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11 Best Saltwater Aquarium Products of 2022

Everything you need to start your fish tank

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Updated on 03/22/22

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Setting up your first saltwater aquarium requires not just the tank, but a range of equipment, including lights, heater, filter, hydrometer, and a powerhead. Optional accessories like live rocks and other props can create a gorgeous home for your saltwater fish.

We researched the best saltwater aquarium products with advice from Nic Tiemens, co-founder of Infinity Aquarium Design, and have put together all the essentials you'll need for your first tank.

Here are the best saltwater aquarium products.

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Selecting the right tank for your saltwater aquarium is the first step you'll need to take in your new hobby. There are many different size aquariums, but smaller saltwater tanks can sometimes be tough to keep in balance. A tank of at least 20 gallons is a good size to start with, but the bigger the tank the more you'll be able to enjoy.

This 40-gallon tank from SeaClear is an acrylic aquarium and our top choice for a saltwater aquarium. This sturdy tank is 17 times stronger than glass, and acrylic is also more transparent than glass—enhancing the visibility of your tank. This acrylic tank is resistant to chipping and is less than half the weight of a glass equivalent.

The SeaClear tank comes with a lid and light, but chances are you'll want to swap out the light for a more efficient LED light.

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Light is important to a healthy saltwater ecosystem, and there are a variety of lighting options available for your tank. Florescent lights typically make up the majority of entry-level lighting available, but newer LED lights that offer energy efficiency have expanded in the market.

For highly-beneficial coraline algae to grow, you'll need sufficient lighting in your saltwater tank. If you have a fish-only tank, you won't need to worry as much about the light provided—except for when you want to take a peek into the tank yourself!

One of the top lights available for your saltwater tank is the NICREW Aquarium Adjustable LED Light. This light expands in size to accommodate different size tanks and provides bright, efficient LED light—including blue light for nighttime use. This is a simple and affordable LED light. However, note that this light is not made to sit directly over the open water. You'll need to use it over a glass aquarium cover or acrylic top.

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Using a protein skimmer in your saltwater aquarium will make a big difference in the health of your tank environment.

The protein skimmer removes organic compounds from the tank environment and holds them in a collection cup, ready for you to disposed of them. If organic compounds are allowed to build up in the tank, an overabundance of nitrates can occur—leading to an unhealthy and even toxic aquarium.

The Bubble Magus Curve 5 Protein Skimmer is a top choice among aquarium enthusiasts for its quiet and efficient operation. During the break-in period adjustments may be needed, but once this initial phase is over the pump surpasses the cleaning abilities of many other protein skimmers.

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Filtration is a multi-faced operation in a saltwater aquarium. One of the key pieces you'll need is a power filter. This filter is used to keep the water in your saltwater tank free of impurities and debris—usually fish food remnants and waste. Similar to a protein skimmer, a filter will remove this debris from the tank to keep ammonia and nitrate levels in check.

The Penguin Power Filter from MarineLand offers mechanical, chemical, and biological filtering to give you a three-step cleaning process. The Penguin Power Filter has a BioWheel that grows beneficial bacteria for biological filtration, while the replaceable cartridge inside the unit provides mechanical and chemical filtration.

Aquarians love the reliability of MarineLand products and the efficient cleaning and filtration offered by the Penguin Power Filter.

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Powerheads assist in creating water movement within your tank. They are adjustable and can be positioned to assist in moving water through filtration systems or to replicate natural ocean swells.

The Hydor Koralia Nano Aquarium Circulation Pump is a great choice for a powerhead that can be positioned anywhere in the tank to provide efficient water movement. This circulation pump can be adjusted to point in a variety of directions, and the outside magnet that holds the pump in place is very strong. However, for larger tanks (usually 30 gallons or more) you may need more than one powerhead, depending on your objectives.

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Rock in your saltwater aquarium will add visual appeal to the tank but is also important for creating sleeping and hiding spots for the residents of your tank.

Live rock refers to rock that is growing algae. As mentioned earlier, coraline algae is one of the most common algae grown in a saltwater tank. To create a home for the algae, you'll want to place several pieces of dry rock in your tank and introduce algae to the environment (purchased from a pet store or obtained from a friend).

The South Sea Base Rock from Carib Sea makes an excellent choice when setting up your saltwater aquarium. It has plenty of porous openings and many tank enthusiasts comment on the outstanding price point and value of this rock. You also don't need to cure this rock—it's ready for use right away.

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Choosing a substrate for your saltwater tank is important since it provides the base layer for your tank. Substrates contribute greatly to the overall well-being and balance of the tank's ecosystem.

This aragonite substrate from CaribSea is an easy choice for a saltwater aquarium. It has a slightly larger grain and many users like the fact that after it settles down, it doesn't blow around or cloud the water as much as some other substrates. It also helps maintain the proper pH in your tank.

Expert Tip

When shopping for a substrate, pay attention to pH. "There are different substrates that can affect the pH, so first and foremost you want to make sure its a substrate that you would find in a saltwater environment or a substrate that nots going to adversely affect your pH," says Tiemens.

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If you're going to have a saltwater aquarium, then you need salt! As you may have guessed, not just any kind of salt will do. You'll need a specially-formulated mixture that will transform your freshwater into saltwater in no time.

The Instant Ocean Sea Salt mix is a popular choice for a product that will give you the right balance of elements and is also nitrate and phosphate-free. Users comment on the health and vitality of their tank when using this salt mix to prepare their tank's water. As with any sea salt mixture, however, you will need to mix carefully before adding it into your tank.

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To sustain life in your saltwater tank, you'll need to regularly test the salinity level of the water. If the level of salt becomes too high or too low, the fish and plant life in your tank may die.

An easy tool to measure salinity is the hydrometer. The Instant Ocean SeaTest Hydrometer is a simple device that can tell you the aquarium's salt level and specific gravity. While a few users had issues with the accuracy of this gauge, many commented that it worked great if you made sure to clean the hydrometer with tap water and dry it after testing to remove any residual salt.

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Saltwater aquariums are typically home to tropical fish and plants, so you'll need to keep the water temperatures warm enough for these organisms to thrive.

A heater can regulate the water temperature and maintain a consistent environment. Some heaters are preset to 78 degrees, while others are adjustable.

The Aqueon Pro Heater is a popular choice for an in-tank heater that uses suction cups to hang on the side of the aquarium. It has an adjustable dial to set the temperature that is right for your tank, and the entire unit is fully submersible.

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As you have learned, a saltwater aquarium requires just the right balance of elements to maintain a healthy environment. To the casual observer, the water may look clean—but only a testing kit can tell you if your tank environment is in balance. Testing kits will provide you with the chemicals, strips, and guides necessary to accurately test your saltwater.

The API Saltwater Master Test Kit is a popular choice for testing high pH, ammonia, nitrate and nitrite levels in your aquarium. It includes six bottles of testing solution, four glass test tubes and a color card for reading results. Users find the value and convenience of this testing kit to be exceptional and it's a great choice for keeping an eye on the basic health of your aquarium.

Expert Tip

Tiemens says it's essential to test for pH, ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite levels. "I would say that all good aquarists test their aquariums on a regular basis," he says. "Anytime you are dealing with live animals, the more you can do for them, the better."

For additional background information about saltwater aquarium products, we talked to Nic Tiemens, co-founder of Infinity Aquarium Design, who spoke about filters, substrates and water testing kits.

The Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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Source: https://www.thesprucepets.com/best-saltwater-aquarium-products-4154830

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