Saltwater Fish Tank Archives - Seatech Aquariums

We love saltwater reef tanks for many reasons. If you’re planning to have a saltwater aquarium installed in your home soon, we have no doubt that you will be just as entranced as we are. Whether you’re working with Seatech Aquariums or installing the fish tank on your own, it’s important to understand the basic components of a reef tank.

A reef tank is gorgeous, but you need several basic elements to ensure it stays as beautiful as it was on Day One.

Components of a Reef Tank

1. The Tank

It’s important to choose a properly sized tank for the quantity and breeds of fish you will have in your aquarium. You will also have to decide whether you want an acrylic tank or a glass tank.

SEE THE PROS AND CONS OF EACH TYPE OF FISH TANK BEFORE MAKING YOUR DECISION.

2. The Plants

You can use either artificial plants or live plants in your reef tank. There are numerous differences, but here’s the long and short of it. Artificial plants may be easier to maintain, but live plants are prettier, more natural, and possibly offer more health benefits to the ecosystem with the proper maintenance.

Whatever you do, including plants in your reef tank is a must for several reasons:

Improved health of the fish
More enjoyment for the fish
Increased security for the fish
More oxygenation within the aquarium
Natural filtration of the water

Basic components of a reef tank should include plants and coral.

3. Gravel

Gravel serves as natural filtration for an aquarium. It also traps some of the matter to keep it out of the water. Additionally, some animals like to burrow into it for safety and play.

Include gravel and bottom feeders, such as this Cory Catfish, in your saltwater reef fish tank.

4. Filters

Having a filtration system in the tank is a must. The types of filters you should use depends on the size of your tank, as well as the species and quantity of livestock. There are a wide range of styles and brands, so if you’re not sure which type of filter is best, contact us for guidance.

5. Lights/Heaters

Some saltwater fish prefer cooler water, but others do need warmth. You will also need lighting to beautify the tank and to allow you to see inside. You can buy them separately or purchase one device that provides both heat and light.

6. Coral

The highlight of choosing a reef tank is to be able to add the beautiful coral. Coral aids in the development of a natural environment for fish, and it beautifies the tank like nothing else can. The appearance, quality, and size of coral is as varied as the fish in your tank, but some hobbyists prefer certain types of coral over others.

Much of the beauty of a reef tank is in the coral. Coral such as this Euphyllia Hammer Coral add color and excitement to your saltwater fish tank.

Much of the beauty of a reef tank is in the coral. Coral such as this Euphyllia Hammer Coral add color and excitement to your underwater community.

SEE WHAT KIND OF CORAL WE AT SEATECH LIKE BEST.

7. RODI Salwater

It’s clear that you need filtered water for the tank. Never, ever use tap water, as the chemicals in tap water can irritate the skin and eyes of your fish. Specifically, we prefer reverse osmosis deionized water for fish tanks, and it’s all we use to fill tanks and clean the tank and decor.

WE BELIEVE IN IT SO MUCH THAT WE WILL EVEN DELIVER RODI SALTWATER FOR YOUR REEF TANK RIGHT TO YOUR HOME WHEN YOU USE OUR ONLINE ORDERING SERVICE.

8. Bottom Feeder

Bottom feeders such as catfish and shrimp can be an intriguing addition to your reef tank.

SOME TYPES OF SHRIMP ARE MORE IDEAL THAN OTHERS FOR A REEF TANK.

Many bottom feeders have unique characteristics and appearances, further enhancing the beauty of your tank. Most importantly, they can help keep the aquarium healthier by eating the algae, leftover food, decaying plants, and natural debris that may be at the bottom of the tank.

Ghost shrimp are among the most popular bottom dwellers and least expensive shrimp for a fish tank.

9. Rock

Whether you choose live rock or dry rock, be sure to include at least one in your tank. Similar to the gravel, plants, and bottom feeders, they serve as natural filters. Additionally, they can provide a place for shy animals to hide and playful animals to play.

Components of a reef tank include rock and other decor.

Adding live rock, artificial rock, and decor into your reef tank serves several purposes, including beautifying the tank, filtering the tank, and giving the fish a place to play.

Reef Aquarium Installation and Maintenance

Seatech Aquariums can install and design colorful, beautiful, and lively reef aquariums throughout the Phoenix area. We can install the basics such as climate control, filtration, and lighting, as well as beautify the landscape with rock, coral, and livestock.

For more information about our reef tank installation and maintenance services, see our website or give us a call.

Aquariums are great creative outlets for you. You can design one small enough to fit into the corner of a room, or large enough to create a room’s focal point. The big decision comes when selecting the type of fish and invertebrates you want. Which means – either saltwater or freshwater.

Let’s look at freshwater tanks.

Easy to maintain
Less expensive to stock
Easier to take care of as freshwater fish are more tolerant of tank or environment deviations
Tank size can be smaller, so your initial output is more reasonable

Now to saltwater tanks.

Better looking – saltwater fish tend to be more colorful with more interesting behaviors
More costly because you cannot ‘breed’ saltwater fish – they still need to be ‘captured’ to meet the supply-and-demand needs
Saltwater is more time-consuming because you need to make sure their environment is stable
Saltwater fish need large tanks, so your initial output will be more than with freshwater tanks

Even though ‘beginners’ are told to stay away from saltwater tanks and go with freshwater tanks, it is really up to you and how much time and energy you want to invest into your tank. No matter which tank you decide on, you should be aware of a few tips.

1. Fish size

All fish start out small, but each one grows at a different rate. So you need to consider which will be better based on your budget as well as the size tank you decide on. It will be more costly if you have to get a larger tank each time your fish develops as well as making sure they have plenty of room to swim in.

2. Food

As everyone knows, goldfish require a container of food that you can just ‘tap’ into the tank, and then off you go. Whereas with saltwater fish, you will need to mimic what they would normally eat in the wild. This means extra types of food and some of those foods need to be refrigerated. If you have children, that is a major consideration in order to avoid them getting ‘into something’ that they should not be into and then get sick.

3. Compatibility

It won’t do your budget any good to buy fish and then come home to find one is dead or half-eaten!! You need to make sure your tank dwellers will be on good terms with each other as well as other fish dwellers in your tank.

4. Breeding

Some people have tanks in order to breed fish and make some extra cash. So when buying your fish, you need to make sure that they can be bred in ‘captivity’ (i.e. your tank), or that they are not shy around other fish.
One last thing to remember – some fish can live for up to ten years in a tank. That means a long-term commitment on your part and has to be something that you are willing to spend time on. So be careful on what fish to want, because it will almost be like a marriage contract!

Some of my favorite freshwater fish are Guppies (easy to take care of and feed), Betta (even though they need to be kept away from other fish, they have lovely colors and finnage), and the Oscar (after a while it is said that it will come to know its feeder). Looking at saltwater fish, I like Blue Devils, Clown Fish (like Nemo), and the Forceps Butterfly (its bright yellow color is stunning).

Want more information and help deciding on which fish tank is the best? Call Seatech Aquariums. Jimmie and Mike have many years of aquarium experience, and will help you decide on the size, where to put it, and what to put inside of it. Seatech offers a money-back guarantee on its livestock, and will also be there to set up your tank and get you going with regular, first-class maintenance.

Visit our website at http://seatechaquariums.com/ or give us a call at 602.628.7270. And if you are interested in getting a Nano Cube Tank, then Seatech is the ultimate expert!! We have several models to select from and again – we will help you get everything you need.
Don’t wait – get started today!

Tag Archives: Saltwater Fish Tank

Aquarium Installation: Basic Components of a Reef Tank