If you dream of having exotic and colorful fish in your tank, then a saltwater aquarium is right for you. These are very different from their freshwater counterparts, so you’ll need to know how to get started. Following these tips will ensure your saltwater fish thrive in their new home.

3 Steps to Setting Up an Aquarium for Saltwater Fish

1. Find Your Size

Begin by deciding the type and number of saltwater fish you want. If you want the flexibility to add more fish in the future, get a larger size. You can give your fish more space than they need, but you never want to crowd them. For those just getting started, a 40- to 55-gallon tank is usually a good place to begin.

2. Choose Your Ecosystem

If your focus is mainly on the fish, then you want a FOWLR (fish only with live rock) tank. These are easier to maintain since you are only caring for the fish. Some excellent options to start your aquarium with are the tang, watchman goby, damselfish, and clownfish.

They are hardy, easy to care for, and fun to look at. If you want the look of coral, you can insert artificial reefs. Otherwise, live rock and substrate are good additions to provide shelter for sleeping and hiding and will add interest to the tank’s look. 

If you want to add authentic corals, look for an LPS (large polyp stony) coral tank. Good corals to start with are zoanthids, mushrooms, and leathers since they are resilient. Popular fish with these ecosystems include the angelfish, clownfish, goby, and dragonette.

3. Install Lighting

The aquarium should be kept out of natural sunlight since this will encourage algae growth. You can use just about any type of lighting for a FOWLR tank since the light is just for you to enjoy your fish and not much for their benefit.

Those growing corals should look for metal halide, fluorescent, or LED lighting. These types meet the intensity and spectrum requirements of the coral for growth. LED lighting tends to be the most efficient, so this is a wise investment if you plan to keep your aquarium a long time. 

The knowledgeable staff at Gerber’s Tropical Fish will help you get started with your fish tank in Dayton and Cincinnati, OH. They are home to Ohio’s largest selection of saltwater fish and coral in nearly 600 tanks. The staff have more than 100 years of combined experience and will set up your new tank and provide maintenance for you at competitive rates. Get started online, by visiting their shop in person, or calling (937) 297-0515.