The salt-water fish tank represents a unique complex of conditions that accurately imitates the sea as a natural environment with its set of complicated biochemical interactions. It demands regular maintenance and control of the water quality – at least once per week.

The salt-water fish tank is possible to maintain although it requires much more of a time commitment than a freshwater aquarium. Its inhabitants require more attention to maintain them in a healthy condition. The main difficulty is the necessity of keeping the water in appropriate condition without any drastic changes all at once as the fish cannot tolerate that. For example, replace a third or at most a half of the water at one time. Lesser volumes per change are best.

Never change all of the water to clean water at one time. This will cause the fish great distress. They will either die or live on in an unhealthy state for six months, and then die. The inexperienced aquarist will not necessarily connect the two events, his changing the water drastically (too much at a time) rather than gradually to maintain the appropriate water conditions and the death of the fish. The maintenance of the oxygen in the water of the salt-water fish tank should also be closely monitored. The regular filtration and water regeneration are obligatory.

Perhaps the beginning aquarist should first have a freshwater tank to gain experience. It would be very disappointing to deal with the pet fish dying quickly especially if it is known they have suffered rather than finished their average life span and then died.

What a pleasure it is to come home to the enjoyment of watching your fish swimming happily around in the environment you created for them. This however, is not an inexpensive undertaking. It requires an original investment in an aquarium, pump, lighting system and heater. Careful evaluation of purchasing the fish and plants that can both flourish in the same underwater environment requires study and careful thought.

If you do acquire an aquarium for the first time the volume of water should be at least ten gallons and preferably twenty gallons. Its structure (the saltwater aquarium) requires installation, illumination and heating just as the freshwater tank does. At least give careful thought to beginning with a freshwater tank of about twenty gallons for an optimal first experience at keeping fish.

Give it a thought. If this is really what you wish to have, and what you are ready for, go and get it started, and enjoy the great sense satisfaction when the salt water tank is ready for display in your living room!

David
AquaticMagic ~ Grow Happiness