Positioning the Marine Aquarium Tank

Positioning the Marine Aquarium Tank

The correct positioning of a marine aquarium has much bearing on the growth and well-being of the resident plants and animals. This seemingly simple choice requires balancing many important factors. The basic idea is to simulate the natural habitat as far as possible. It is important to have regular day and night cycles, temperatures, and seasonality. The propagation of algae is another aspect to consider. It is the prime source of green food for many underwater species and performs allied functions of oxygen balancing in the water and processing the excreta of animals. Following are some of the key considerations for positioning a marine tank:

Horizontal positioning: Ensure that the tank is placed on a flat and even surface. A bubble level is a simple instrument to check the balance. Keep it beside your tank or on the top of it to check it remains horizontal once placed. Even if the tank is kept slightly at an angle, the inside water will put pressure on the sidewalls, causing them to leak or crack overtime.

Location: Keep the tank in some undisturbed corner of the house, away from any doors of windows. Such openings are subject to the effects of changing weather outside the house and consequently, inside the tank. In addition, every time a door or window is opened or closed, there is a change in light and temperature. The deep-water creatures are not habitual of frequent changes in surrounding conditions, and may not be able to sustain it.

Sunlight: There should be little or no sunlight for your marine aquarium. One of the obvious reasons is that it may heat up your tank to levels more than bearable for the animals. Secondly, excess light may accelerate algae growth manifolds.

Disturbance: The atmosphere deep down the sea is very calm. The only sounds are those produced by the swimming, breathing, or occasional predation. Therefore, keep the tank away from any sound instruments, like television, music system, speakers, etc. Similarly, place it in a quiet corner instead of a busy passage.

Power Source: Almost all of the marine aquariums have to be supplied with artificial light arrangements. Therefore, position your tank near a reliable power source, which can supply non-stop current.

Direction of Light: Always position your tank such that the light source (natural or artificial) is always above it. The aquatic animals are used to this arrangement. If the light enters from the sides, they may be disoriented.

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