Each of us have our interests.

As a Christmas present, I was given a fishtank.

With the choice of freshwater or seawater, or cold water or tropical, I decided that I would try and pursue my initial desire to set up a marine fishtank, and make it as self sufficient as possible, although this was later dashed, forcing me down the freshwater route.

Although a novice to setting up a marine fishtank, I had a bigger advantage than most. As a qualified graduate of Marine Biology, I hoped to use my experience to set up a simple yet efficient ecosystem.

Now having a degree in Marine Biology did not make me a walking Encyclopaedia of every living marine creature, but it did help me to understand their environments, their interactions, evolutionary benefits, and their advantages for survival alongside others, but never have I had to "test these theories", and create a long term living world of my own.

Many believe that the answer to life, the universe and everything is 42. On the other hand, I believe it can be summed up in one word - balance.

For those unaware of the definition, an ecosystem is a virtually self contained environment in a harmonious balance. In other words by adding the right combination of fish, plants, invertebrates (crabs, starfish etc), and other organisms, including a good balance of the right bacteria, the tank could be self contained with only nominal intervention, mainly in the form of cosmetic cleaning and  the adding of small amounts of food nutrients.

The equipment, a wall hung Aquavista 500 self contained tank contained everything the average person wishes for within a kit. It contains a heater (to set the temperature of the water from 5 to over 25 degrees), a water filter to help remove blooms of floating algae, an aerator (to not only look good, but to ensure that the water remains breathable by pushing air through, as well as a tube light.

The Aquavista tank has a lighting, air, and water pumping system that can work on timers, and a heater that can be set to the appropriate thermostatic level.

Although I have seen many tanks with a black light (florescent blue/purple), it is worth noting that this is about as healthy for fish, as it would be us living under a sunbed, and therefore to be avoided at all cost, unless your sole intention is to breed or observe octopi and have them living in a cave, in near darkness.

The first step was too contact the manufacturer to ensure that the tank coudld be used for marine life., since not all tanks are, as sea water is more corrosive to metals than fresh water. Several hours later, I got a disappointing answer. I was advised that the tank I had was not suitable for marine life, meaning that it had to be a fresh water environment.

To be continued....