Saltwater Aquarium Basics

The big difference between freshwater and saltwater aquariums is that saltwater is more complicated. They are for those of you who have mastered the art of freshwater, who are eager to put more time into maintaining a tank, and have the money and time to take care of a larger venture. If you don't think you have all of that in you, keep with freshwater for the time being; no need to jeopardize the lives of innocent fish on your half-attempted experiment.

If you know that you're ready for a larger aquatic adventure, want to clear space for a beautiful new tank, and start devoting serious time to taking care of your marine buddies, read on to learn all you need to buy for a wonderful saltwater aquarium.

Tank Mechanics

Tank 

  • For saltwater, it has to be big.
  • Learn about glass v. acrylic in our guide.

Plants 

  • Many plants add ambiance, oxygen, and beauty to your tank.
  • Be sure they're for saltwater!

Substrate 

  • Get living pebbles to maintain the health of your tank.
  • Burrowing fish need deeper bottoms.

Cover 

  • Keep the tank clean with a cover.
  • Make sure it has ventilation and comes off easily.

Net 

  • To clean the tank, you'll need to fish your fish out first.
  • Make sure it's big enough to hold your big fish.

Keep the Water Healthy

UV Sterilizer 

  • UV lights sterilize the tank against pathogens and algae buildup without harming your fish like chemicals could.
  • A low pressure light  is best.
  • The UV light should have a quartz sleeve and be recommended for the specific size of your tank.

Thermometer,  Heater,  Light 

  • You fish will have specific heat and light needs that you must follow.
  • The heater should heat the tank at 5 watts per gallon of water.
  • Use the thermometer to make sure that the interaction of the heater and the light keep the tank at the optimal temperature.

Saltwater Treatment  and Test Kit 

  • Make sure your water is at all the appropriate chemical and mineral levels for your specific fish with these kits.
  • Without them you'll have saltwater fish living in freshwater.

Filters 

  • Aquarium Filters and Pumps explain the ins and outs of filters.
  • Saltwater tanks are most complex and require the most sophisticated filters.

Protein Skimmer 

  • Remove protein and other undesirable bodies from the surface of the saltwater.
  • This is important to keep your tank water appropriate for the fish, and the skimmers are much more efficient than changing the expensive water very often.

Power Heads with Sweeper 

  • Submerge to aerate the tank and keep water moving.
  • Important for the health of plants, fish, and to break up any chemical, mineral, or filmy buildup.

Sickly

To keep sick fish from infecting the others, put them in a quarantine tank. This is a smaller tank that has all of the same water and basic supplies so that you can treat any medical conditions without forcing medicine on to the healthy fish.

External Links

  • Aquarium Fish -- All the basics on saltwater tanks.
  • Fish Lore -- How to set up a quarantine tank.
  • Tropical Fish Centre -- Technical advice for setting up your first marine aquarium. Lots of facts, figures, and step-by-step guides.
  • The Tropical Tanks -- Some first steps to take before you introduce your fish.

International Resources

For this resource in your home country, please see:
DE: Salzwasser Aquarium Grundlagen

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