Types of Saltwater Aquariums
The setup you will need depends on the the type of saltwater aquarium you are wanting to keep. Deciding which is a personal preference but also a question of budget and experience. Check out the differences below of the main saltwater aquarium systems.
Fish Only Saltwater Aquarium
A fish-only saltwater aquarium contains only saltwater fish, without corals, anemones, or other reef invertebrates. These tanks focus solely on fish species, making them easier to maintain compared to reef tanks, which require more complex water conditions and lighting to support coral life.
Fish-only saltwater aquariums still require proper filtration, water quality management, and careful selection of fish species to maintain a healthy environment, but they offer more flexibility in fish choice, including species that might be incompatible with reef ecosystems due to their behavior or feeding habits.
Fish Only With Live Rock (FOWLR)
What is FOWLR? FOWLR stands for Fish Only With Live Rock. The live rock in this setup is a natural rock from the ocean that has been colonized by beneficial bacteria, algae or other small marine organisms.
The Live Rock serves two primary purposes: biological filtration and it provides a habitat. The bacteria living on the rock help break down waste products, making it a crucial part of the nitrogen cycle in the tank. They also provide hiding places for fish and invertebrates. The rock gives more natural look to the setup without needing much of extra maintenance.
This type of tanks are still easier to keep than reef tanks. There is no coral so you don’t need to worry as much about temperature, dosing andnutrient levels (phosphates, nitrates etc.).
Small corals may have come unseen with the live rock into the aquarium. They are called hitchhikers and they could be coral, sponges and/or invertebrates such as snails, crabs and starfish.
Owning a fowlr tank means you can keep fish such as Triggers and Parrotfish. They are notorious for nipping at coral so would be perfect in a tank with live rock only.
Some tank owners may use artificial coral in order to get a reef tank look. This can be easier as it doesn’t come with the responsibility required as it does when looking after real coral.
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Reef Tank
A reef tank usually consists of fish, live rock and coral. It requires more attention and has a bigger learning curve. You will need to monitor water parameters more closely. As coral have different requirements when it comes to lighting, water flow and nutrients, success in keeping coral comes down to getting these right.
Fish will need to be reef safe otherwise you risk a large amount of broken coral. Check this article with a few ideas of reef safe fish to add to your reef aquarium.