Salt Water Tank Requirements

Saltwater tanks are the gold standard of aquariums. Brightly colored marine fish are beautiful and fun to watch. The adventurous hobbyist can even build a tropical mini-reef, complete with live coral and sea anemones. There are some challenges, however, in keeping a marine tank. Before you purchase equipment, decide what types and sizes of fish you want. Also determine whether you want a fish-only tank or one that includes invertebrates or coral. These choices will determine the size of your tank, filtration and lighting equipment and even the type of salt you buy.

  1. Tank and Stand

    • Saltwater aquariums should hold at least 20 gallons, with 55 gallons the recommended size for beginners. This allows for better gas exchange and more room for the fish. It also will be more forgiving if you make mistakes in measuring salinity, pH or temperature. Make sure you have a sturdy stand--a 55-gallon tank will weigh 500 pounds when it's filled with water.

    Filter

    • Filters remove waste particles, ammonia and nitrites from the water, which keeps the tank from getting smelly and maintains healthy oxygen levels for fish. The most common types of filters are a box hangs on the back of the tank or a canister that sits inside the tank. Another popular filter for saltwater, fish-only tanks is the wet-dry trickle filter.

    Protein Skimmer

    • Protein skimmers are essential for saltwater aquariums. They strip dissolved organic particles from the surface of the water and prevent a buildup of nitrites. Air-driven protein skimmers use an air stone to produce bubbles in a column of water. Venturi skimmers use a valve to inject bubbles into the water.

    Hood, Light and Heater

    • Get a hood that fits your tank. Most hoods are built for a single fluorescent bulb; for a fish-only tank you'll need a broad-spectrum, normal output bulb. If you want to include a live coral reef, plants or invertebrates, you will need brighter lights and perhaps a custom hood. Because most aquarium fish are from the tropics, a submersible heater is needed to keep the water temperature stable.

    Salt and Hydrometer

    • One of the most important parts of keeping a marine tank is the need to add salt to the water. Salt is sold in a range of sizes, ready to mix. Don't use rock salt or table salt in your aquarium. You'll need a hydrometer to measure the specific gravity of the water, which relates to its saltiness. Some hydrometers also measure temperature. If yours doesn't, you'll need a thermometer.

    Water Testing Kit

    • You must carefully monitor the water in the tank for pH, nitrates, phosphates, alkalinity, nitrites, ammonia and calcium. Marine test kits include everything you'll need to test for these substances. You should do a pH test every week and a nitrate test every other week. Ammonia and nitrite tests are needed occasionally.