Saltwater Tank Basics
Starting your first saltwater aquarium can be exciting and nerve racking at the same time, especially for first time owners. To be completely transparent, most people start their fish journey in the fresh water department because saltwater tanks are notoriously more difficult and time consuming to maintain and can be significantly more expensive. However, do not let this discourage you! No tank or tank owner is perfect at the beginning, and over time you will learn what to do and not do, which equipment and products work best, and which aquatic animals you love the most. If done properly, saltwater aquariums can be the most beautiful and rewarding addition to your home.
Choosing the Perfect Tank
When choosing the perfect fish tank, it is important to have your end goal in mind. There are two options: fish only with live rock (FOWLR) or a reef tank. A FOWLR tank is self explanatory, you will only have fish and live rock in your tank. This is an option because some fish are not "reef-safe" and can negatively impact the quality of your tank by causing damage to the reef and its inhabitants. However, there are some benefits to this as well, as FOWLR tanks are easier to care for and have a wider variety of suitable fish. A reef tank is any saltwater tank that houses invertebrates alongside the fish. Reef tanks are typically more colorful and eye-catching, but also require more equipment and care to maintain. Once you have decided what type of aquarium you would like to have, it is important to decide on how many and what kind of fish you will keep. This will determine the size of the tank you need to purchase in order to provide them with a proper lifestyle. The general rule a responsible fish owner will follow is "1 inch of FULLY GROWN fish per gallon of water." This is a general rule though, as certain tanks and fish alike are wider, longer, and taller than others. Use this rule as a basis, but ultimately use your best judgement. It is also very important to understand that, while you may have your heart set on a certain species, if the room you have for a tank cannot accommodate that species you should wait until you have a suitable space for it. One final dire thing to mention when determining which tank you will purchase for your setup is that the parameters in a small saltwater tank are extremely difficult to maintain compared to a larger saltwater tank. I personally recommend no smaller than a 20-gallon to start off. For aesthetic purposes, there are also two different kinds of tanks: rimless and rimmed. Rimless tanks provide an unobstructed view of your entire setup and are more expensive, while rimmed tanks have a thick black trim on the top and bottom and cost less. Both are very beautiful!
Essential Equipment
Assuming you are using a freshwater tank as a basis, the equipment needed for saltwater tanks can seem like a lot, but it is necessary. Here, I will cover the essential equipment and other useful purchases such as filtration, heating, lighting, cleaning tools, and possible chemical additives. First, if you are starting a saltwater tank, you will need salt. This is not regular table salt, though. Reef salt is specially made for fish because it contains an optimal composition of micro and macro elements needed to help your tank thrive. My personal favorite is the Instant Ocean Reef Crystals (it comes in a white bucket with an orange lid.) Reef salt is meaningless without water, though. Essentially, choosing how you will fill your tank all comes down to how much work you want to do in the long run. I created an RODI system (reverse osmosis deionization) at home to avoid having to decontaminate my water constantly. I believe this is a good investment, but if you choose to go a different route, you will need to purchase a water testing kit online or from your local pet store. A good kit will include tests for chlorine, nitrates, nitrites, phosphates, ammonia, and possibly silicates. This will tell you what you need more or less of in your tank for it to be healthy, and it is a good thing to keep on hand even if you have an RODI system. For a filter, there are many good options. There are power filters, canister filters, sump filters, and HOB filters. Each has its own purposes and benefits depending on the size of the tank you have. I use an "Aqua Clear Fluval Power Filter" in many of my tanks. It is important to research each option in depth and determine which fits your specific needs.
Another necessary product in the filtration family is a protein skimmer. While this is technically a filter, the purpose is to remove organic compounds from the water by removing broken down food and waste. This is typically only seen in saltwater, and in most there are instructions included for different types of skims depending on what you are keeping in your tank. Currently, I use "Fluval Sea Mini Protein Skimmer," but I have had trouble adjusting it to the perfect setting so I am on the market for a different brand. I also recommend a pump, or powerhead, for mixing the salt in the water upon startup and during water changes to speed up the process. Next, a heater is very important, especially with tropical fish. Heating the tank to the correct temperature is important because the fish use the water to regulate their body temperature. This is also why acclimating any aquatic life before adding to your tank is necessary. Depending on the size of your tank and method of filtration, you may need more than one heater. I like the "Aqueon Preset Aquarium Heater" for my smaller tanks. A wavemaker is a nice addition to a saltwater tank, but if you have a good filter that evenly distributes water flow or a powerhead that stays in your tank you may not need it. A light is extremely necessary for any fish tank, but how intense, how large, and how long it needs to stay on all depends on your tank. FOWLR tanks typically dont need as strong of a light because there are no corals, while reef tanks require an intense light for survival. Lastly, a lid. They are sold separately from the tanks in most cases, but they have specific measurements that will tell you which one is compatible with which tank size so it is an easy find. I strongly recommend lids for saltwater tanks specifically because marine fish have a tendency to jump. They also prevent excess dust, pet hair, and any other unwanted debris from falling into your tank.
