| The decision to start a saltwater fish tank in the first | | | | aquarium will be the easiest and least expensive, |
| place is a big one, but the next question is almost as | | | | quiet the contrary in fact, small "Pico Reefs" as they |
| important. Should I go with a reef tank set up, or a | | | | are called can be some of the most challenging and |
| fish only set up? Before we cover this, we had | | | | expensive tanks per gallon to keep. The reason is |
| better learn our way around a fish tank, so lets | | | | this, say you have a ten gallon tank and a 1,000 |
| cover the basics of a saltwater fish tank first. A | | | | gallon tank and its a hot summer day. One gallon of |
| saltwater fish tank has a volume anywhere from 1/2 | | | | freshwater (salt does not evaporate, it is left behind |
| gallon to 2000+ gallons of water, and is usually made | | | | while fresh water evaporates into the environment) |
| out of glass or acrylic. Glass tanks are held together | | | | evaporates from them both, on the 1,000 gallon |
| with aquarium grade silicone and tend to be more | | | | tank, nothing has changed really, the salinity holds |
| durable than acrylic ones, yet much heavier. Acrylic | | | | level, and it's as if a mere drop of water were |
| tanks are bonded together with a special type of | | | | missing. On the ten gallon fish tank however, we see |
| glue and are generally lighter and cost less than glass | | | | a significant raise in salinity due to the evaporation, |
| aquariums, yet they are easily scratched and can | | | | and a whole tenth of the tanks volume is now |
| cloud with age. | | | | missing. The larger an aquarium is, the more stable it |
| Some tanks are drilled in the bottom or back to | | | | is! |
| accommodate a sump or an inline chiller, whether you | | | | This doesn't mean you should go out and buy a 200 |
| need this or not will be discussed in another article. | | | | gallon tank right off the bat, but keep in mind that |
| The size of the aquarium should suit the space/time | | | | the little ten gallon has challenges all of it's own to |
| money that you can put towards your new | | | | deal with. In my next article I will discus what to put |
| saltwater fish tank, as well as the level of | | | | in your tank, just fish, or a full on reef set up, so |
| involvement, and what you ultimately want from | | | | stay tuned. |
| your tank. Now, don't think that the smallest possible | | | | |