Started or starting a saltwater tank. Foundations

One of the most important things to understand is that there is rarely one universally best piece of equipment, technique, brand or aquarium method.

There may be a best option for a specific goal, budget, space, or type of system—but there is no single approach that is best for everyone.

Before deciding what to buy or how to build your aquarium, you need to understand what you are trying to accomplish. For example, are you interested in:

Each of these systems has different requirements. Even when two people want similar aquariums, they may use different equipment or techniques to achieve successful results. Furthermore some of these variables can be combined while others cannot...

Your available space, budget, experience, maintenance schedule, and personal preferences can also influence the choices you make. A method that works beautifully for one aquarist may be unnecessarily expensive, complicated, or impractical for another.

The right question is usually not:

A better question is:

That is where good planning begins.

Start With the Fundamentals

Saltwater aquariums can be created in many different ways, but successful systems still share a set of basic fundamentals. Before worrying about advanced equipment, rare animals, or the latest technique, it is important to understand the foundation that keeps the entire system functioning.

Once those fundamentals are in place, you can build, add experiment, and allow the aquarium to evolve in a direction that fits your goals.

So, let’s start at the beginning. I am going to tell you exactly how to start up a saltwater aquarium from scratch and the most basics of what you need to get you started regardless what you decide to do in the future just in case you don't have it figured out just yet step one should be the same no matter what direction you decide! You need to know what the nitrogen cycle is if you don't know what the nitrogen cycle is you have zero business starting an aquarium of any kind!!!!!!  the nitrogen cycle is basically and single-handedly be most important thing you need to know. The nitrogen cycle is basically how your aquarium will break down any type of nutrient waste or food that enters your aquarium and this Segway's into filtration. You see there are three types of filtration for an aquarium you have biological mechanical and chemical. If you only had to pick one biological would be the goat I know I said there are any best, but you can basically run a saltwater tank or any aquarium which is biological filtration.. biological filtration is basically made up out of bacteria think of this type of filtration as alive because it literally is bacteria literally consume the nutrients and waste that are building up in your aquarium and break it down until it escapes the tank in gas form so the steps would be ammonia nitrite nitrite then converts to gas by the bacteria and escapes your tank. The nitrogen cycle is what stops your aquarium from poisoning its own inhabitants with their waste. So think of yourself as a bacteria farmer that breeds beneficial bacteria colonies on the different surface areas of your entire aquarium. The more porus a media surface is the more Real estate you have to establish bacteria. Sand, rock, matrix, floss, etc... Are just a few places beneficial bacacteria will colonize.  Next you'll want to think what size tank and filtration style to go with. If you can think of the future plans you might have, this will help you plan accordingly for the future.  

Hello... If you read this please know I am still in the process of editing. This will be a work in progress depending on allotted time..
 2BC..