Oceanic aquariums used to be some of the most popular on the market – perfect for housing marine tank life at home. But what exactly are Oceanic aquariums, what are they made of, and who makes them?
Oceanic aquariums are a line of home aquariums made by Central Garden ; Pet. These glass aquariums were once one of the few high-end aquarium products, but now, many competitors offer similar options.
If you want to learn more about Oceanic aquariums, what distinguishes them from the general term “ocean aquarium”, and how they’re made, keep on reading. This article will detail their specific glass design and its pros and cons. We’ll also go into detail about the different tank parameters that these aquariums need, such as lighting, temperature, and filtration needs.
Who Makes Oceanic Aquariums?
Oceanic aquariums are a brand of aquariums made and sold by Central Garden ; Pet. They’re one of two main aquarium brands by this company; the other is Aqueon aquariums.
Central Garden ; Pet was founded in 1980, and it’s based out of California. Since the 1980s, it has been offering a variety of pet and garden products through various subsidiaries such as Central Pet Distribution, McKenzie Seeds, and more.
According to Central Garden ; Pet’s website, the company no longer officially claims Oceanic as one of their aquatic brands, although they still list the Aqueon brand. However, you can still find Oceanic brand home aquariums for sale online via various retailers that have leftover unused or used stock.
What Is An Ocean Aquarium?
An ocean aquarium – also known as a marine aquarium – is a tank system used to house and care for marine aquatic life such as coral, fish, and crustaceans. These tanks specifically use saltwater to mimic a coastal body of water.
They’re typically more delicate in terms of the contained ecosystem, and they require more maintenance and care than freshwater aquariums do.
Oceanic aquariums are simply a brand of ocean/marine aquariums. They’re designed for the purpose of having a saltwater tank at home, and they support the filtration and other parameters necessary for those environments. The design of Oceanic aquariums was also made to accommodate large tank sizes with extra durability and strength.
Are Oceanic Aquariums Tempered Glass?
Oceanic aquariums were not historically made with tempered glass. This was especially true when it came to their larger-gallon aquarium tanks.
Tempered glass (which is also known as “toughened” glass) is glass that has been treated with chemicals and heat to improve its durability. This type of glass is sometimes used for home aquarium tanks, but only as the bottom pane of the tank (not for the side panels). Tempered glass is meant to keep both you and your aquatic life safe.
Tempered glass does improve the durability and safety of certain glass products. However, when it comes to aquarium tanks, it’s really only useful for small tanks.
It’s actually a good thing that Oceanic didn’t utilize this type of treated glass for their large aquariums, as it would be difficult to drill tank attachments into. It also wouldn’t be able to handle the sheer weight and water pressure of a large marine tank.
Water Changes
When it comes to keeping an Oceanic aquarium in your home, there are a variety of parameters to maintain. From water testing (for mineral, nutrient, and pH levels) to filtration, rock/substrate, acclamation, lighting, and temperature control, you need to be aware of the rules.
Most saltwater aquariums have similar requirements, but depending on the kind of creatures you put in them, these guidelines could vary slightly.
Water Testing
Some of the most important marine aquarium factors revolve around salinity, water hardness, alkalinity, acidity, and the presence of nitrates/nitrites/phosphate/ammonia. Keep the following marine tank guidelines in mind when testing your water:
- 0 ppm of nitrate
- 0 ppm of ammonia
- 0 ppm of nitrite
- 8-12 dKH alkalinity
- About 400 ppm of calcium
- Between 8.0-8.3 pH (slightly basic)
- Salinity of 1.025 measured “specific gravity”
- Close to 0 ppm phosphate
Filtration
Filtration is extremely important in saltwater tanks because it keeps all creatures thriving and prevents the buildup of too much detritus. Proper filtration can also deliver helpful substances to aquatic life, such as calcium or nitrogen.
Oceanic aquariums typically use fluidized bed filters, canister filters, or wet/dry filters.
Live Rock
Live rock is an important part of certain reef or marine aquariums. Live rock is a rock that has come from the ocean, so it’s more suited to the marine environment of an Oceanic tank.
The organisms and creatures in your aquarium will benefit from having rock like this, which contains dead coral and coral reef algae.
Acclimation
Acclimation refers to the process of introducing your live rock into your Oceanic aquarium in such a way that it doesn’t die before it adjusts. This involves creating a saltwater environment separate from your tank that mimics the parameters that the tank will have.
As the dead material lifts during this 2-3 week process, you can scrub it off and change the water. Once this process is over, you can move the rock to your aquarium.
Lighting
Lighting in an Oceanic aquarium will depend on what kinds of life you’re housing. Coral typically thrive on a lot of light, but certain fish and low-light corals do not.
Your average marine tank, however, can be maintained using full-spectrum white lights with high blue-light ratios. You’ll need anywhere between 5-11 watts of light per gallon of water in your tank.
Temperature Control
Last but not least, consider the adequate temperature range for most marine tanks. Saltwater creatures are typically used to warmth. This is especially true in reef tanks, since coral have a tight temperature window in which they survive.
Anywhere between 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal for marine tanks, though this will vary depending on the type of aquatic life you house within.
Final Thoughts
Oceanic aquariums were a brand of marine aquarium tanks offered by Central Garden ; Pet up until 2007. These tanks were high-end for their time, but now, you can find plenty of other brands selling tanks suited for ocean/marine aquarium life.
If you buy an Oceanic aquarium or another kind of marine tank, make sure that you maintain it with adequate water and environmental parameters.
