| What Equipment is Needed ?Now that we are | | | | system thriving. A good size tank is around 55 |
| comfortable with the basic factors of a saltwater | | | | gallons. As a note, scrutinize hoods carefully. Many |
| aquarium, let's look into what is needed to run a | | | | of them are designed for 48" tanks, but require |
| successful tank. The components needed to run a | | | | two 24" lamps rather than one 48" lamp. (24" |
| successful saltwater tank depends a lot on who | | | | lamps are usually more expensive than 48" |
| you talk to. You should never operate solely | | | | lamps.)Avoid Direct Exposure to SunlightOnce you |
| under the advice of one person. For example, | | | | have decided on a tank, make sure you have a |
| many people advocate using under gravel filters | | | | place to put it. The tank should not be in direct |
| for biological filtration. This however, must be | | | | sunlight or in an area which is very drafty. Also, |
| tempered with wisdom. A saltwater tank running | | | | make very certain the stand will be capable of |
| an under gravel filter (UGF) with minimal circulation | | | | holding the weight of the tank, plus substrate, plus |
| will be much more work than a than a system | | | | rocks, plus water. In total, a 55 gallon tank will |
| running a wet/dry filter and a couple of power | | | | probably weigh over 800 pounds.Selecting the |
| heads. Wet/Dry filters tend to require less | | | | SubstrateAfter selecting the tank, consideration |
| maintenance, as UGF's tend to become clogged | | | | must be given to the substrate. It is best to use |
| over time. | | | | a calcareous substrate such as crushed coral or |
| Not to get too buried in details, the basic | | | | dolomite. These substrates will, at least initially, |
| components of a saltwater tank | | | | help buffer the water by adding ions to the |
| are:TankDecorationsfiltration (including protein | | | | buffering system. Generally the substrate should |
| skimming)lightingwatertest kits Size of Tank | | | | not be so tiny as to get sucked into the filter or |
| One of the most important decisions in starting a | | | | pumps, and not so large as to make the tank |
| saltwater aquarium will be the size of the tank. | | | | unsightly. Also, some fish (e.g., Gobies) like smaller |
| The basic rule of thumb is the bigger the better. | | | | grades of substrate over larger ones. Something |
| A larger tank will be easier to control and gives a | | | | in the 2-5mm department seems average. Live |
| bit more leeway for mistakes (which are | | | | sand is one substrate which has recently gained a |
| inevitable). The smallest tank for beginners should | | | | fair amount of publicity. This technology is really in |
| be no less than 20 gallons, with 55 gallons being | | | | its infancy and is not recommended for beginners. |
| even better. For someone versed in fish keeping | | | | You can find more information in the |
| (i.e., converting from fresh to saltwater), a 10 or | | | | ARCHIVE.Filtration SystemAfter you select a |
| 15 gallon tank will work, but is not suggested. In | | | | substrate, consider the filtration system you plan |
| general, fish like long, wide tanks. The more | | | | to use. Your choice in filtration may impact the |
| surface area a tank has, the better the gas | | | | amount to substrate you need. A UGF or RUGF |
| exchange will be and the happier the fish will | | | | filter should have about 2-3" (5cm) of medium |
| be.Fish DensitiesBefore finalizing on a tank size, | | | | grade (2-3mm) substrate covering the filter plate. |
| remember that fish densities are much lower for | | | | You do not need substrate when you use |
| saltwater than freshwater. That is, you can not | | | | non-UGF filters (e.g., hang-on-the-back power |
| put as many fish in a saltwater tank as you can in | | | | filters), but, most people use between a 1/2" to |
| a freshwater tank. Putting more than 2 saltwater | | | | 1" for such tanks. It's interesting to note that too |
| fish in 10 gallon tank is asking for trouble. A | | | | much substrate in a non-UGF system might lead |
| general rule of thumb is 4" (10cm) of | | | | to dead spots, which can kill your inhabitants (a |
| small-to-medium fish per 10 gallons, or 2" (5cm) of | | | | plug for |
| larger/fast growing fish per 10 gallons. This is just | | | | regular gravel cleaning).Decorations Next, consider |
| a rough estimate of the number of fish. There is | | | | the decorations, of which there are a cornucopia |
| no exact number since finding the stocking | | | | of choices. Dead coral, lava rock, tufa rock, live |
| density has to take into account the filtration, | | | | rock, and many more. Coral pieces are the most |
| maintenance, feeding schedule, etc.. Beyond the | | | | popular, but are also some of the most |
| number of fish you wish to keep, the tank's size | | | | expensive. Lava and tufa rock are inexpensive |
| will also affect your filtration and lighting choices, | | | | and may also be stacked to make interesting |
| both in cost and design. Tanks which are 48 | | | | reef looking tanks. Live rock is one of those buzz |
| inches (122cm) long are usually cheaper to light | | | | words that people like to throw around and one |
| because the lamps are more readily available. | | | | which gets a lot of hype. Live rock is simply rock |
| However, the larger the tank, the more light you | | | | taken from a reef system which has been |
| will need to provide your inhabitants. Moreover, a | | | | populated by many different organisms. |
| larger tank needs efficient filtration to keep the | | | | |