Marine Fish Care

Before you go out and buy anything you should do is some research to determine what equipment will be right for your marine aquarium. You need to get the appropriate aquarium equipment for your particular tank. Here is a basic list of some of the things you will need to research and purchase.

• Aquarium, the bigger the better at buy at least a 55 gallon fish tank. You have a choice between glass and acrylic. Glass aquariums are very hard to scratch but are very heavy and can shatter . Acrylic tanks are easily scratched but are resistant to shattering and have less distortion than glass.
• Live rock if you choose to use biological filtration.
• Heater make sure it is powerful enough for your tank
• Aquarium stand there are may types of stands out there to choose from make sure you buy one strong enough to hold your tank.
• Hydrometer to test the waters specific gravity
• Saltwater test kit for to test the water parameters such as ph, nitrates and ammonia.
• Thermometer to monitor the aquarium temperature
• Protein skimmer to remove organic waste from the water
• Filter (optional when using live rock)
• Filter media (if needed)
• Powerheads to keep a constant constant movement of the saltwater.
• Saltwater mix
• Substrate either live sand or crushed coral.
• Reverse osmosis filter (optional but highly reccomended
• Scrubbers and scrapers to clean the aquarium glass
• Some kind of background for the tank
• Aquarium lighting nothing special is required for fish only tanks but special lighting is needed for tanks with reefs and live rock.
• Fish food
• Aquarium vacuum

This is just a basic list to get you thinking about what you will need to get started with your marine fish tank. Like any project is is sure to grow depending on the size of the tank and the marine fish you plan to keep.

Taking on the hobby of marine fish can be the most frustrating yet most rewarding you can have. Something to keep in mind though, aquarium maintenance never stops you can’t take week off and get back to it later. Marine fish have no tolerance to dirty water so high quality water must be kept at all times. Location of the marine aquarium is also an important part of the success of the tank. Your aquarium tank should not be in a high traffic area where people are constantly scaring the fish. They also should not be near a window where sunlight can throw off the balance of the tank. Drafty rooms can make it hard to control the temperature of the water. Most important you want your marine fish tank in a place where you can easily enjoy it. When choosing a tank the bigger the better. The bigger the tank the easier it is to keep the water stable your marine fish do not like changes in water conditions. Try to get a least a 55 gallon fish tank or bigger if you can. After you decide on the size of the tank you must choose your aquarium equipment. Make sure what you buy is appropriate for the size of the tank you will be using and what you plan on having in the aquarium. After the tank is set up plan on about 3 to 6 weeks for the water finish its cycling process. Patients is a virtue not letting the water finish its cycling is setting yourself up for disappointment. Before you head to the pet store to get every fish that looks pretty do your homework. Marine fish require more room than typical freshwater fish you have to find out how many fish you can have in the tank. You will also need to know if the  fish you plan on buying will get along with each other many fish are territorial. Too many fish can also lead to more waste than your aquarium filtration system can handle. So are you still ready to take on the hobby of a marine aquarium? I can’t emphasize enough you need to do your research, you have to plan on a regular maintenance schedule even if it means hanging a calender on the wall, and most of all patients. If you can get a grip on all that then you may be on the road to a successful marine aquarium.