A. Whether making plans to start a fish-only, fish-only with live rock, or a reef tank system, refer to our checklist of equipment, components and supplies to find out what items are considered to be required or optional. From this list you can research the many options you have to choose from when making decisions on which items to buy for the particular type of saltwater aquarium you are going to set up.
Required Equipment & Components
The items listed here are pieces of equipment and components that are fundamental for setting up and running a saltwater aquarium or reef tank system.
Aquarium/Tank
You need to decide where you want to put your aquarium, determine what size you want or may only have room for, whether you want an acrylic or glass tank, and choose a style that will best fit into the spot you have picked out to display it.
- About Choosing an Aquarium Location, Material, Size & Style
- Tank Materials Poll
- Top Pick 1 to 50 Gallon Aquariums
Lighting
The type of lighting you choose will be based on the type of system you have planned to set up, as well as what kind of livestock you will be keeping in it.
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Lighting Poll
- Fish-Only Tank Lighting
- The Basic Fundamentals of Fluorescent Tubes
- Reef Tank Lighting
- Coral Lighting
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Top Pick PC & MH Retrofit Kits
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Top Pick Fluorescent Bulbs
- Top Pick Ballast Kits
Filters & Filtration Equipment
Once again, what type of system you are going to set up will help you determine which kind of filters and filtration system to choose.
- Choosing a Filtration System
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Biological Filtration Poll
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Canister Filter Poll
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Top Pick Canister Filters
- Top Pick Wet/Dry Trickle Filters
Substrate
Here you need to decide on what type of material you want on the bottom of the tank, as well as whether you want to start with a live or non-living medium.
Shelter for Livestock
Many marine animals, fish in particular, can be quite territorial. It is important to provide ample shelter or places where the animals can hide, sleep, and avoid potential problems with aggression from other tankmates in the confined space of an aquarium.
- Aquascaping Rocks Help
- What is Live Rock & Its Purpose?
- Other than live rocks and corals, what items can be used to aquascape a tank?
Heater
For smaller aquariums one heater works well, but for larger systems the use of mutliple units is advised.
Thermometer
With stick-on, floating, multi-function remote digital sensor, and many other types of units to pick from, the material a thermometer is made of is an important factor when choosing one as well.
Sea Salt Mix/Saltwater
Hydrometer
Also referred to as a salinity tester, this item measures the specific gravity or salt content of the water.
Test Kits
- Which Tests Should be Performed, and When?
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Test Kits Poll
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Before You Buy Test Kit Tips
- Top Pick Test Kits
Additives & Supplements
For live rock and reef tank systems, calcium (a.k.a. limewater/kalkwasser) needs to be added. Other supplemental vitamins or additives that are beneficial to the health of certain marine inhabitants you may be keeping, such a iodine for crustaceans, are important as well.
Maintenance Tools & Supplies
This category includes having items on hand such as a various sized plastic buckets or containers, tank cleaning tools such as a siphon tube/hose, an algae scaper or magnet, as well as nets of different sizes, spare equipment replacements parts, and so on. A good way to keep track of what maintenance tasks you have preformed and when is to keep a log book or record of everything you do.
