How to Decide on a Saltwater Aquarium

How can you decide whether or not to make an investment in a saltwater aquarium?

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Saltwater aquariums are beautiful to look at but are a big responsibility. For a beginner, consider leasing. Leasing a tank from one of the local aquarium businesses allows you the beauty of the tank and at the same time, learn from the business taking care of it. One downside of this is the possibility of problems with the company not maintaining the tank.
2. If you decide to start an aquarium on your own, consider a few things. Will you have the room to place the aquarium and be able to maintain it? Location is very important because you'll need a place that allows you a few inches from the wall so that your equipment can hang there. Saltwater tanks are also very heavy once they are filled with water, so make sure your location is one that you plan on keeping for the long haul.
3. The cost of a saltwater tank is also a factor in your decision. The cheapest fish start at around $5 on average and can run up into the hundreds of dollars per fish. You must also have the skill it takes to keep the tank running properly or you can lose thousands of dollars in a single day if your tank were to cycle. Depending on how you want it to look and run, there's the cost of equipment, live rock and live sand. If you want corals, that adds a significant cost to the set-up.
4. Maintenance is the biggest step in considering whether or not to purchase a saltwater setup. Some fish stores have maintenance programs in place where you can hire someone to clean and maintain your tanks, but that can be expensive. Costs sometimes run approximately $1 per gallon as a minimum. Water quality is essential; you have to test the water periodically to check for fluctuations in things like PH and calcium hardness. The standard lighting setup that comes with your tank is usually not nearly enough to sustain a reef tank. Most experts recommend 10,000k as the minimum or a good guide at least and 2 to 5 watts of light per gallon of water is the best way to go. Another area to consider is filtration. There are many different kinds of filtration on the market so deciding on the proper functioning system is critical. Finally, you'll have to learn about species diversity and what kind of fish and invertebrates not to put in the same tank.
5. With all these factors in mind, many people find marine tanks to be a very beautiful and fulfilling hobby. It can add beauty to your lifew and time is well spent finding new creatures, maintaining their home and just enjoying the magnificence a saltwater aquarium gives. Anyone can invest a bit of money and get started on this hobby and with a little perseverance and a lot of patience and time, you can own a beautiful tank with many options on how you want it to look. The right decision will come from taking a look at all of these tips and seeing how this will fit into your lifestyle.

Tips & Warnings

• Some fish and invertebrates can be dangerous. Always check with your local fish store first.