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Think that you can't keep a marine tank? Think again!

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Are you intimidated by the thought of the upkeep of a marine aquarium? It's actually not that difficult!

APPLES & ORANGES

It is actually very similar to keeping freshwater, with a few differences. All the same rules on the freshwater page apply. But instead of gravel, most marine hobbyists use marine sand as their substrate. This is more natural, and allows algae-eating creatures to sift through it easily.

I WANNA ROCK!

Instead of decorations and fake plants, you will need marine live rock. You want to collect 1 lb per gallon of live rock over time. It is called "live" rock because of all the millions of microorganisms that dwell all over it. You will end up with growth on your live rock that wasn't there before.

A marine tank, like freshwater, also takes about a month to cycle.

GO GREEN!

After a few weeks, you will probably see algae growth. Purchase some hermit crabs, snails, and other algae-eating, sand-sifting creatures. This is your "clean-up" crew. Hermit crabs need bigger shells as they grow, so provide them with extras. They may actually kill snails for their shells.

KEEP IT CLEAN Normal maintenance is a 25% water change about once a month, but test it often. If there's no problem, leave it alone! Don't stick your gravel siphon into your sand, because it is fine enough to get sucked up, unlike gravel. Protein skimmers are a good addition to filtration, because they get out all the tiny things that regular filters can't.

IT'S A LITTLE SALTY

Get a hydrometer to see how much salt is in your water. You can have too much, which means take some saltwater out and replace it with filtrated reverse osmosis water only. You can have too little, which means mix up some more saltwater and add it to the tank. On a hydrometer, .022 is ideal and will usually be highlighted. You can purchase premixed saltwater and reverse osmosis water, or mix your saltwater at home. Tap water is not recommended because of all the heavy metals and other junk you don't need in your water.

FISH OR CORAL?

Decide whether you want to do a fish only tank, or a coral tank. If you keep coral, become familiar with "reef safe" fish. A lot of fish can pick at and eat coral.

As well as with freshwater, there are Non-aggressive, Semi-aggressive, and Aggressive marine fish.

LET THERE BE LIGHT, MORE LIGHT!

There are different lights that are required for healthy corals. Become familiar with the different types of coral and what they specifically need. The main types of lights are compact fluorescent and metal halides. They provide powerful full spectrum lighting for your corals.

GIVETH AND TAKETH AWAY

Live rock and corals will use and deplete certain things in your water that need to be replenished. Things like marine calcium, iodine, etc. will help keep your corals and live rock beautiful. We sell everything you need to keep your tank healthy and happy.

WATER QUALITY IS THE KEY!

Test or let us test your water periodically or when you have any fish loss or algae problems. A "clear" tank doesn't always mean healthy. Most commonly, fish death is the result of bad water quality or aggression from other fish.

WE WANT YOU TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL AQUARIUM!

Anyone can have a beautiful freshwater OR marine aquarium! Call us with any questions! (931)647-PETS

Just In 8/4/10 Yellow Tangs Sailfin Tang Assorted Damsels Fox Face Coral Beauty Lawnmower Blennies Bicolor Angel Six Line Wrasse And much more! Live rock, invertebrates, & corals always in stock! Call (931)647-PETS for availability!

Live and frozen foods available also! Ocean Nutrition frozen fish foods San Francisco Bay frozen fish foods Piscine frozen mysis shrimp Live Guppies Live Rosy Red Minnows Live Feeder Comet Goldfish Live Ghost Shrimp Live Brine Shrimp

Pet Palace is an authorized dealer of Aqueon & Perfecto aquariums & supplies. We sell quality aquariums of all sizes and many shapes. Cabinet Stands and Canopies are also available.
We carry everything you need for a truly superior aquarium!

Filtration, Lighting, and Heating Marineland Penguin and Emperor hang-on filters & carbon cartridges Hagen AquaClear hang-on filters & media refills Penn Plax Cascade canister filters and media refills Aquarium Systems Seaclone Protien Skimmers Coralife Reverse Osmosis systems Coralife Turbo Twist UV Sterilizers Marineland Stealth submersible heaters JW Fusion air pumps Coralife fluorescent lights Current Orbit Metal Halide lights Coralife Power Compact Fluorescent lights Aqueon fluorescent striplights & full hoods Perfecto striplights & full hoods

Foods and Automatic Feeders Omega One flake and pellet foods Aquadine mixable disc and pellet foods Hikari pellet foods Tetra flake foods HBH flake foods San Francisco Bay frozen and freeze dried treats Ocean Nutrition frozen foods and seaweed Piscine frozen mysis shrimp Reef Nutrition foods DT's Phytoplankton and Oyster Eggs Wardley shrimp pellets

Medications and Testing Supplies Aquarium Pharmacueticals salt and fish medications Aquarium Pharm test kits and ph buffers Mardel fish medications

Maintenance Accessories Prime water conditioner Tropical Science water conditioner and beneficial bacteria Marineland Bio Spira beneficial bacteria Marina particulate and biological clarifiers Lee's gravel vacs Python 25ft gravel vac and accessories

Dry and Live Sand CaribSea Ocean Direct sand