Salt water aquarium filter systems can seem a bit overwhelming at first. There are so many choices and some of the equipment looks like it might go on the space shuttle instead of a marine aquarium.

Choosing Your Salt Water Aquarium Filter Setup

The first part of choosing your saltwater aquarium filter is to determine the fish you are going to keep and the size of the aquarium you are going to keep them in.

This is extremely important because some fish like larger predators produce much more waste then smaller fish like clown fins. A larger tank also needs larger filtration because of the extra water volume.

Types Of Salt Water Aquarium Filter Systems

Canister-This filter is a pressurized canister that takes in water, scrubs it of dirt and debris and returns it to the aquarium. Many canister filters also allow you to use some sort of biological filter media and other medias like activated carbon to keep your tank in great shape.

There are now canister filters that can support tanks over 200 gallons and have a high gallons per hour ratting (GPH). Many filters can go about a month between cleanings and still flow well.

However their intakes and outlets of this salt water aquarium filter setup  will protrude into your tank and not look natural. Plus if they ever develop a leak the potential is there for a large flood.

Hang On Tank Filters- These are very basic filters and the function like miniature canister filters. They use much smaller pumps and have less filtration area. You should limit these to tanks no more then 40 gallons. However you can go slightly bigger if you use multiple units.

There main drawback is the filter pads get clogged fast reducing their water flow. They also are easy to see because they hang  on the tank and can detract from the look of your system

Sump Filter- The most popular salt water aquarium filter setup with advanced hobbyists is the sump system. These are often referred to as wet dry filters. Although they can be set up a variety of ways.

These filters use an overflow box to take water from the aquarium and take it to the filter below.The water is then returned by a pump. These filters almost resemble another small aquarium.

They can be filled with anything from bio balls, live rock or various filter pads. They are nice because they give you extra water capacity and give you a place to put all your other equipment like heaters and other equipment that can take away from the appearance of a tank.

For additional information on filters for your saltwater aquarium grab a copy of our Saltwater Aquarium Guide This illustrated guide will show you step by step how to properly set up and stock your aquarium. It’s crammed with tips and secrets that the pros use to create stunning marine displays! Learn more at www.saltwatermethods.com

Are you not sure about taking the plunge and getting a new marine aquarium because the thought of starting a beginner saltwater aquarium makes you nervous. Well relax because this article will briefly cover what is needed to set up a new marine aquarium as a beginner.

The very first thing that you have to establish is the size of the tank that you can and want to keep. Take into consideration, your budget, and the room you have in your house. If yo have the room and money try and start with something over 55 gallons but under 125. This range will give you a stable tank but it will not be so big that its overwhelming to care for.

Once the appropriate size tank as been picked you need to figure out what kind of saltwater fish you want to keep in it. Saltwater fish are much different then freshwater varieties, putting the wrong fish together could result in constant fighting or worse yet one of the fish could eat the rest.

You can find information on marine fish at a fish store in your area or through aquarium guides and books. Once you have decided on some fish that seem interesting to you do some more research and eliminate the ones that will not fit in your tank, are to hard to care for and ones that may not fit with your other choices.

After settling on the saltwater fish choices you must move on and plan your filtration system. If this is a simple fish only tank then you can look at canister and hang on type filters. Just make sure to buy the right sized filter for your tank, and if you can afford it buy one slightly bigger then recommended because as the get dirty their performance drops off.

Next you must decide how your beginner saltwater aquarium setup is going to be decorated. Are you going to use live rock or just artificial decorations? Most new saltwater aquarium keepers are not sure of this part of the plan.

If you are not sure the best thing you can do is make a trip to a fish store in your area and look at their marine aquarium setups and see what you like. Once you settle on a style you buy your decorations and begin setting up your new saltwater aquarium and that is where the fun begins!

If you want to create an easy-to-maintain saltwater aquarium grab a copy of our Saltwater Aquarium Guide. This illustrated guide will show you step by step how to properly set up and stock your aquarium. It’s crammed with tips and secrets that the pros use to create stunning marine displays! Learn more at http://www.saltwatermethods.com