| The saltwater aquarium is not recommended for the | | | | is that marine species tend to be much less tolerant |
| beginner aquarist. It is however uncommon for | | | | to organic waste products and other forms of |
| beginner aquarists to even wish to start out with a | | | | pollution. The enormous water mass that constitutes |
| saltwater aquarium instead of a freshwater aquarium. | | | | the ocean will rapidly dilute organic waste down to |
| Setting up a basic saltwater aquarium is much more | | | | very low levels. Marine creatures are therefore not |
| expensive than setting up a basic freshwater | | | | used to high levels of soluble waste and do not know |
| aquarium, and this means that it is typically the | | | | how to cope. There are of course many freshwater |
| dedicated aquarist with years of freshwater | | | | species to be found that are also highly sensitive to |
| experience that decides to spend the necessary | | | | organic waste and very difficult to keep in aquariums. |
| money on a saltwater aquarium. The film "Finding | | | | Generally speaking, it is however much easier to find |
| Nemo" did however cause a saltwater boom, since a | | | | sturdy freshwater species since freshwater fish can |
| lot of people who saw the film wanted to keep a | | | | live in small lakes and even puddles where the levels |
| "Nemo fish", i.e. a marine clownfish. | | | | of organic waste can reach very high levels. |
| Unfortunately, a lot of clownfishes ended up in the | | | | Compared to marine species, these fishes will also |
| hands of unsuitable keepers that weren't prepared to | | | | typically be more suited to cope with all forms of |
| spend enough time, effort and money on their new | | | | change. In a smaller body of water, the temperature |
| pet. If you are a comparatively inexperienced | | | | can for instance shift rapidly. Water hardiness and pH |
| aquarist, you can still become a highly successful | | | | can also be affected by external factors. Trying to |
| saltwater aquarist if you are prepared to spend a lot | | | | keep the environment in a freshwater aquarium as |
| of time and energy on learning how a saltwater | | | | stable as possible is therefore good training if you |
| aquarium really works. Investing in suitable equipment | | | | plan on setting up a saltwater aquarium in the future. |
| and choosing some of the hardiest saltwater species | | | | The overall chemistry and ecology are also different |
| will also greatly increase your chance of success. Do | | | | in a saltwater aquarium, since the presence of salt |
| not hesitate to contact a saltwater aquarium club or | | | | affects chemical as well as biological processes. This is |
| a forum online and ask for advice and guidelines. Most | | | | however not only a problem, it is also a possibility. |
| saltwater aquarists are happy to share their | | | | You will for instance be able to use a protein |
| knowledge with new aspiring saltwater aquarists. | | | | skimmer in a saltwater aquarium; a very powerful |
| One of the reasons why saltwater aquariums are | | | | form of filtration that will remove tiny organic waste |
| more difficult to maintain than freshwater aquariums | | | | particles before they begin to decompose. |