My Salty Obsession

Top ten things you NEED for this hobby

        The saltwater world can be a very rewarding thing. A lot of people do not consider these things when starting up a saltwater aquarium though. My goal here on this Website is to give you all the information I think you may need now or later in the hobby. Think about these ten things before you start up your saltwater tank. If you already have a saltwater tank still consider these things.

• Time: A saltwater aquarium takes a LOT of time to setup and maintain. In the setup period expect to be spending  hours a week researching, building, purchasing, etc. Personally I don't even watch movies or TV anymore.  It can easily be 20-100 hours a week if you get addicted. I fall in this category!
  This period can last several days to months depending on how big a setup you are going to do. When your tank is first setup with live animals/plants and is cycling(establishing a biological filter and becoming a stable tank), you will spend hours a week on it, sometimes considerably more if problems develop. Even when everything is running perfectly on an established tank, you will still need to spend 10 minutes a day and 2-4 hours a week on the weekends to maintain the tank.
  Don't let this scare you, the first steps are always the hardest as with everything but if you don't think you'll have enough time then maybe this hobby is not for you. Consider getting a cat instead.
  
• Patience: Things take time to develop in this hobby.  If you think after you purchase everything for your tank that you can just go out and buy fish, inverts, so forth you have another thing coming! Saltwater tanks, especially at the start of a new tank takes lots of patience.  You have to set up everything, after that... wait wait wait for your cycle to finish. Rushing only causes lots of money down the drain. I stared at Live Rock for weeks before I was even able to put in my first fish. "If you aren't patient, time to choose another hobby."
• A supportive husband/wife/partner or be single.  If you are single, you can skip this step. Most people do not realize just how much this hobby will lure you in until they do it themselves. I was lucky enough to have my own addictive saltwater mate. I can truly see this causing a divorce in some families however.
  
• Space: You need good space to hold your tank. So many times I get on Craigslist and I see, 250 gallon tank for sale, "not enough room!" After spending thousands of dollars then finding out that this tank is just much to big for your living room you'll turn around and sell it for four hundred bucks? Why would you do that, didn't anyone tell you that money doesn't grow on tree's? Not only that but make sure you have a stable floor, enough outlets, and away from direct sun light.
  
• GFI: Mixing electricity and water is NOT a good. Having a electrician I had this area covered. Water and electricity do not go well together but hey if you want to use a cheaper strip without GFI I salute you with your hair sticking straight up in the air and your black fingers! 
• Money.  This goes back to patients for me. Not everyone has a couple thousand dollars to throw at a saltwater tank. Personally I had to buy a little here and there to set up my tank. Get ready because when you don't even expect it Mr. Goby is going to decide he doesn't want that flake stuff your giving him and you'll have to throw 14 bucks at some different kind of food or your Coral is not getting enough nutrition. This stuff is not cheap people!
  
• Concern for the environment and critters.  While some will argue that saltwater tanks are bad for the environment I believe it is not when done in a proper manner.
• Heart and Devotion: My clown fish has a cold, "white spot disease" I better whip out my net fish him out and flush his poor soul down the pooper! Its true that I read this over and over on forums that people suggest that you just flush a sick fish. Don't do this, that's just mean. Instead purchase a quarantine tank.  This doesn't have to be a fancy snazzy tank. Something to simply house your little guy until he either dies or gets better.    
• Stable Electricity: Imagine coming home to some pretty smelly stuff!  
  
• A brain: This hobby doesn't have to be hard. Only as hard as you make it out to be. True it is harder then freshwater up keeping but it doesn't have to be a dreadful hobby! Use your brain do your research have patients and never ever rush anything having to do with this hobby!