Common Issues in Saltwater Aquariums and How to Fix Them

Establishing and maintaining a saltwater aquarium is easier than it used to be, thanks to all-inclusive aquarium kits designed for beginners, improved technology and tools, and easily available information. Knowing the problems that can occur in a saltwater aquarium helps you be better prepared to prevent them and, if needed, take the right actions to resolve them. Read on for some common issues in saltwater aquariums and how to deal with them. 

The Differences Between Saltwater and Freshwater Aquariums

Saltwater and freshwater aquariums have a lot in common, like the nitrogen cycle, aeration, and filtration requirements. And many of the ways to resolve common fish tank problems apply to any kind of aquarium. General good practices that apply to all fish tanks include:

• Monitoring your water quality regularly.

• Not overfeeding your fish.

• Ensuring you have the right light, filtration system, and other equipment for the type and size of your aquarium and for the type and number of fish that live in it.   

In some ways, though, a saltwater aquarium is more complex than a freshwater one. All saltwater worldwide has the same basic salinity, or density, whereas freshwater varies wildly. Because of the higher density found in saltwater, air bubbles are smaller, making protein skimmers a tool that works in saltwater aquariums but not in freshwater ones.

Saltwater aquariums also have greater diversity of life than freshwater tanks. You can have a variety of fish, corals, shrimp, microbes, and invertebrates in a reef aquarium — the options are endless! Freshwater aquariums typically keep to fish, plants, and maybe a freshwater shrimp or other freshwater invertebrate.

Common Issues in a Saltwater Aquarium

The best way to prevent problems from occurring is to research and plan carefully, make changes gradually and patiently, and closely monitor the effects of those changes on your aquarium water and your animals. 

Being aware of the unique challenges a saltwater tank owner faces makes it easier to prevent problems from occurring in the first place and tackle them before they get out of hand.

Issue 1: Starting too small

Did you know a small aquarium is often harder to care for than a larger one? It may seem counterintuitive, but buying the biggest aquarium you can for your space and budget is usually better. Larger aquariums are easier because the larger water volume means they're more stable, changes affect them to a lesser degree, and you have more time to correct any problems.  

Issue 2: Not taking your time

The most important thing to remember with an aquarium is that rapid changes can harm the organisms living in your tank. That includes every living thing, from your fish to the beneficial bacteria essential for managing your aquarium's nitrogen cycle. 

Establishing and balancing that nitrogen cycle is essential for every successful aquarium. Basically, the nitrogen cycle is the name for the breakdown of fish waste and uneaten food into toxic ammonia, which bacteria first convert into harmful nitrites and then into nitrates (which only cause harm if levels get too high). When the nitrogen cycle is optimally balanced, your fish are healthier, and your aquarium requires less work. 

An aquarium — especially a saltwater one — is a carefully balanced ecosystem. The number and type of living things in your tank, how you feed them, the filtration system, your cleaning practices, and time all influence the nitrogen cycle.

To prevent problems from occurring, only introduce necessary changes and do it gradually. Whenever you refresh the aquarium water, add an item like a filter, light, or chemical to the tank, or introduce a new fish, plant, or coral, monitor the water quality closely and give your aquarium time to settle.

If test strips indicate your nitrogen cycle isn't working well and your water quality levels are off, follow the guidelines for the interventions you need to make. For example, to ensure ammonia levels are maintained in your tank, you could add live plants or lower the water temperature, in addition to the always sound advice of not overfeeding your fish and keeping the right number of fish for your environment.

It's also necessary to take time before you add any fish to a brand-new aquarium. While it can take just a few days to get a freshwater aquarium ready to house fish, consider at least a month for a saltwater aquarium.

Issue 3: Too little attention on water quality 

Optimally balanced aquarium water is necessary for healthy fish, but getting the balance right is more complicated for a saltwater aquarium than for a freshwater one.

You might not always be able to use tap water to make your saltwater. Ask your local aquarium retailer about the best options, given the characteristics of your local water supply. If your tap water is good quality, you can mix it directly with Coralife BioCube Marine Salt, which has added dechlorinator to make it safe for immediate use.

If your tap water has elevated levels of nitrate, phosphate, or heavy metals like copper, you want to use water filtered through an RO/DI filter to remove harmful substances from the tap water first. RO/DI is the short form for reverse osmosis and deionization, two different methods for optimizing tap water for use in aquariums, each with pros and cons. You could also use premixed saltwater specially formulated for home aquariums.

