| There are a lot of considerations to make before | | | | first trip to the store. Your tank requires some time |
| setting up your Marine aquarium. For those that have | | | | to prepare itself for the fish. Properly done, your |
| been raising tropical freshwater fish, Saltwater marine | | | | tank will create a bio-filtration system that is just |
| offers the opportunity for a greater variety of | | | | right for sustaining your marine environment. |
| species, a greater color assortment, and the | | | | Because the fish will need a lot of space, a decision |
| opportunity to raise more that just the fish. In | | | | will need to be made on how big of a tank is correct |
| addition to fish, a marine tank can also be home for | | | | for your situation. How much space do you have |
| coral, live rock, invertebrates, shellfish, plants, and the | | | | available in your home away from natural sunlight? |
| list goes on. But along with the choices and varieties | | | | Will you want a fish only aquarium? Will you be adding |
| offered through saltwater aquariums, there comes | | | | live rock and coral? And unlike freshwater fish, you |
| the responsibility of the extra care it takes to make | | | | need to plan a monthly budget for you new project. |
| sure everything is just right by preparing the water | | | | The days of $2.00 fish are few and far between |
| for your new pets. | | | | when it comes to saltwater aquariums. |
| Marine life is a very fragile ecosystem. In an | | | | A good rule to keep in mind is that a marine aquarium |
| environment as large as the ocean, changes to the | | | | needs to be at least 55 gallons (the bigger the |
| overall balance of the system are very small. But in a | | | | better). That's because of those minor changes in |
| fish tank with only a few gallons of water, a tiny | | | | the ecosystem we spoke of earlier. Your chosen |
| change can be a big thing. For this reason, your | | | | location will need to be strong enough to handle the |
| aquarium needs to be prepared prior to adding fish. | | | | weight of the tank, water, and rock you will want to |
| Once your fish have been added, your aquarium | | | | add later. To make your display look great, a nice |
| needs to be monitored daily or the results could be | | | | cabinet would be a great addition. That way, you |
| catastrophic. But with proper care, your marine | | | | have a place for supplies and your choice of |
| aquarium can be a welcome addition to your home | | | | mechanical filtration systems. |
| (or office). | | | | Once you have made these choices, it's time to head |
| There are several considerations to make before | | | | to the store to buy what you need to get started. |
| heading out to the store to buy your aquarium and | | | | Just keep in mind that this is just the first step. First |
| the supplies to get started. That includes the rules | | | | you set up your saltwater aquarium, then you wait |
| for where to buy your marine life. The first thing I | | | | until the conditions are right for adding your first fish. |
| learned was that you don't buy all your fish on the | | | | |