Saltwater Tanks for Beginners

Although freshwater aquariums outnumber saltwater tanks, the saltwater aquarium hobby in the United States is gaining popularity, according to the University of Florida. Do not be intimidated by the common misconception that saltwater species are difficult to keep. Armed with the proper information, anyone---even beginners---willing to take the time can successfully keep a saltwater aquarium.

  1. Tank Size

    • Despite their reduced cost compared to larger systems, small saltwater aquariums, referred to as "nano-tanks," do not suit beginners. Marine aquarium expert Robert Fenner advises against tanks under 40 gallons for beginning saltwater aquarists. Nano-tanks present myriad challenges because small volumes of water are unstable and unforgiving of beginner's mistakes, such as overfeeding. Smaller volumes of water also do not maintain the stable temperature required for keeping marine species. Larger volumes of water stay more stable and require less-stringent water testing and fewer water changes. With the extra space, fish species also typically interact more with their environments and become more interesting to watch.

    Tank Type

    • Though beautiful, reef tanks are too delicate for a beginning marine aquarist.

      Saltwater tank types include fish-only, fish-only with live rock (FOWLR) and reef tanks. Beginners find fish-only tanks the simplest to maintain, provided the tank is large enough for the type and number of species inhabiting it. Hardy, fish-only species tolerate treated and salted tap water, and fish-only tanks respond well to medicines if a fish become sick. Beginners can keep FOWLR tanks as well, but FOWLRs have an additional water purification requirement. Since the invertebrates living in the live rock do not tolerate the metals present in tap water, FOWLR tanks require water treated by a deionizer or reverse osmosis filter. Likewise, invertebrate tank inhabitants do not respond well to medication should the tank become sick. Beginners should not attempt keeping a reef aquarium until they have successfully maintained a fish-only or FOLWR aquarium for at least a year.

    Filtration

    • Beginners have the most success with a wet/dry filtration system since wet/dry filters provide one of the most efficient filtration methods. However, some beginners may not feel comfortable with the extra cost and plumbing requirements of a wet/dry filtration system. Though they do not maintain the same level of water clarity as wet/dry filters, hang-on-the-back, bio-wheel filters provide suitable filtration for fish-only tanks and ease of operation for beginners. Adding live rock to a fish-only tank requires further water purification steps but improves tank filtration.

    What to Stock

    • Moray eels are hardy aquarium species for beginners but may eat their tank mates.

      Fenner warns, "Stocking a marine tank is far more involved than simply buying the first fishes that appeal to you." Always conduct research on fish species before introducing them into the tank. Since different fish species have different requirements, some may not be compatible. Saltwater fishes with similar body shapes commonly attack one another and some species may eat other species in the tank. Beginners must also pay close attention to the health of the livestock before purchasing. If the fish is not healthy at purchase, its chances of survival drop dramatically. Examples of hardy saltwater species appropriate for beginner tanks include moray eels (Gymnothorax spp.), sixline wrasses (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia), damselfishes (Dascyllus spp.) and hawkfishes (Cirrhitichthys spp.).

    Number of Inhabitants

    • Overstocking a saltwater aquarium can cause the system to crash, killing the fish.

      When it comes to adding fish, start slowly; as the tank establishes itself it will handle more fish. The fewer fish in the tank, the easier the tank is to keep stable and clean. Stock one small-to-medium-sized fish (2--3 inches) per every 15 gallons of tank capacity. As you become more experienced and learn how to keep the tank stable, you may add several additional fish to the tank, though no more than one fish per every 10 gallons.