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Owning a successful aquarium depends greatly on the time of time spent planning and researching the setup for the fish and/or corals you choose to have. There are a large number of choices when it comes to tank selection. This article should provide you some in-depth detail on saltwater fish tank selection and what to look for when purchasing an aquarium.
I’m not going to sugar coat it. A fish tank in general is expensive and a saltwater tank is even more expensive. If you put me on the spot without any research whatsoever and ask me “how much a saltwater tank setup will cost” my answer is “At least $1,000.” Keep in mind, however, that a lot of the costs will be upfront investments in the tank, equipment, rock, stand, substrates, etc. You can certainty spend less on a smaller setup and can cut cut with DIY work or used equipment, but I am going to assume that you are not a big DIYer. Over time, as you get more advanced in this hobby, it is natural to begin DIY solutions, but beginners should generally stay away from DIY. If you are going to DIY, I would suggest you join a local aquarium society. There are plenty of very seasoned hobbyists in an aquarium society who will be more than willing to teach you the ropes or even offer to do DIY solutions for cheap (e.g. – drill your tank or build you a sump).
Tanks come in a variety of size, but there are four rules to keep in mind that will help with your selection:
With these rules explained, tanks are usually divided by lengths. The key lengths are 2, 3, 4, and 6 feet. Most tank manufacturers do not produce 5 foot length tanks and if you find one, you may have a hard time getting a stand. I recommend 3, 4, or 6 foot length tanks. 3 feet I feel is the best length for those on a budget or a beginner. 4 feet allows for a complete mixed reef setup and most lighting systems are designed for 4 foot aquariums. 6 feet in length is when you get to the territory of being able to house larger fish like tangs.
Tank height is another consideration. When you go over two feet in height, you will have additional room for fish to swim up and down instead of just side to side, but you will sacrifice ease of maintenance. Saltwater tanks more than 2 feet in height will be out of reach for most hobbyist’s hands so you will have trouble cleaning algae.
Your aquarium is going to be a sizable investment and will easily become the showcase and talk of your home. When friends and family visit your home, everyone is going to want to see your tank. Because of this, you really want your aquarium in a place where you can enjoy it on a daily basis. That being said, there are a few rules to follow when it comes to placement:
Flooring is another consideration to keep in mind. The most ideal floor for a tank would be directly on a foundation or on top of tile. Carpet can be risky because water spills will eventually build mold in the padding. Laminate can also be hit or miss, with only the higher quality laminates been ideal and sealing being key. Hardwood floors are not ideal because the saltwater from your tank can eventually wrap the hardwood. You can seal your hardwood, but it is at your risk. If you have a spill, you will need to clean it up right away. Having a wet/dry vacuum can be a lifesaver for such times.
You will find multiple shapes if you go shopping for an aquarium. We are going to focus on the four most popular on the market
Our recommendation is to go with a rectangular tank. They offer the most flexibility, most economical, and most fish will prefer long over tall setups.
In the industry there are four types of tanks you find available for purchase:
Standard aquariums are mass produced aquariums made with glass. They are of good quality and will come with black trim and rims to provide structural support. The vast majority of these tanks will have tempered glass on the bottom of the tank, which will limit your drilling of tank if you chose to do so to the back of the aquarium. Many hobbyists will purchase these tanks and customize them by drilling them and even painting the back of the tank. Standard aquariums are the best choice for a budget conscious build.
Reef Ready Aquariums are aquariums that are pre-drilled and will come with an overflow system. An overflow system is designed to skim the water surface of your aquarium to pull dissolved organics and waste out of your tank. These tanks are designed to work with a sump setup. A reef ready aquarium is the best choice for flexibility and long-term investment. They provide the best starting point for a hobbyist looking to build a complete system. The main advantage from a reef ready system over a drilled standard tank is that the reef ready tanks are drilled at the bottom. This allows you to setup a very clean and seamless look in the back of the tank without pipes sticking out. Many of the new reef ready tanks coming out these days are coming equipped with innovative overflow systems as well. If you want to start out on the best foot possible, a reef ready tank is the way to go.