Test your aquarium water frequently to monitor the nitrogen cycle and the health of all the living things in your tank. Both Aqueon Ammonia Aquarium Test Strips and Aqueon 7-in-1 Aquarium Test Strips assess important water quality issues. Dip the strip in aquarium water and then compare the resulting colors to a chart that guides you to any needed interventions.

An easy way to improve and maintain aquarium water quality is by adding Coralife Pure. The balls of beneficial bacteria and enzymes break down the ammonia and nitrite in your tank.

You also want to monitor your tank water to prevent and control nuisance algae. An ultraviolet sterilizer, like the Coralife BioCube Mini Ultraviolet Sterilizer, helps keep your aquarium water clear of free-floating algae and control microscopic organisms that can harm your fish, corals, and even the plants in your aquarium. 

And don't forget the water temperature! A digital thermometer helps ensure your aquarium water is at the temperature your reef fish need to be healthy. 

Issue 4: Inadequate filtration and water circulation 

It's essential to have good filtration and water circulation systems to maintain your saltwater aquarium's water quality. 

A filtration system helps remove organics like uneaten food and fish poop from your aquarium and deal with the resulting chemicals that can harm your fish and increase algae growth. Getting your filtration system right prevents you from having to take measures to resolve water quality problems.

A water circulation system helps the filtration system work better, increases oxygen levels in the water, and releases harmful gases like carbon dioxide from the water. A water circulation system also helps your fish exercise. Many home aquariums aren't large enough to give fish adequate space for active swimming. With a water circulation system, your fish can swim through or against the moving water, which helps them develop their muscles and grow more naturally.  

Issue 5: Not using the right lights for a saltwater aquarium

Saltwater tanks need a different kind of light than freshwater aquariums. LED lighting is best for saltwater tanks, especially for aquariums that contain hard corals, because they need specific light for photosynthesis. Aquarium light affects corals, fish, and algae growth, in addition to your enjoyment of the reef you've created in your aquarium.

Improper lighting can inhibit plant growth and stress out your fish. An abundance of algae is usually caused by too much light, plus an inadequate filtration system, for example.

You need both the right light and the right aquarium light schedule for your aquarium conditions. When determining the best light (and where to place it), consider your tank's size and depth, where your corals are growing, as well as the light source's color spectrum, the amount of heat it creates, and the energy it uses.

The Coralife Seascape SMART LED Light Fixture gives you detailed control of your aquarium's lighting, and you can monitor and adjust it even when away from home via the Aqueon BlueIQ app. The default 24-hour schedule is best for most conditions and has day, night, sunrise, and sunset effects. You can customize the lighting schedule, plus add an effect that simulates clouds floating above your tank. You can even bring on a simulated lightning storm! 

Issue 6: Not doing your research

Before adding any new living thing — whether fish, plant, or coral — to your aquarium, it's important to understand what it requires to be healthy. When you're ready to add more, you need to choose ones with similar requirements to what you already have in your tank. Every living thing in your aquarium has specific conditions to stay alive and be healthy, so ensure you read up on fish care guides and beginner-friendly coral species.

The Aqueon BlueIQ app also helps with this. The app gives you information about which fish get along with each other and provides you with other recommendations for their care. It will even give you a warning when fish aren't compatible with other fish. Your fish need to be suited to the conditions you have and to each other. You don't want one fish to make a meal of another, nor a fish feel so stressed out that it spends its life hiding.

Think of saltwater aquarium research as you do research for a vacation you want to take. The planning is often just as fun as the experience itself and helps you avoid or minimize all sorts of problems.

Coralife Can Help Make Things Easier

The Coralife BioCube Aquarium is an ideal starter aquarium to make things even easier. Available in 14-, 16- and 32-gallon sizes, it comes complete with essentials like a submersible pump, LED lighting with a timer that simulates the rising and setting of the sun and moon, and a compact filtration chamber. Once you set it up, you're ready to start choosing the substrate, decor, plants, corals, and fish you want for your new at-home reef.

Knowledge and Preparation Prevent Potential Problems

When you're aware of the problems that can occur with a saltwater aquarium, it's much easier to prevent them from happening in the first place. And even if they occur, you'll know how to take the right steps to resolve them. Just remember to introduce any changes gradually and test your water regularly so you can monitor its quality and, therefore, the health of your plants and animals.

Ready to be even more prepared for your new saltwater aquarium? There's lots of info to help. Check out Common Mistakes Beginners Make with Saltwater Tanks (and How to Avoid Them) to start. For more information about water quality in your aquarium, read through Diagnosing and Fixing Aquarium Water Issues, and, if your tank water looks murky or green, have a look at Prevention and Control of Nuisance Algae and Green Water — Causes and Cures.