Q: How to select a saltwater fish tank?
A: In selecting the saltwater fish tank you primarily need to decide the number and the classification of the fishes you wish to buy for your fish tank. The main rule in selecting the fish tank is to allow for every four gallons of water an inch of fish but make sure you are going by the size the fish will be in a year. That way you are not having to buy a new tank in a year because the have out grown your tank.

Q: What are the steps to follow in setting-up your saltwater fish tanks?
A: The first step that you need to do is to get yourself a guide book about saltwater fish tanks. You can find one at bookstores your local fish store or you can download one online. Asking for help in your local pet store can also aid you in building one. But not every fish store is the same so if you can go to a couple of different ones and see for yourself if the advice is true or are they just trying to sell you some stuff they need to get rid of.  Once you have your guide book and the advice from people who are already in the hobby you will see everything will be just that much easier for you.

Step number two is to purchase the things and accessories needed for your tank. For lightning, it really depends on whether you are going to have any corals or just fish in the tank. If it is fish only the regular fluorescent lights that comes with most tanks will be your best bet. The filter will depend on the number of fish and or corals you will be putting in your tank. The gravel or sand will be the base of your tank. This will also depend on the type of fish you are going to have on the tank. Some fish burrow in the sand so you would need sand and not gravel. You also need to buy a heater, thermometer, salinity tester and cleaning supplies. A water treatment kit should also be in your list. Another important factor is setting up saltwater fish tanks are their stand. You need to find a stand that is sturdy because it will hold at least 20 pounds of water. This is for one that is very small. If you get some of the bigger tanks you need to make sure the spot you want to put it in your home can hold the weight. Weight of 1 US Gallon of water = approx. 8.35 lbs so make sure you have a good stand and flooring to hold up to the wieght. Also you have to allow for the rocks and other things you will put in the tank.You also need to check if the stand wobbles to avoid accidents like a crack in the tank because it is not level. Think of a sturdy stand as an investment so if the one you choose is a little bit pricey just shrugged it off.

Step number three is to keep your cleaning routine simple. Basic water, sponge and scrapers are the only cleaning necessity you should need. Never use cleaning liquid bottles that has ammonia in it or the anti-bacterial in them. Also make sure that the stuff and accessories you put on the tank are clean and are installed properly.
Last step is to ask for help. Ask the personnel at your local pet shop advice on the kind of fish that is suitable for your tank. Make sure that you start small. you will have to allow your tank to cycle before you put fish in the tank. If you do not wait tell the cycle ends you can kill your fish by over stressing them while the tank is doing its cycle. Ultimately, researching everything and anything to do with saltwater fish tanks can make all the tasks easier for you. Do your assignment well and you’ll be rewarded with the colors of the sea.

Included in that list is the Butterflyfish. Butterflyfishes live well amongst themselves but they should not be kept in a tank together wit live anemones and corals as these animals are part of their natural food sources. These fishes also need hiding places at night so you should have hollow rocks placed in their environment. You can feed saltwater aquarium fish with marine algae, frozen foods as well as fresh greens. They usually live up to 2-4 years.

Next is the Lionfish. Among all the saltwater aquarium fish available, the Lionfish is always going to be among the most beautiful. It has graceful, elegant long fins they also have very vivid colorations all over their body, truly a stunning mix of danger and beauty. Lionfishes are very aggressive carnivorous fishes and they would require a diet of live food for you to be able to satisfy their needs. Do note that not matter how elegant and graceful their fins are, they can be very poisonous and can inflict serious, not to mention painful, injuries.

Also in the list are the Mandarins or what people would often refer to as the “psychedelic” fish due to the swirling colors and patterns of purple, orange and royal blue that cover their bodies. These fishes are very slow moving and are bottom dwellers that feed on mostly small crustaceans or bottom debris. Their life span can reach up to 2-4 years.

Next, we have the Squirrelfish which are among the few species that are colored red. These fishes would definitely require a larger tank as they are very active and energetic swimmers. They would most likely disturb their more peaceful tank mates. They can also grow quite big in the tank so it is recommended to keep just one. These fishes would require a diet of live food, small feeder fish as well as worms. Their life span reaches up to 2-4 years.

Also in the list is the popular clownfish which are especially favored by children due to the movie “Finding Nemo” whose main character is a clownfish. Most people are actually inspired to begin a saltwater aquarium because of them as the sight of a clownfish hidden among the gracefully swaying tentacles of the anemone is truly a sight to behold. Clownfishes would do perfectly well in a tank even without the company of an anemone and in fact it is recommended, if you are keeping one together with other fishes, to forego the anemone as this can cause a clownfish to be territorial. Their life span can reach up to 10 years.

Saltwater aquarium fish come in all sorts of colors, sizes and even shapes. However it is best to choose one that is suited to your lifestyle. Why? Because if a fish requires that you tend to it most of the time and you are a very busy person, how do you suppose to properly take care of them? So, other than their decorative purposes, you should also consider just how well you would be able to care for them.