Bring the Ocean into Your Living Room with a Saltwater Aquarium

By Linda Orlando

If you’ve been to fancy office buildings or restaurants and seen those tanks built into the walls with the brightly colored fish darting in and out of live coral formations, then you might be thinking of how terrific it would be to have your own little piece of the ocean to enjoy whenever you want to. Most people think that a saltwater aquarium is too expensive and complex to ever consider having one at home, but that isn’t the case. Although the equipment for a saltwater tank does cost more, and the setup is more complicated than a freshwater tank, there’s no reason not to attempt it.

There are many books and websites dedicated to the various ways to start a saltwater aquarium. Everyone has their own opinion, but there is no one "right" way to do it. You can set up your own customized system anyway you’d like to, but the most important thing to keep in mind is that you need to take the time to research and learn all you can about saltwater aquariums before you waste time and money putting together something you know nothing about.

The first thing you need to do is decide what type of system you want to set up. A fish-only system contains only fish, as the name implies—no live coral and no rocks. Decorative items such as non-living rocks, shells, and dried or artificial corals are placed in the aquarium with the fish. The setup can also contain some tank-cleaning crustaceans such as true crabs, hermit crabs, or snails. You can start out with a fish-only system and convert it to a different setup later on. However, if you think you might be doing that, you should make filtration and equipment choices with that thought in mind, so that you purchase items that will make the transition a smooth one.

Another type of setup is a FOWLR (fish-only with live rock) system. This type of setup usually consists of the same items listed above—a combination of fish, some crustaceans and invertebrate tank janitors—but this system also includes live rocks. Live rocks are rocks that have sessile invertebrates growing on them. No live corals are included in a FOWLR system.

The most complex type of saltwater setup is a reef tank system. This type of aquarium incorporates live rock, soft and/or stony corals, some reef-compatible janitorial type invertebrates and crustaceans, sessile invertebrates, and usually just a few reef-compatible fish. Some people choose to have no fish at all, with the reef and its inhabitants being the center of attention.

The steps involved in setting up a saltwater system are basically the same for every type of system:

• Buy one or two good books that discuss the type of system you’re setting up, and at least one book that talks about the types of fish, invertebrates, and live coral you will be incorporating into your setup.
  
• Make a checklist of items you will need to get started. Make a species community list of the types of live creatures you want to use in you system, because you may need to choose some items for your system based on the animals you are going to be keeping. After you have done your research and made your selections, put together a shopping list of all the things you need to buy.
  
• To get the aquarium ready, clean the tank with fresh water and a soft cloth or sponge. Apply a background to the tank if you want to, and put the stand in place, with an underpad for cushioning underneath. Level the tank and be sure to leave plenty of clearance for electrical connections and equipment the tank will need.
  
• Prepare all the equipment to be used, and then install it.
  
• Test the system to check and be sure everything is in working order before you put anything into the tank. System tests are detailed in books and websites, but the basic idea is to fill the tank with water, check for leaks, adjust the heater, balance out the salinity of the water, start the other equipment, and let everything run for at least 24 hours. This is just a basic overview; be sure to get detailed information about testing your system and take time to do it.
  
• Preclean any rocks, shells, live or artificial coral, and anything else you will be putting into the tank.
  
• Siphon out and save about half of the saltwater in the tank and set it aside while you are assembling the tank. It is much easier to work in the tank with less water, and the water level will rise as you add things.
  
• Put the substrate, rocks, and other items into the tank in whatever order and placement you want. Top off the water level with the water you set aside, Turn on all the equipment and start up the system. Make any adjustments necessary to the water temperature and salinity.
  
• Using an indelible marker, make a "fill-to" line in an inconspicuous spot somewhere on an outside tank wall. This will give you an easy reference point to use in the future when you need to add water to the aquarium.
  
• Cycle the aquarium while you are planning out your species community. Instructions for cycling the tank can be found in one of the reference books you acquired, or on a website dedicated to saltwater aquariums. The tank must be cycled before any living matter is added. No water changes should be performed while the tank is cycling.
  
• One of the biggest mistakes people make at this stage of setting up a saltwater system is trying to put too much into the tank too quickly. It is important to be patient and go slowly to avoid overloading the system. Whether you’re adding fish, corals, invertebrates, or anything else, you should add only one or two animals from you species community list at any one time. Let them acclimate and do not add anything else for at least a week. During that time, test the water daily for any appearance of ammonia and nitrite. When test results are zero, you can add the next one or two pieces of livestock to your tank.
  
• It is also extremely important for you to read up on the types of animals you introduce into your aquarium. Purchasing livestock without researching whether or not they will be able to live in peace with each other can result in dead or sick animals. Salespeople in aquarium shops usually don’t know everything about every creature they sell, so you must take the time to learn about any animals you want to buy before you go to the store. Don’t buy on impulse.

Once your system is set up and running, you’ll need to perform regular maintenance on the system to keep things running smoothly and to keep your live creatures alive. This is one of the main differences between a saltwater system and a freshwater aquarium. It is of utmost importance for you to establish a regular aquarium care and maintenance routine and stick to it.

Bringing a piece of the ocean into your living room may take a lot of preparation and a lot of maintenance, but it is time well spent. A well planned, well maintained saltwater aquarium system can be the most enjoyable, most fulfilling project you will ever embark upon.