Salt water aquariums can be divided into two groups, marine and reef.  The focus of a marine aquarium is the fish.  We also can add some shrimp, snails, hermit crabs and sea stars.  However we do not use live corals or anomies. We do however use artificial plants and corals to enhance the display.  In a reef aquarium, the focus is the live corals and anomies.  We add a few fish to enhance the display, but the focus is on the corals and anomies.

Salt water aquarium ph should be maintained between 8.0 and 8.3.  In order to do that we have found that it is best to do frequent small water changes.  That is why we recommend that salt water aquariums be maintained on a weekly basis.

At every salt water aquarium service, our technician will perform each of the following:

1. Check the ph, temperature and salinity.  We record the information is a file specifically designed and set up for your aquarium.
2. Clean the interior glass of unwanted algae.  Algae will always grow where there is water, nutrients and light.  If left unattended, it will quickly become unsightly and the worse it is allowed to get, the longer it takes and the harder it is to restore a proper balance thereby keeping it clean and attractive between visits.
3. Scheduled filter media cleaning and replacement.  Filter media can include Chemipure, phosguard, denitrite, polyfibre, sponges, filter socks and pleated cartridge filters.  Chemipure, phosguard, denitrite and polyfibre are exchanged for new, sponges are cleaned on site and pleated cartridge filters and filter socks are exchanged with clean filters.  The dirty filters are returned to our shop to be cleaned, steralized and reused.
4. Vacuuming of the gravel bed and 10% to 20% water change.  Water quality is the key to healthy fish.  Fish adsorb trace elements and minerals from the water.  It is absolutely essential to replace these trace elements and minerals in order to maintain a healthy environment.  While draining the aquarium we clean the detritus from the gravel bed reducing the organics and consequently the nutrients available for algae growth.
5. Cleaning of exterior glass of unwanted finger prints and nose prints.  Aquariums are magnets to children.  They love to get up close and personal.  We will clean the exterior glass of the aquarium each visit.  If you find it necessary to clean the glass between visits, please be sure to not use ammonia based cleaners.  Ammonia is hydrophilic and is attracted to and adsorbed into the aquarium water.
6. Visual inspection of fish health.  We are often able to detect early signs of stress, parasites or disease.
7. Water additives are added.  These are included in the maintenance fees and it is not necessary for you to purchase or stock them.  We add trace elements, dechlorinator, buffer and bio support additives with each water change.
8. Plants and ornaments are cleaned.  When necessary decorative plants and ornaments are removed for cleaning or on occasion exchanged and taken to our shop for a thorough cleaning.
9. Fish are added ( if ordered ).  If you order fish from us, we will quarantine them in our shop for a minimum of 2 weeks to help ensure they are disease and parasite free before delivering them to you and placing them in your aquarium.
10. Fish food supply checked.  We will check and refill the automatic feeder ( if installed ) and check and resupply any fish food you may need.
11. Additional equipment is checked and maintenance if required is performed.  This includes checking and resetting light timers, oiling external pumps, ordering and replacing burnt out lights, cleaning protein skimmers and when necessary replacing UV bulbs.
12. The service record data base is updated and the technician initials the documentation signing off on the service call.