The myriad of brightly colored organisms that inhabit today's tropical oceans are the result of millions of years of evolution. Flourishing in the stable conditions of this environment are organisms that are extremely well adapted to a narrow range of conditions. This unfortunately makes it more complicated and expensive to successfully maintain these organisms in captivity. The purpose of this page is to introduce prospective marine aquarists to some of the time commitment, ethical considerations, and financial responsibilities associated with the maintenance of a marine aquarium. So, you are wondering if a saltwater aquarium is for you.
Most people believe that marine aquarium keeping is infinitely more difficult than freshwater.
The simple truth is that saltwater fish and invertebrates are not necessarily more difficult to keep, they just have different requirements than freshwater fish and are a bit less forgiving when it comes to mistakes. If you have not read the beginners section, please do it now. The key to fully understanding this section is to understand the basics presented there. Corals in the Reef tank. What They Are and How They Live.