All-In-One Aquariums are a recent development in the industry. They are tanks complete with overflows and even sumps to provide either a fully integrated system or as close to a plug and play solution as possible. Some All-In-One will have a Sump in the back of the tank, which will eliminate plumbing that would be required in a sump setup. All-In-One Aquariums can be more expensive then a fully setup Reef Ready Aquarium and can have limitations over a customized setup. One of the biggest limitations is the equipment you can place in it. For example, sometimes the protein skimmer chamber may be very small so you will be limited on the type of skimmer you can place or the sump that comes with the all-in-one may not have room for a refugium. If you are looking for ease of use and seamless look (as many of these tanks have wonderful aesthetics), an All-In-One Aquarium would be the choice for you.
Custom Built Aquariums are the most expensive setups. You can obtain an extremely unique and world class look. Custom tank makers are usually found locally as custom aquarium makers are very seasoned hobbyists or companies that create custom aquariums. If you want the “Tanked” look, a custom built aquarium is where to look to.
Glass vs. acrylic is a common debate when it comes to tank selection. Below is a table to show the strengths and weaknesses of glass and acrylic:
| Characteristic | Glass | Acrylic |
| Weight | Glass is usually about 4 times heavier than acrylic and up to 10 times heavier on larger aquariums | Lightweight and easier to move |
| Breaking and Cracking | With a strong enough force – Glass will crack and leak | Very impact resistant |
| Support | Glass can support itself over distances so they can be placed in stands with an open top with little to no risk | Needs support throughout the length of the tank. Stands are limited due to this. |
| Clarity | The thicker the glass, the more noticeable the distortion. Distortion can be mitigated in thicker glass by the use of low-iron glass. | No distortion in clarity – superior to glass even against low-iron glass. |
| Scratching | Very difficult to scratch. You can even clean algae with a razor blade and be fine with glass | Prone to scratching. Fish with strong jaws can directly scratch acrylic and you can even scratch the outside accidentally with jewelry. The outside scratches, however, can be repaired with a repair kit. |
| Cost | Generally cheaper and mass-produced | Generally more expensive due to shipping |
Overall, I would recommend going with a glass aquarium as the pros outweigh the cons. You might want to consider acrylic or even plywood though if you are considering a tank over 500 gallons due to the weight and clarity issues of glass.
A common consideration when one is deciding between a standard tank or reef-ready tank is drilling vs. not drilling. There are many benefits to drilling your tank – the most beneficial being the inclusion of a sump. When you drill your tank and install a sump, your setup becomes extremely flexible with equipment. You will be able to purchase the best equipment, hide everything outside of the tank, be able to build a section for beneficial reef organisms (known as a refugium), install tank maintenance automators (auto water top-offs, controllers, and dosing pumps), and a separate work area for most of your maintenance outside of your display tank. You miss out on all this flexibility when you do not drill and going from a not drilled to a drilled setup would require a hang-on overflow. Hang-on overflows have usually been fail prone, the main reason why we chose not to carry them. The drilling decision is something made early on because of the large amount of work required to transition to a drilled setup. Therefore, I feel that it is best to strongly consider a drilled setup from the start.
Rimmed tanks have been the tried and true traditional aquarium type for many years. There has been a development of rimless tanks that have a very modern, aesthetically pleasing look. Many higher end aquariums you will come across will have rimless designs. They are very beautiful aquariums, with main drawback being the price difference and water possibility leaking out when you clean algae near the top of the tank. You can’t go wrong either way.
These days, there are tanks you can purchase that have what the industry calls “low-iron” or “high clarity” glass. This is glass with low amounts of iron, which remove the green tint you may see from a standard tank. It is a softer glass that will scratch easier than traditional glass (though still way more scratch resistant than acrylic). Low iron glass is more expensive then traditional glass, but some manufacturers will opt for just the front of the tank to be low-iron while the rest of the tank is traditional glass. The most important place to have low-iron glass is on the front, so if you are considering price, low-iron on the front of the tank only can achieve a good balance of cost and clarity. Low-iron tanks also tend to come into play on larger tanks. If you are considering a small tank (3 feet or less), the difference is likely going to be minimal between the two glass types.
I hope this guide was very useful to you. Here at AquariumStoreDepot, we like to pass down knowledge to our customers. A well informed customer is a successful hobbyist and will enjoy this hobby for years to come. If you are past these steps and looking into what livestock might work with your tank, check our our Top 10 Best Saltwater Fish for Any Reef Tank post. We would be happy to guide you on your journey to saltwater reefing!