| introduction to saltwater aquariums was designed | | | | In small (10 gallons) saltwater aquariums you can |
| with the beginner aquarist in mind. There are | | | | use a Brita filter or water purifier column or you |
| many reasons for setting up a saltwater | | | | can use distilled water. These methods |
| aquarium, not least of which is its beauty. The | | | | won’t work in bigger tanks, however. The |
| beautiful colors of fish and coral, interesting algae, | | | | best bet for any size tank is an RO/DI (reverse |
| soothing sound of bubbling water and the fun | | | | osmosis/deionization) system. |
| involved in creating a fabulous marine world are all | | | | Filtration is quite complicated in saltwater |
| reasons why keeping saltwater aquariums gives | | | | aquariums but depends to a large degree on the |
| people so much fun and pleasure. | | | | fish species you intend to keep and how many. In |
| For the beginner even a brief introduction to | | | | a fish only tank you can use a freshwater filter |
| saltwater aquariums can seem a bit daunting. This | | | | for example canisters, power filters and the like. |
| is because not only are marine systems a bit | | | | You can also try a wet-dry trickle filter. If you |
| complex to set up and maintain they can also be | | | | decide to keep a reef tank you might want to |
| expensive. Saltwater aquariums are not for | | | | use a natural filtration system like live rock or |
| everybody and even the simplest marine tank | | | | sand or a refugium. |
| can cause headaches. Fish keeping can be tricky | | | | Protein skimming is also important in saltwater |
| and marine fish in particular take a lot of time and | | | | aquariums and it is strongly recommended that |
| effort to keep healthy. | | | | you do it, especially if you have lots of fish in |
| This is because marine species are far more | | | | your tank. A protein skimmer uses foaming |
| sensitive to water quality and temperature | | | | bubbles to separate fish waste that floats up to |
| changes so you will need to be informed about | | | | the water column from the water’s main |
| the needs of all your fish as well as the tank itself. | | | | flow. |
| Saltwater aquariums require patience and a | | | | The foundation in your tank will require the laying |
| degree of know-how to make it work. You will | | | | down of live sand. In saltwater aquariums sand |
| also need to make sure that you can afford to | | | | doesn’t only act as a substrate it is also |
| keep the tank in a healthy state. | | | | the breeding ground for millions of vital bacteria. |
| Which saltwater aquarium you choose will depend | | | | These bacteria help the nitrogen cycle to work |
| on your aims for the tank and your personal | | | | efficiently. The sand is also home to the small |
| preferences. There are many different options | | | | animals that help control the waste products in |
| available in terms of the fish and animals you can | | | | your tank. |
| keep in your tank as well as the equipment you | | | | The best sand for saltwater aquariums is calcium |
| can choose from. Some saltwater aquariums are | | | | carbonate (aragonite). You can get this from |
| not suited for the absolute beginner. | | | | crushed corals, or finer sands. You can also use |
| The first thing to decide when setting up | | | | silica and quartz sands but they are not as good. |
| saltwater aquariums is what kind of fish you want | | | | What about live rock? Probably one of the most |
| to keep. The next step is finding out as much | | | | expensive features of saltwater aquariums, prices |
| about each one as you can. Not all marine species | | | | may put off many a budding marine aquarist. Live |
| are suited to beginners so you might have to | | | | rock can be bought by the pound and it is |
| adapt your wish-list to suit your level of expertise. | | | | expensive because it’s the real thing. In |
| Never take on species that are for advanced fish | | | | the sea live rock makes up a reef structure with |
| keepers or you could well run into trouble. | | | | little calcium carbonate structures produced by |
| There are two main kinds of saltwater aquariums | | | | corals. Since live rock is harvested from nature |
| namely 1) ‘fish only’ or 2) | | | | and laws govern this harvesting you can begin to |
| ‘fish only with live rock’ OR | | | | understand why it is so expensive. |
| ‘reef tanks’. | | | | Live rock is important to saltwater aquariums for |
| The first is probably the easiest saltwater | | | | the bacteria it introduces into your tank. These |
| aquariums to attempt. This is because in saltwater | | | | little organisms keep your water filtered in the |
| aquariums of this nature, lighting is not really an | | | | same way it does in nature. It also acts as a |
| issue and you can use a simple tank with its usual | | | | home and shelter for your fish and a place for |
| equipment and only a few extra bits like protein | | | | coral to grow. It is well worth the high price you |
| skimmers, powerheads and live rock or sand. | | | | pay. ‘Fiji’ rock is a good choice if |
| These kinds of saltwater aquariums will usually be | | | | you can find it. Try to avoid any live rock that |
| either a community tank containing species like | | | | has a mantis shrimp on it as they multiply very |
| clownfish, damselfish, gobies, wrass, and | | | | quickly. |
| dottybacks, or an aggressive tank where you will | | | | Let’s move on to the lighting in saltwater |
| find species like lionfish, triggers, eels, groupers, | | | | aquariums. In a fish only or fish and live rock tank |
| and larger predatory species. | | | | lighting is not really an issue. In a reef tank, |
| Before you choose your fish, make sure you | | | | however, it is critical. This is because light is |
| know EXACTLY which species live well together | | | | needed for most corals and anemones to grow. |
| to avoid your tank turning into a complete | | | | Special lights are needed for a marine tank so use |
| massacre. If you are a novice to saltwater | | | | one of the following: |
| aquariums start with a tank that is at least 10 | | | | Power Compact Fluorescent (PC) |
| gallons in size. This is because most if not all of | | | | Very High Output Fluorescent (VHO) |
| your fish will easily outgrow the tank. | | | | Metal Halide (MH) |
| Go for the largest tanks you can afford. The | | | | Remember you will still need to cycle your tank |
| bigger saltwater aquariums are easier to keep in | | | | and perform the necessary water quality testing |
| tip-top shape. | | | | before you add any of your livestock. So there |
| Most important to the health of saltwater | | | | you have it – the basics of what to start |
| aquariums is water purification in your tank. This | | | | thinking about as you set up saltwater aquariums. |
| means that even the smallest amount of | | | | We suggest doing plenty of further research to |
| impurities in the water can hurt your fish | | | | make sure you know exactly what you are doing |
| Remember most of these animals are found in | | | | before you get started. |
| natural coral reefs where the water is very pure. | | | | Marine tanks are not for everyone, so make sure |
| So you will need to make sure that the water in | | | | they suit you before you spend a lot of money. |
| your tank is clean at all times. | | | | |