Setting Up A Saltwater Aquarium - Preparation

There are a lot of considerations to make before setting up your Marine aquarium. For those that have been raising tropical freshwater fish, Saltwater marine offers the opportunity for a greater variety of species, a greater color assortment, and the opportunity to raise more that just the fish. In addition to fish, a marine tank can also be home for coral, live rock, invertebrates, shellfish, plants, and the list goes on. But along with the choices and varieties offered through saltwater aquariums, there comes the responsibility of the extra care it takes to make sure everything is just right by preparing the water for your new pets.

Marine life is a very fragile ecosystem. In an environment as large as the ocean, changes to the overall balance of the system are very small. But in a fish tank with only a few gallons of water, a tiny change can be a big thing. For this reason, your aquarium needs to be prepared prior to adding fish. Once your fish have been added, your aquarium needs to be monitored daily or the results could be catastrophic. But with proper care, your marine aquarium can be a welcome addition to your home (or office).

There are several considerations to make before heading out to the store to buy your aquarium and the supplies to get started. That includes the rules for where to buy your marine life. The first thing I learned was that you don't buy all your fish on the first trip to the store. Your tank requires some time to prepare itself for the fish. Properly done, your tank will create a bio-filtration system that is just right for sustaining your marine environment.

Because the fish will need a lot of space, a decision will need to be made on how big of a tank is correct for your situation. How much space do you have available in your home away from natural sunlight? Will you want a fish only aquarium? Will you be adding live rock and coral? And unlike freshwater fish, you need to plan a monthly budget for you new project. The days of $2.00 fish are few and far between when it comes to saltwater aquariums.

A good rule to keep in mind is that a marine aquarium needs to be at least 55 gallons (the bigger the better). That's because of those minor changes in the ecosystem we spoke of earlier. Your chosen location will need to be strong enough to handle the weight of the tank, water, and rock you will want to add later. To make your display look great, a nice cabinet would be a great addition. That way, you have a place for supplies and your choice of mechanical filtration systems.

Once you have made these choices, it's time to head to the store to buy what you need to get started. Just keep in mind that this is just the first step. First you set up your saltwater aquarium, then you wait until the conditions are right for adding your first fish.

Roger writes articles on a wide variety of topics. You can learn more by visiting his blog, "Setting Up A Saltwater Aquarium"

http://settingupasaltwateraquarium.blogspot.com/