Owning a saltwater aquarium can seem intimidating at first. After all, saltwater fish are more sensitive than your typical goldfish and corals can be temperamental. However, many would argue that saltwater tanks are easier to maintain than freshwater tanks. With water parameters being maintained regularly, you don’t typically experience the same green algae growth you find in freshwater systems. When your aquarium is set up properly, established, and running smoothly, maintenance can seem like a breeze!

Saltwater Aquarium Filtration

With the advanced filtration systems found within marine tanks, you’ll find that the removal of organic waste keeps your water crystal clear. The best part is, these systems work for you so you don’t have to do all of the work yourself. A key filtration system for any saltwater tank can be found in a refugium or sump tank. These external tanks typically house a protein skimmer to remove organic waste and filter socks. They also contain natural filtration such as live rock, sand, and even algae with microorganisms that help to eliminate waste particles and remove nitrate.

Water Parameters

In addition to cleaning your saltwater fish tank, you’ll need to maintain your water parameters between water changes. Keep your calcium levels between 400-450 to support coralline algae and coral growth. Additionally, monitor your alkalinity levels by keeping them close to 10 dKH. While monitoring your water parameters is necessary, it’s not something you will always need to do daily. As you learn your system, you’ll find a specific dose for your chemicals works for your aquarium. At that point, you can invest in an automatic doser. Some of the high tech dosers like the Apex Neptune System will even check your water parameters for you!

Saltwater Aquarium Maintenance is Simple

As long as you stay on top of your water parameters, change your filter socks, and empty protein skimmate during your water changes, saltwater maintenance should be simple and painless! However, if a problem does arise, ask the saltwater experts at Aquatic Dreams. You may even want to consider a one-time maintenance service for them to come out, inspect your aquarium, and let you know what is going on in the system. It may even be a good idea to bring a sample of your water into the saltwater fish shop for testing in Clearfield, UT.

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