Saltwater Aquariums: A Thing of Beauty

It’s a lot more work than a freshwater aquarium. However, with the right knowledge and quality equipment, you’ll have a successful saltwater aquarium in no time.

- Melissa Especkerman

If you have traded in a fishbowl for a freshwater tank, you’d probably be thinking about taking the next step: A saltwater marine aquarium. A nice looking aquarium with a good mix of fish and corals sounds just about right perhaps?

Called a community reef tank, this underwater world can be filled with saltwater fish species like Clownfish, Goby and Tangs. With an aquascape lined with corals and rocks, it would look good in any corner of a room.

Ready to take the plunge? Before you do, take a look at the items needed and a bit of basics to help you along the way.

Decisions, Decisions

The first thing you’ll want to do is to plan your setup. Besides finding a right corner for the tank, determine the type of tank and the required dimensions. One of the secrets of a successful saltwater aquarium: Bigger is always better.

What type of fish do you want? Will you be getting live rocks? Or perhaps just corals? Make these decisions before moving on, as this will influence the rest of the tank.

Give some thought to the lighting system too. Proper lighting is vital as corals are photosynthetic creatures and need light to survive. Check with the guy in the store (when you finally head to the store) and get one suited for your idea of a marine aquarium.

Now comes the shopping part. All-in-one aquariums are a quick and easy way to get started. A DIY requires you to buy each piece of equipment separately and then assemble it as best as you can.