FAQS

If you are a hobbyist, ask your local pet shop for a free copy of SeaScope® or go to the Hall of Knowledge section of this site to download recent copies of SeaScope. If your pet shop does not receive copies to hand out, it can call 1-800-822-1100 and ask to be put on the dealer mailing list.

A good quality filter of choice, hydrometer, protein skimmer, heater, thermometer, pump for your protein skimmer, power compact, very high output (VHO) or metal halide lighting if planning a fish-only-with-live-rock (FOWLR) or reef system, and powerheads or airpumps to create current.

A reef tank is a saltwater tank based on corals and invertebrates, such as anemones; fish are secondary. Live rock is an intricate, important part of a reef tank.

Live rock is the term used for pieces of calcareous rock taken from the ocean, usually close to shore. When first harvested, it will have a considerable population of small shrimps, crabs, worms, anemones and other little animals. It is recommended to use 1–1.5 lbs of live rock to every 1 gallon of water. In a mature saltwater system, live rock encourages a population of microorganisms, sponges, small shrimps and other living things. These animals play an important role in the tank’s ecosystem.

Living sand is similar to live rock, in that it is sand removed from the ocean and contains millions of tiny microscopic animals that help maintain a balanced, filtered ecosystem in your saltwater tank. If the sand you buy is not living sand, it can become that way, over time, as animals migrate from the live rock to populate it. It is used in place of gravel, crushed coral or Dolomite as a substrate. The primary job of these organisms is to keep the substrate clean and not allow buildup of detritus. This is important as they take the place of vacuuming the tank.

FOWLR is an acronym for “fish only with live rock.” Many people set up tanks this way for the beauty, filtration capacity and live food produced by the rock. Live rock, although expensive, makes a fish-only tank much easier to maintain and adds to its aesthetic appeal.

Make sure all of the equipment has been running successfully for several days prior to adding any fish. Your temperature should not be fluctuating, and the salinity should be stable. We would recommend waiting a minimum of three days, but preferably seven days, to be sure all is stable and safe for the first fish. Be sure to add BIO-Spira to help balance your aquarium.

Damsels, Clowns and Chromis are common in the marine hobby, but some also use Mollies that have been acclimated to salt water. Be sure to work with your local retailer to purchase hardy and healthy pets.

If you have decided on a fish-only aquarium, you can have about one inch of fish for every three gallons of water. Make sure you look into how large your fish will get. That cute one-inch fish can grow up to be a three-foot monster! If you have decided on a reef tank, you will want to keep fish to a minimum. As a rule, you should allow about one inch of fish for 10 gallons of water.

Water changes are important for all types of fish tanks. At Instant Ocean®, we recommend changing 20 percent every other week. If you have a high bio-load, more frequent changes may be necessary.