Introduction to Marine Fishkeeping
Cycling and Water Chemistry
Once you have your tank set up and running you will be excited and ready to see your tank explode with life, but have patience! Your tank must have time to grow the necessary beneficial bacteria your fish and other creatures will need to survive. This is called cycling and it, like many other parts of tank setup, depends on the size of your tank and can take anywhere from a week to several months. The process is as follows: you feed, ammonia (waste) is produced, then bacteria and plants absorb the waste to make the water safer, ultimately preparing your tanks ecosystem to process ammonia. In simple terms, this is a natural method of filtration carried out by microorganisms and plants. Plants, in fact, are a better method of biological filtration than microorganisms in many cases. A study done on disease control in aquaculture actually found that plants stimulate the immune system of fish, help them avoid stress, and act as antibacterial and antiparasitic agents. So, how do you start the cycle? Once your tank is set up, all you must do is ensure your filter(s) is running, sprinkle a little bit of food to kickstart the bacteria growth, and wait while feeding every once in a while. All this to say, if this process is rushed or skipped entirely, there is a strong possibility that your fish will not survive. You can use the recommended time frame estimate for your size tank to determine when the cycling is complete, or another easy way to tell is when your plants start showing new growth! You will want to test your water using a water testing kit, as mentioned above, before adding any life just to be safe. An ideal reading would be 0 parts per million (ppm) on every test. Any changes needing to be made can be through a simple water change, or specific supplemental chemicals found at your nearest pet store. Your local pet store may also offer free water testing!
Selecting Fish and Compatibility
Choosing which type of fish you will stock your aquarium with is a fun and thought consuming process. There are so many different species of fish with different looks, habits, and personalities that you can come to love just like a regular house pet. However, not all species are compatible. Similar to how we discussed fish compatibility with reefs, fish must also be compatible with each other. Many marine fish like to move in schools or shoals, or like clownfish for example, will bond with one another. It is important to research any and all types of fish you plan on having before purchasing to reduce the chances of damage or death in your tank. Consider the sizes of the fish when fully grown, how territorial they are, how aggressive they are, and their eating habits, breeding habits, and "nesting" habits. For a beginner, following the noted behaviors of certain species is recommended, but you will sometimes find that a species labeled as incompatible with another may live harmoniously. Another thing to consider when selecting fish is how your cleaning processes will go. This may also be a reason to look back on the section about selecting a tank. It is not uncommon to find that when removed from their tank and separated fish of the same and differing species may not get along when they are returned. When purchasing multiple fish think about what secondary location they will be placed in for cleanings and, if separated, if you are willing to accept the potential consequences that come with that action. A simple internet search or call to your local pet store can provide you with reliable information on multiple-species tanks, but below I have included a scientific website where you can search for any documented fish species and relevant facts about them:
Feeding and Nutrition
Saltwater and freshwater fish alike survive off of a number of different types of food. There are liquid foods, frozen foods, pellets, flakes, small live animals and bugs, and other fish. Typically, one type of food can work for all of the fish in your tank if they are around the same size. Sometimes fish are picky which will result in you having to either change the type of food you are giving them, or the method by which you feed them, but I personally would not recommend going out o f your way to do this unless necessary. I would recommend having a schedule that you feed your fish on (ex. once in the morning, once at night) to prevent over and underfeeding your pets.
Long Term Maintenance
Now that we have covered all of the necessary components of fish tank setup, let's talk about maintenance. Water changes are the most important thing to do to reduce ammonia and nitrogen spikes. The general recommendation is a two-thirds water change every two to four weeks. Too much new water can shock your fish and cause them to die, which is why you cannot completely empty out your tank. It would rid the tank of any beneficial bacteria, meaning you would need to restart your nitrogen cycle. A few cleaning tools I could not live without are a siphon (gravel vacuum), algae scraper, 5-gallon paint buckets (to drain old water), long plant tweezers, fish safe glass spray, a net, plant scissors, and a magic eraser (great for wiping down insides of tanks because they do not have chemicals)! Your filter(s) also need to be cleaned and have the media changed out, but not as regularly (maybe once a month).