Saltwater fish aquariums do need to be set up correctly and this takes a lot of planning and a lot of time and you need to ensure that you have all the right equipment. As you will soon learn there is both a right and wrong way in which these kinds of aquariums can be set up and you should at least know the basic setup procedures before you do go ahead with it. A plan is vital to ensure that the first time you setup a saltwater fish aquarium is done properly.

Saltwater Fish Aquarium – Choosing The Right One

Before you even go out and purchase the equipment to set up a saltwater fish aquarium the first thing you need to decide upon is what type it is you want. There are three different styles of saltwater fish aquarium one can choose from, either the Fish Only (FO) type, the Fish Only With Live Rocks (FOWLR) type or the Reef Tank type.

A Fish only saltwater fish aquarium is one as the name clearly suggests a tank in which Angelfish, Clownfish, Guppy’s and other tropical fish are kept in. In this take you may find some kind of synthetic, dried or artificial coral or rocks along with shells and other ornaments but certainly no live rocks or coral.

The Fish Only With Live Rock saltwater fish aquarium, is one in which not only tropical fish can be placed, but also live rocks, but no coral. As well as the fish, you can also keep invertebrates and crustaceans in your saltwater fish aquarium, and if you want, you can include a few sessile invertebrates (barnacles) into it as well, as they like growing on live rocks.

The other type of saltwater fish aquarium setup which some people select and prefer is the Reef Tank type. However, you need to be aware that this type of aquarium setup is far more difficult to maintain than the other two we have mentioned. This is a saltwater aquarium which contains both live rocks and coral and may be some tropical fish. However, there are certain people who prefer their reef tanks only to contain the live rocks, coral and certain species of crustaceans along with certain sessile and mobile invertebrates.

Saltwater Fish Aquarium – What To Do Next When Setting It Up

Once you have made decision which type of saltwater fish aquarium setup it is you want you can then move on to the next stage of purchasing your aquarium equipment and supplies. You need to buy a good sized tank (one that you can afford), lights, filters and filtration system, gravel or marine sand, a heater and thermometer. Also you should buy a mixture that allows you to convert freshwater into saltwater for the aquarium.

Along with the saltwater fish aquarium equipment we have mentioned previously other items which should be on your shopping list when first setting one up are a hydrometer and a kit for testing the chemical composition of the water. Also it may be advisable to buy some supplements and additives which will bring the calcium and nitrate levels in the water up to the correct levels. Finally at this stage also purchase those tools which you will need to carry out regularly maintenance of your saltwater fish aquarium.

Some items which are also worth considering buying when setting up a saltwater fish aquarium but are not essential are a power head and a protein skimmer. The power head is a device that ensures that the water in the tank circulates more fully around it, whilst the protein skimmer works to remove the yellow waste that is produced by tropical fish after they have eaten.

One of the most crucial components of an aquarium tank is the filter. Aquarium tank filtration systems eliminate damaging chemicals and contaminants from your pet fish’s home and keep the quality of the water. All aquarium filters will work properly only if they are uncontaminated and so it is necessary to replace or clean them often. They are extremely vital as the life of your fine-looking fish that gracefully adorns your tank depends highly on the water quality. Popular brands you find in most aquatic shops, to suit all sorts of aquariums. They are essential three types of aquariums filters obtainable on the market today. Let us review them, one by one.

Mechanical Filters

A mechanical filter functions by catching filth and waste particles that are present in the aquarium water in fibrous pads (filter elements) located in the filter itself. Gradually, these particles will accumulate in the filter element and obstruct it. Prolonged presence of these particles is toxic to the fish. This kind of filter system should be cleaned frequently. Mechanical filters have filter elements that are typically made of polyester. These filter elements can also come in an assortment of materials such as foam sponge, fluffs and pressed fibers. You can choose any of the assorted models offered on the market external or internal filter systems.

Chemical Filtration

The most common type of chemical filters are the charcoal filters. These filters contain activated charcoal which is great at removing most pollutants from the water in your tank. Charcoal filters work by letting the activated charcoal absorb all the harmful chemicals suspended in the aquarium water. Another common type of filter used in home aquariums is the carbon filter; these filters are very efficient at removing large amounts of contamination and work extremely well when used along with mechanical filters. But it is important to remember that any kind of filter will only work efficiently as long as it’s clean. It is essential to check the filter from time and replace its components when they get too dirty.

Biological Filtration Systems

Biological filters also called Bio-filtration systems are undeniably the most efficient filters for your tank. This is mainly due to their ability to filter out chemical particles that are too tiny for other filtration systems to take out. We are referring to pollutants so tiny that you need to use a powerful microscope in order to see them. The way these filters work is by permitting the “good” bacteria to flourish inside the aquarium; these bacteria consume and process the waste products of the fish converting hazardous waste in to risk-free by-products allowing for the right chemical balance in the water. This is very important to the healthiness of the fish in the tank.

What Filters Work Best

Depending on the nature, usage and volume of your aquarium, you can opt from a diversity of sizes and shapes of filters. A regular selection is to use a box corner filter made from plastic that can enclose all the diverse filtration systems used in aquariums. Some other familiar forms of filters are gravel filters that are located below the gravel base of an aquarium. These are connected to air pumps and canister filters that dangle from the side of the tank which includes a built-in pump that is connected to a sealed container that entraps waste and floating filth.

It is also necessary to consider the type, size and number of your fish when you pick a filtration system for your tank. Particularly in the case of a tank with tiny or baby fish, sponge type filters are necessary as they protect the little ones from getting sucked into the filter. A combination of filters explained here will keep your aquarium water clean and your fish secure and strong.