Wed, Thur, Fri  1:00-6:30 Sat and Sun     10:00-5:30 New Aquarium Design Consultations and New Service Customers Located on Rt 29 near Kamp Washington, Rt 50 / Main Street, EASY < 5 min away from: Rt 66 and Fairfax County Parkway Look for the blue awning building between Haverty's and Next Day Blinds, and come around to the back of the building Retail / No Appointment Needed Hours: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 1:00-6:30 Saturday and Sunday  10:00-5:30 Shop for Corals, Fish, Liverock, Inverts, Food and Dry Goods See and "play" with the latest equipment. See on display LED lighting from: EcoTech (Pro & Gen3s on display) AquaIllumination (Hydra 26 and 52, Prime) Want to have your existing aquarium serviced? Having problems and don't know what to do? Considering a new aquarium for home or office? Contact us now for an aquarium consultation either at our Showroom or on-site at your location.

Located in Fairfax VA, and serving the greater Northern Virginia and D.C. area, Reef eScape LLC offers all services related to the installation and management of saltwater aquaria. Click here for a list of locations included in our service area For Updates, Sales, Specials and more info: Click here to become a fan of ReefeScape onfish tank filter rena Having problems with the site? fish tank plants lightingPlease contact the Webmaster to let us know.fish tank snails deadChoosing A Saltwater Fish Tankfish aquarium price online What to Look For in a Saltwater Fish Tankmarine fish tank amazon

The decision to purchase a saltwater or marine fish tank for your home or office should not be taken lightly. Marine fish will have requirements far greater than freshwater fish. However, once you’ve decided to purchase a saltwater aquarium you’ll be rewarded with a stunning range of tropical and reef fish to choose from. But first you’ll need to purchase your tank. fish tank on youtubeThe selection process can be time consuming and confusing because the range of tanks available is large. The best advice is usually to purchase the largest tank you can afford and that will fit in the available space. There are numerous stories of people starting out their fish tank hobby with a small fish tank only to find in a short space of time that they wish they had purchased a larger tank! A 30-gallon saltwater aquarium is probably the smallest tank you should consider. A fish tank of this size will provide sufficient surface area to allow adequate exchange of oxygen into the water and to provide a comfortable swimming environment for your fish.

The oxygen supply in the water together with the water temperature will determine the success or otherwise of your fish keeping hobby. Tropical saltwater fish require a water temperature of about 75 degrees F. The warmer water in the saltwater aquarium will tend to deplete the oxygen in the water which means that the surface area becomes important. The addition of aeration equipment is usually desirable to increase the oxygen concentration. Aeration can usually be provided in conjunction with your filtration equipment. Saltwater fish tanks are available in both acrylic and glass. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. Some of the advantages of glass aquariums are: * Glass fish tanks are usually cheaper than acrylic tanks * Glass fish tanks are more scratch resistant than acrylic tanks * Glass fish tanks won't discolor with age * Glass fish tanks won’t require as much brace support as acrylic tanks although the stand needs to be able to support a great weight

Advantages of acrylic fish tanks are: * Acrylic fish tanks are lighter in weight than glass fish tanks * Acrylic fish tanks can be custom made in a shape to suit your home * Acrylic fish tanks are less likely to break * Acrylic fish tanks can be purchased online Setting Up Your Saltwater Fish Tank Bringing your new saltwater fish tank home from the store is only the first step. Never be tempted to purchase fish at the same time that you acquire your aquarium. There are many steps to complete prior to introducing fish to their new home. First, you need to install your tank in its desired location. Avoid locating your saltwater fish tank in any spot that receives sunlight. Sunlight will cause algae to grow in your tank and whilst this will not usually harm the fish it is unsightly and spoils the appearance of your aquarium. Also avoid any locations close to room heaters or where the tank will be exposed to drafts. Many acrylic fish tanks come with a built-in stand.

Glass tanks will require a sturdy stand and should have a layer of polystyrene or rubber placed between the tank and the stand to absorb any unevenness. If the tank is unbalanced it will eventually crack. Check your new tank for leaks. Fill it with water and let is stand for a day or two. Once you have confirmed that it is water tight you will need to thoroughly clean the tank and all equipment. Do not skip the cleaning and rinsing step just because you’ve purchased a new tank and it appears sparkling clean. Your fish will die if there are any contaminants left in the tank! Don’t forget to wash the gravel before adding it the tank. Add all your other equipment in accordance with the manufacturer’s directions. Your pet store will have provided advice on how to set up your saltwater fish tank. After you have added your salt water and confirmed that the salt and chemical levels are correct you’ll need to run all your equipment for at least 72 hours to filter and heat your water and stabilize your tank.