what tank will you choose for your saltwater aquarium

Saltwater Aquarium setup: Choosing the right tank

There are some factors involved when choosing the type of saltwater aquarium setup. Including how much space and what environment you have other factors include the type of fish you want to keep and how much they cost? Buying the largest saltwater aquarium setup you can afford which will fit within the environment you have chosen to use should be your first goal.

The first priority is to the comfort of your saltwater fish and any other species as they grow in your aquarium. The invertebrates and fish which will be in your tank require room to swim and grow but also need an environment where there is plenty of oxygen in order to survive. To determine this we look at the tank size. So when you finally opt for the freshwater aquarium set up you want then remember this and give your fish a chance to grow.

One important aspect of your saltwater aquarium setup is oxygen. The surface area of your tank is the major contributing factor to the amount of oxygen it holds. The surface area on top of the tank which is exposed to the atmosphere above is what we are talking about. As oxygen transfers to your saltwater aquarium from the surface of the tank the greater that area is means there is more chance of oxygen transferring from the air into the water.

As well as taking in oxygen a large surface area for your saltwater aquarium also allows toxic gases like carbon dioxide to escape. The aquarium will be much healthier the more this process is allowed to develop. Water temperature is one more factor that determines the amount of oxygen it holds. The cooler the water the higher the oxygen content will be in general.

With warmer water tropical fish with temperatures above 75 degrees less oxygen is available. This is why it is most important to have a larger surface area for your saltwater aquarium or else you may have to stock smaller or less marine animals. The bigger the tank you can acquire makes it much better for your marine life.

Determining your requirements needs thought as saltwater aquariums come in all shapes and sizes? It is the shape that determines the surface area not the size or volume. Because of its shape a tank can have less surface area even though it holds a larger volume. For the gas cycle tall narrow aquariums do mot have the ideal area. The exchange of gas will be much better in a short wide tank.

With this in mind and your aquarium tank chosen, its time to move on to the inhabitants. Like we mentioned depending on the size of the tank will determine the amount of inhabitants you can keep in comfort. Overcrowding is one of the worst things you can do to your saltwater aquarium setup. Too many inhabitants in your aquarium can overload and effect filtrating efficiency. Stressed fish living in cramped conditions is on of the major causes of fish death, diseases and illness.

Do not rush and stock up you fish slowly. Only a small amount should be introduced in one go. Calculate what amount of water your aquarium holds in gallons. For the first six months introduce fish at one inch per fish for every four gallons of water. A sixty gallon saltwater aquarium setup would therefore have 15 fish. After the six months you can increase the amount of fish and have one inch of fish for every two gallons.

A 60 gallon tank example would be:-

Two 1-inch clownfish
One 1-inch Beau Gregory’s
Two 3-inch queen angel
Two 1- inch gobies
Two 1-inch blennies
One 2-inch Tang (surgeonfish)

You can mix and match as long as you get the basic sizes right. Then you can increase your fish to 30 after the six month period.

As with any creature when you get them young they will grow so be aware of this when buying new fish and adjust the amount in your tank to suit. Not only is the fish size an issue but also the shape. Less fish is needed in an aquarium with heavier stock.

{Saltwater aquarium development is not quick and time is needed}. They are not cheap to buy and maintain so do not cut corners. Problems will occur even when you have spent lots of time developing your tank. Make sure you have the correct aquarium from the start because it can be a little disheartening if you choose wrongly and then have to buy another one. It is best not to dive in and get a small tank. Before investing in you saltwater aquarium wait until you can invest in at least a 30 gallon tank.

The choices of saltwater aquariums are vast starting with do you get a glass or acrylic tank? Depending on choice it could be a reef tank already adapted for all your accessories? It’s up to you to get advice and choose correctly. Common popular tanks like glass sealed with silicon are a good start. They come in all types of shape whether they are a standard rectangle, hexagonal or octagonal. Although more prone to scratching acrylic tanks are becoming more popular than the glass variety.

There is a difference in the weight of acrylic and glass tanks. Large glass tanks are very heavy and hard to move. These tanks have quite thick glass. However a glass tank with a plastic frame is quite stable. Tempered glass is stronger but plated glass is shatter proof.

The popular option is an acrylic saltwater aquarium setup with moulded seems which are more transparent. One fault is that your view at the corners is distorted. The acrylic tanks on the market even outdo the glass variety in the amount of different shapes and sizes you can have. They cost more money and scratch easier which is a downside. Certain ornaments and decorations can easily scratch the inside of the tank and the same applies when trying to remove algae. However you can buy kits that will help remove the scratches.

Whichever type of aquarium you purchase the priority is the health of your fish. You need time to look after it properly and also enough cash to keep it in good order and properly maintained. One up and running you will have hours of relaxation watching your new fishy pals cavorting in the water. You will obtain much pleasure and enjoyment out of your saltwater aquarium