieces of reef in which plant and animal organisms live. When the aquarium Corals and coral reefs is being set up, they introduce sediments, bacteria, a variety of small life forms Corals are not plants, as many believe, including crustaceans, feather duster but colonies of tiny sessile (“tight-sitting”) worms, algae and sponges into the aqua- coelenterates, which include sea anemo- rium. It is only with these organisms that nes and jelly fish. In an aquarium it is the eco-system can function effectively mainly reef-forming stony corals that are in the marine water aquarium. They are a used. They secrete calcium and eventually natural bio filter and process the water. 4 5 You will need: Basic equipment Equipment space area Ideally the equipment will be located in an area beneath the aquarium, in the aquarium furniture. Here you will need If you want to set up a marine water aquarium, you first sufficient space for the filter tank (known need some good quality equipment. The most important is: as the “filter sump”) with skimmers, filters, Equipment tank in the bottom cupboard EHEIM incpiria marine 200 feed pumps, osmosis store, automatic EHEIM scubacube marine 270 top-up, power supply and gauges/adjusters Marine water aquarium tank Lighting etc. as necessary. Tubes and pipe work must therefore pass through the base of The aquarium tank is the central element The correct light is critical. It must be the aquarium. in the marine water system so when lighter in a marine water aquarium than EHEIM deciding what to buy, it is essential to in a freshwater aquarium, to penetrate If you opt for an EHEIM marine water SKIMmarine 800 take quality into account (and don’t let into the tissue of zooxanthellate corals. aquarium combination you will have the yourself be enticed into using a fresh- It must also regulate the growth of algae. complete basics, including filter tank, water tank.) Saltwater is aggressive and The colour spectrum of the light (white pre-installed pipes etc. all seals must be able to withstand it. and blue) should be effectively balanced with the blue element being predominant Filter tank Protein skimmer You should set your sights on as big an (10 000 Kelvin and up). aquarium as possible or it will soon be The filter tank (“filter sump”) is a special- The skimmer is the main filter in a marine too small. It won’t make much difference Until recently, correct lighting was a prob- ised tank in the bottom cabinet. It should water aquarium. This is used to imme- to the purchase price and the bigger the lem. Nowadays it is possible to achieve consist of a number of chambers, including: diately remove waste products (excreta aquarium, the easier it will be to look after. maximum efficiency and ideal colour from fish and other animals in the form values with EHEIM’s new T5 fluorescent • Intake chamber – this is where the of ammonium/ammonia, proteins etc.), The minimum size is 150 litres but 250 – tubes (diameter 16 mm) or EHEIM LED skimmer is located and where the from the water before they oxidise and 500 litres or more is recommended. As a lamps. EHEIM aquarium combinations water from the aquarium enters form toxic end-products such as nitrate matter of course, marine water aquariums are fitted with the optimum lighting and phosphate. should be deeper than freshwater tanks according to size. • Filtration chamber – this is where filter (50 – 60 cm) as it is necessary to create mats (in the role of a internal filter, for The skimmer typically works by produc- different light zones (dim light, twilight, example) or if required, fitted external ing bubbles of air to which molecules of sunlight and strong light). Coral reefs will filters, assume the task of filtration protein remain attached by electrostatic also usually grow upwards. attraction. Turbulence creates a firm • Collection chamber (or clear water brown foam (flotation) which is fed into a The EHEIM marine water aquarium offers chamber) – this is where the return collection container, where it can be dis- the best requirements and good quality. pump is located which feeds the puri- posed of. They are also fitted with a patented, 1 – EHEIM powerLED fied water back into the aquarium ultra-quiet overflow shaft. 2 – EHEIM powerLED actinic blue There are various methods of producing • Plus, if required, an evaporated water foam. The EHEIM SKIMmarine 800 storage chamber for revers osmosis skimmer makes particularly effective, quiet water (freshwater without any salt!) – and energy-saving use of a new type of if necessary with auto matic top-up needle-wheel design and venturi unit.