Can You Handle A Saltwater Aquarium?
Having a salt water (or marine) aquarium can be a lot of fun.
Among the many benefits are the wide range of fish and marine invertebrates you can keep.
However, theer are some down sides too.
It's important you take the time to compare these options before you choose a salt water aquarium or with a freshwater aquarium.

A freshwater aquarium is easier for most to maintain because it is easier to keep clean.
A saltwater aquarium will be harder to clean but it will be able to be stocked with a much wider variety of fish and other creatures.
A freshwater tank will be less expensive as will the fish that you stock it with. However, a freshwater aquarium simply cannot compete in terms of variety.
In a saltwater tank, you can even create your own living ocean by stocking it with a wide range of marine life to compliment your fish.

You will need to invest more money into a salt water tank. You will also need to commit more time to its maintenance. 
There are, however, many rewards offered to you in this type of tank. It will allow you to create a whole new world in your home and it can even teach children about the life under the sea.
Take your time to consider your choice.
Take a look at the types of fish that you would love to have in your salt water aquarium, understand what it means to you in terms of both time and money and decide if you can indeed provide the environment for them to behappy and healthy.


Choosing Fish for your Saltwater Aquarium
You should not head out and purchase an aquarium until you have carefully considered your fish choices.
There are thousands of species but not all of them are ideal for an aquarium, and many are better left to the ocean.
Those that can be kept successfully in an aquarium vary widely in the amount of space they require. It's this, more than anything else which means you cannot get your aquarium before you know what fish you are putting it in.
The quantity and types of marine life and its needs for space will determine just how large the salt water aquarium you choose will be.
It is important to take your time in choosing your fish and other marine life.
Think about whether you want to grow corals in your tank.
If you are a beginner you may want to choose fish that are easy to take care of like clownfish, damselfish and mollies.
Then, you can add things like triggerfish, grammas and tangs.
If you no longer class yourself a beginner, think about more unique choices such as angelfish, anemones, seahorses and even clams. These are much more difficult to take care of and are often something a beginner will struggle with.

Other things you should understand about the marine life you wish to keep are:
      -  how well the various species will interact with each other. 
      -  which are more aggressive.
      -  finally, and perhaps most importantly, you should make sure that they all tolerate the
         same living conditions especially when it comes to the water’s temperature, the salinity
         levels and the pH levels of the tank.

Purchasing Your Saltwater Aquarium
Once you have decided the fish and other marine life that you wish to keep, you have determined that they all ahve the same water requirements and will live happily together, you are ready to purchase your aquarium.

You should consider the size of the tank first.
The larger it is, the more room the fish will have to swim and live. This will allow them to do the best that they can.
But, the larger the fish tank is, the more work it will take you to maintain water conditions and to keep clean.
Most people that purchase a salt water aquarium choose a 30 to 55 gallon (110 to 200 litres) tank. Remember to talk to your pet store about the space your fish need.
Consider purchasing an acrylic aquarium. It is stronger than glass, easier to maintain and, provides better visibility.
You should then think about where you plan to house your aquarium.
The larger it is the stronger the stand (and maybe also the floor) will need to be. Remember to consider the weight of the tank when it's full of water.


Stocking Your Saltwater Aquarium
Your have taken the time to get the right salt water aquarium you want and to choose the fish you want to put into it.
There are a few things to bear in mind when stocking your new aquarium.
Most importantly, add your fish a few at a time over a long period.
When it comes to buying your fish, 
      -  Take a look at them.
      -  Do they look healthy?
      -  Are they swimming around the tanks at the pet store easily?
      -  Is the water in the tank clean?
      -  You need to be able to trust your pet store.
         If you don't , for whatever reason, go somewhere else.
         Some of these fish can be expensive!
      -  Do not purchase fish that are not healthy.

Remember to only add fish one or two at a time.
You should ensure that water conditions are right before you add the fish to your tank. Check that the pH level, salinity and the water temperature are right for the fish that you have chosen. Fish don't like change.
You need to let them adapt to their new environment slowly.
Adding one or two fish every few days (checking conditions before you do so) is the best way to do this.

Once you have your fish in the tank, you need to to feed them properly.
Make sure that you know what the fish like to eat as well as how often they need to.
As a general rule, feed your fish every three days, keep them in water that is about 75 to 80 degrees and give them a variety of foods and include cut up pieces of shrimp and lettuce, or even peas.


Maintaining Your Saltwater Aquarium
Now you are enjoying your fish in your salt water aquarium.
You have done all that you can to provide them with a great home to live in.
Now, you need to maintain it.
Remember, maintaining the tank is essential to keeping your fish alive. There are several things that you will need to do in order to keep your fish happy and healthy.
      -  check the water every two weeks.
         You need to check for the right levels of ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, pH and salinity.
         You should know what these levels are based on what your fish needed when you
         purchased them.
         You can find the chemicals that you need to adjust these levels at the pet store too.
      -  Monitor the salinity of the water.
         Usually, it will be too high (your tank will lose some water over time, but there is nowhere
         for the salt to go, so salinity will tend to increase).
         To balance it out, add fresh dechlorinated water to the tank.
         You will need to add salt to the water if the salinity levels are too low. 
      -  Refresh the water
         You should remove just about ten percent of the water from your tank each week and
         replace it with fresh dechlorinated water. 
         Every 6 to 8 weeks, take out 25% of the tank’s water and replace it.
      -  Clean the tank
         monitor the amounts of algae and ensure that you keep the sides, top and the interior of
         the tank algae free. 
         check the filter pads and check the alkalinity as directed by the manufacturer. 
         clean out the debris in the water and in the gravel as well.

Taking care of your salt water aquarium is necessary for you to keep it a safe and healthy place for your fish.
Howeber, you can do this quite simply by knowing what needs to be done and making it a habit. That way, it becomes less of a chore and it more something that you look forward to.

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