Get In on The First Wave!

Over the last few decades, we've tinkered here and there with offering aquariums, but for the most part have gone away from it for a variety of reasons. Sometimes the quality just isn't what we're looking for, or the integration of all the parts is not as seamless as we'd like. Often, the systems just aren't attractive or even priced well. Today we are stepping back into offering a desktop display to our partner stores, because TMC has dropped a banger of an aquarium and it ticks all our boxes.

The TMC First Wave is a 13-gallon, high clarity aquarium, manufactured from ultra-clear, low iron glass offering stunningly clear, true-to-nature viewing. Its seamless design includes built in skimming as well as biological and mechanical filtration. There is a low profile, and low-voltage Reef-Ready LED lighting fixture with 34 brilliant LEDs all neatly nestled into a sleek, integrated aquarium cover. It features natural light and night light functionality, creating optimal viewing and growing for a wide variety of marine species. There is even a low voltage, easy maintenance circulation pump! The only things you'll need to add are a heater, salt water and fish, inverts or both!

This system is perfect for desktops and counter tops at just over a foot wide / tall and just under two feet long. It is incredibly easy to set up. When planning a spot for your new TMC First Wave, chose a location that offers you plenty of visibility and close access to a power outlet, but that is out of direct sunlight and away from strong drafts. Sunlight can be detrimental both because it heats the tank up but also makes an environment that is perfect for algae. Strong drafts can make temperature control difficult as well. The surface should be even, flat and strong enough to hold 150 pounds. Water weighs about eight pounds a gallon, and with about 13 gallons in this tank, plus the weight of the components, décor and inhabitants, you need to be sure the surface is strong and stable enough to prevent a disaster!

We have a series of articles on setting up new tanks for new aquarists here on the website called “first timer” and there is a lot of valuable information there for you if you are a less experienced aquarium enthusiast. The TMC First Wave aquarium will need to be cycled just like any other tank would, and we strongly suggest using Dr. Tim's One and Only product to kick start this process in your First Wave. You'll need to make sure your aquarium is biologically mature before adding fish and inverts to it.

Decor wise, you are free to choose whatever saltwater safe rocks and decorations that appeal to your sense of style, but the Ecoscape Reef Rocks are a great choice. These are a hyper-realistic alternative to naturally occurring live reef rock. They're lightweight, pH neutral, very porous for superior biological loading and come already looking like they are covered in coralline algae. A full selection can be found here: https://www.qualitymarine.com/ecoscape/artificial-reef/. You can find this rock at any Quality Marine retail partner. We suggest looking into Reef Centerpiece 01 and the Reef Mix A collection, both of which are designed for nano displays; Centerpiece 09 was designed specifically for the First Wave! You do not need to use substrate in these tanks unless the animals you choose for stocking require it. The TMC First Wave is a great candidate for a bare bottom display.

As a 13-gallon display, you'll want to make careful choices about what species you choose to have in the aquarium. On the fish front, you'll want to choose ones that don't need a large swimming area and that don't get too big. This would be a great choice for a pair of Ocellaris Clowns. Court Jester Gobies, Fridmani or Bicolor Dottybacks, Yellow or Blue Assessors, Hi-Fin Gobies, and Barnacle Blennies would all make excellent choices. There's many other fish you could choose, just make sure they get along with each other, stay small and are generally hardy. On the invertebrate front, you could have any number of crabs, snails and shrimp, as well as a variety of corals like Mushrooms, Zoanthids, Xenia, Star Polyps and similar species. For the more advanced hobbyists, the First Wave would make a great display for things like Trachyphyllia, Torch Corals, Chalices, Acans and even some SPS like Montiporas! The small water volume in nano sized tanks means that small changes can have large effects, so make sure the corals you choose can co-habitat with each other and make additions to the tank slowly and methodically.

Maintenance of small displays is always important. Make sure you keep testing your water quality, temperature and salinity regularly. After adding new fish or invertebrates ramp up the frequency and test daily. Because the TMC First Wave is covered, it will evaporate less water than an open display, but make sure you top your system off with fresh, dechlorinated water before you notice the water level dropping. As with any marine aquarium, you should be diligent about water changes; change out 10% - 20% of the water every week (about one to three gallons.)

The First Wave aquarium is an ideal introduction to the captivating world of marine reef keeping. Its small size allows it to be placed in areas of the home or office that would usually be too constrained for a display but are often more visible to you during more hours like the kitchen or your workspace! It's visually very sleek and maintenance is super easy. Whether you're an experienced aquarist that wants to have a second (or third or tenth) aquarium, or you are new to the hobby, this TMC First Wave display is a perfect option for you. Just ask for it at any Quality Marine retail partner and they can set you up!