Starting out with your first marine tank can be one of the most rewarding experiences you may ever have. But you must think it through thoroughly before you start. Some things that must be considered a priority to ensure your success would be tank selection. A big mistake that many newbies make is selecting the wrong size of tank before they have even thought about the type of fish they are going to put in it.

If this is your first time I would advise you to learn about the fish you plan to keep before you do anything else. Why? Because not only the type of fish but also the amount of fish you plan to have will dictate the size of tank you will need. In fact the fish you choose totally determine what kind of extra equipment you may need as well as how you will go about performing regular maintenance on your fish tank.

The most expensive marine tank setup would be the saltwater reef tank, which is considered the ultimate fish tank setup. This is because it is larger and better equipped. It is specifically designed to accommodate a variety of marine life, which include coral reefs, sea anemones and even jelly fish.

Generally speaking you can select a saltwater or freshwater system. Remember that all pets will have certain requirements as far as diet, maintenance, breeding and compatibility is concerned. The fish you find at your pet shop come from many freshwater and saltwater sources from around the globe like lakes and streams and of course the many oceans. Saltwater species tend to be less adaptive and less tolerant to changes in their environment and this is the main reason beginners should consider starting out with a freshwater aquarium.

The selection of aquarium tank set ups is almost unlimited and each one provides the perfect conditions unique to the pet within it. The reason a freshwater set up is recommended for a newbie is because the equipment is usually less expensive and because freshwater fish are known to be highly adaptable they are cheaper to buy also.

Now when it comes to saltwater tanks they are usually prepared with live rock that acts as a natural biological filter. Protein skimmers along with specialized equipment that control and monitor the conditions of the tank are also required.

On a final note if you do choose to get a larger tank or any fish tank for that matter you should also be thinking about a stand for it. Don't cheap out here as your stand needs to be able to support the full weight of a filled tank plus accessories. Lastly remember to keep your marine tank away from direct sunlight to prevent rapid temperature changes as well as unwanted algal growth.

Aquariums tanks come in many shapes and sizes and are normally made from two materials, glass and acrylic. Size can range from as small as 10 gallons right up to 200 gallons and more. There are all sorts of shapes available too. Like flat back hexagon, cylindrical and bow front just to name a few. Aquarium tanks made from acrylic are noted for being lighter, stronger and more durable compared to glass. But they are more prone to scratches and are tougher to buff. As a newbie it is advised that you get a fish tank that is slightly bigger in size just because it will help counter your lack of experience by limiting sharp temperature changes and keeping the tank conditions more stable for the fish.