The major rule of thumb in choosing salt water fish species for mini reef aquariums (for the sake of this post, less than 20 gallons of water) is to ensure that they are compatible with each other, the size of the fish tank, and with the other organisms in the aquarium. Some popular salt water fish species include the Japanese swallowtail angelfish, the clownfish, sand sifting gobies, shrimp gobies, and the smaller species of surgeonfish.

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First of all, you would need more than just a passing fancy if you want to start a mini reef tank. A mini reef tank or saltwater aquarium would entail a bit more work, advanced skills in fish keeping and a heck lot more of other specialized equipment as compared to fresh water tanks. Setting up a mini reef tank can be particularly tricky because of the very limited space available, but it can be done.

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For anyone who is relatively new to the aquarium hobby, the decision to start with small or large fish tanks is usually one of the first things that crosses the mind. There are proponents to either choice. Each size of aquarium has its pros and cons, so choosing what is ideal for the newcomer is something that should be well thought out. Overall, medium to large sized aquariums are a better choice for various reasons discussed here. Read more »

Everyone loves the look of a well maintained marine aquarium. Most people don’t know that the balance in a marine aquarium can sometimes rest on a thin wire between beauty and disaster. This leads to many questions about how to easily and properly setup and maintain a marine aquarium. The following tips will help you keep an amazing marine aquarium. Read more »

Setting up a marine fish tank for the first time is not as simple as just filling an aquarium with salt water. There are several accessories that must also be considered for the marine tank setup to be successful. Also, if you have the necessary marine aquarium supplies the maintenance and care of the marine aquarium will be easier and you will more thoroughly enjoy your tank! Minimum requirements for a successful marine fish tank include a powerhead, heater, protein skimmer, hydrometer, thermometer, lighting, and an appropriate filter. Read more »

Salt water aquariums are often among the most impressive show tanks you will see. A well setup tank will easily convey the sense of being maintenance free - the corals and fish will seem to care for themselves! Unfortunately, in the real world, this is often not the case. Caring for a reef aquarium is significantly easier if you have the right salt water fish tank supplies. Some examples are outlined here. Read more »

The benefits of buying online include convenience, lower prices, and better selection of fish tank supplies. Many people have started buying things like books, DVDs, electronics, and many other items online, but do not realize that there are many great deals that can be found for aquarium supplies on the internet. You might be nervous about buying fish tank supplies online for the first time, but the goal of this article is to help show you some of the compelling reasons to buy your aquarium supplines online. Read more »

When it comes down to marine aquarium lighting, there is considerable choice any hobbyist has for lighting their reef tank. Some options include fluorescent lighting and metal halide lights. Most marine fish tank enthusiasts, though, would agree that metal halide lights are they best option for marine aquarium lighting. If metal halide lights are used, it is worth knowing the benefits, the traits, and exactly what is needed for proper use. Read more »

When it comes to aquariums, one of the biggest issues in health of your fish and maintenance of the aquarium is the water quality.  Fish wastes include ammonia.  Bacteria convert ammonia to nitrite and ultimately to nitrate.  Fortunately, fish tank nitrate is considerably less toxic than ammonia or nitrite.  What many aquarium hobbyists do not realize, however, is that nitrate in your aquarium can be harmful to your fish if the levels are too high.  There are several ways of dealing with excess fish tank nitrate. Read more »

Feeding corals used to be a difficult task. There are stories of people trying to feed each coral individually, but thankfully this task can often be avoided! With many products designed to mimic “marine snow” there is less need to target feed your corals and filter feeders. Some of the best saltwater fish tank supplies that are foods for corals, sponges, anemones, and other filter feeders include PhytoPlan, Micro-Vert, and MarineSnow. Read more »

Many newcomers to the salt water aquarium hobby ask how easy or difficult it will be to keep a marine aquarium for the first time. This is never an easy answer to give because there are so many factors involved in setting up and taking care of a salt water fish tank. On the bright side, there are certainly many tips that can make having a first marine fish tank easy on the newcomer! Read more »

If you are looking to setup a refugium for your reef tank, but do not want to spend the money on an expensive refugium, DIY may be the best route for you.  There are many things to consider when it comes to setting up your own DIY refugium.  These include the location of your refugium, the source of the water, and the aesthetics.  The refugium plans are also very important, and you should consider buying a proper set of DIY instructions. Read more »

Within the aquarium hobby, the holy grail of fish tanks is widely agreed up on to be a show quality reef tank.  Unfortunately, for newcomers to the hobby, the setup of such a reef aquarium is not an easy thing to accomplish.  Rushing into a first reef tank will ultimately result in wasted money and disappointment.  Fortunately, if you prepare properly and research before buying your equipment, you can expect to be rewarded with a fantastic display quality reef tank.  The goal of this article is to describe some of the important factors to consider before you setup such an aquarium. Read more »

For newcomers to the aquarium hobby, determining the type of aquarium light bulbs needed for any given fish tank setup can be a confusing process.  The basic types of aquarium lighting include incandescent bulbs, fluorescent and compact fluorescent lights, and metal halide.  Other factors that are important to the type of aquarium light you need are the type of fish tank, and the size of your tropical fish tank.  The purpose of this guide is to help you decide which type and wattage of lighting you need for your fish tank. Read more »

It is interesting how few people understand the true benefits that can be achieved with a refugium. Algae can sometimes become unsightly in a “show reef” setup.  Yet, the aglae benefits the aquarium by removing excess nutrients and elements that would otherwise buildup in your reef tank.  Using a refugium, algae can be grown in a separate tank and fed sparingly to your show tank to provide sustenance to grazers. Read more »

Most people who start nano tanks try their hand at setting them up as reef tanks. Nano reef tanks really are incredible pieces of art, but they still require most, if not all, of the care that larger marine tanks need. Though the sizes of nano tanks are quickly approaching a gallon, fish tank supplies for these setups are still of utmost importance in their success. I will outline a few of the key accessories you will need for your nano tank! Read more »

A reef aquarium is a type of tank environment that focuses more on having reefs and corals than on having actual fish inside it. While marine fish may also be added in many cases, this provides a different effect as opposed to having a normal aquarium. In essence it is more natural to look at as it aims to mimic the underwater world that many of us only see in movies and television documentaries. However, while this may look better, it is also said to require more care and attention than a freshwater aquarium environment. Read more »