If you are on a tight budget, you can start your saltwater aquarium with non exotic salt water fish only and then build on from there adding live rock, plants, etc. After a while, you will have a beautiful tank, excellent for soothing your senses and relieving stress.
Although the saltwater aquarium requires monitoring of more levels, the price difference between kits is very small. To ensure proper salinity in your saltwater aquarium, a hydrometer is necessary, but also cheap. Stocking your saltwater aquarium with either exotic salt water fish or regular ones should be done with care. Quite a number of fish are not suitable for captivity. Buy from a reputable dealer and do your homework before you buy and avoid buying species that will not do well in captivity. Puffers, pinfish, pigfish, sheepshead and bull minnows are all non exotic salt water fish suitable but great care must be taken to make sure fish are compatible and do not fight.
Some fish tend to bully others. It is necessary to observe the fish for two or three days every time you introduce new fish species. Should you notice aggressive behavior, you must be prepared to separate the fish. As an example of an exotic salt water fish, many people think of the Moorish Idol as an ideal aquarium fish. Unfortunately, we do not have the necessary food to replace their specialized diet and a percentage of some 90% of them die within a few months. It is better to settle for the nearly identical Banner exotic salt water fish, which can live a long and happy life in captivity if given proper care. Putting together your saltwater aquarium is bound to give you hours of fun and offer peace, tranquility and beauty to your home or office for years to come
