ing brine shrimp. 



Regular maintenance is essential 

 with a marine aquarium. After the 

 tank is completely filled, mark the 

 water level to check evaporation. Salts 

 do not evaporate with the water, so 

 remember to replace any water lost to 

 evaporation with aged fresh water. 

 The salinity level should be checked 

 with the hydrometer every week if the 

 aquarium is full of fish and less fre- 

 quently if it is less crowded. Once a 

 month, change one-quarter of the 

 water and replace with aged natural 

 sea water or freshly mixed artificial sea 

 water (made with aged fresh water) of 

 the same salinity and temperature as 

 the tank water. Clean filters regularly, 

 according to the package directions. 



It is important to maintain your 

 marine aquarium. Bob Goldstein, an 

 aquarist and environmental consul- 

 tant, says "A marine system is a closed 

 system with no natural changing of 

 water. The water is deteriorating 

 steadily due to evaporation and the 

 addition of wastes, so you have to 

 maintain the system very carefully 

 and check it frequently." 



This information should get you 

 started in setting up a brackish-water 

 or marine aquarium system. If you 

 would like to try breeding or growing 

 your own food, check the references 

 listed below. 



For additional reading 



Aquarium Systems, edited by 

 A. H. Hawkins. 1981. Academic Press, 

 New York, NY. 



Caroline Marine Aquaria , 

 Carolina Biological Supply Company, 

 Burlington, NC 27215. (Booklet can 

 be ordered for $1.00. Also, request free 

 pamphlets on marine aquaria.) 



Exotic Aquarium Fishes, William 

 T. Innes, L.H.D. 1979. Metaframe 

 Corporation, Elmwood Park, NJ. 



Fish Farming Handbook : Food, 

 Bait, Tropicals and Goldfish, E. 

 Evan Brown and John B. Gratzek. 

 1980. AVI Publishing Co., Inc., 

 Westport, CO. 



How to Set Up a Saltwater 

 Aquarium, Project CAPE, Box 640, 

 Manteo, NC 27954. (Booklet can be 

 ordered for $1.00.) 



Marine Aquarium Keeping, 

 Stephen H. Spotte. 1973. John Wiley 

 and Sons, New York, NY. 



Drawings by Tim Howard 



r EXHAUST TUBE 



WATER LEVEL 

 11 2" FROM 

 TOP 



OUTSIDE POWER FILTER 



PUMP 



13^ 



SUBSAND FILTER 



The outside power filter (above) and the subsand filter (below) remove 

 particles and help maintain water quality 



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