Specialized Saltwater Equipment

Everyone tries to upsell these days. Whether you're shopping for a new car or just buying popcorn at the movie theater, someone is going to urge you to spend that extra dollar for something extra that is likely not essential. Our guide to specialized saltwater equipment will help you separate the aquarium essentials from the extras.

Ozonators Ozone is used in aquarium water treatment to combat liquid waste and toxins. Ozonators help convert waste materials into less toxic compounds, making filtration systems more effective. Aquarium ozone generators will cost you $300 or more. So are ozonators essentials or extras? If you're operating a fish-only saltwater aquarium, ozonators are extras. However, ozonators work particularly well with protein skimmers, which some reef tank aquarists will find helpful. But the added necessity of monitoring oxidation reduction potential (ORP) levels makes ozonators a draw in our opinion.

CO2
CO2, aka carbon dioxide, is used in saltwater aquariums to lower pH, fertilize plants, and drive calcium reactors.

Reef tanks that contain a great deal of stony coral should use calcium reactors to control pH, and in such cases CO2 is an aquarium essential. We do not recommend CO2 as a routine means of stabilizing pH. Regular partial water changes are the best way to control aquarium pH. As for plant growth, CO2 is an extra.

Protein Skimmers
Protein skimmers are about as essential as specialized saltwater equipment gets, particularly for beginning saltwater aquarists. Protein skimmers provide continuous removal of dissolved waste, keeping your aquarium clean and your fish healthy. Buy one now if you haven't already.

Chillers
Fish are cold-blooded creatures, so temperature control is an important part of keeping them healthy. Usually that means keeping the water warm, but in some climates, excessive heat is the problem. Aquarium chillers are rather expensive though, so look at other options such as air conditioning units before you spend the money.

Chillers are essential saltwater aquarium equipment if you own a reef tank or are using metal halides or similar lighting systems that give off a lot of heat.

Reverse Osmosis
Reverse osmosis, or RO, can refer either to the purchase of a particular type of purified water to use in your aquarium or a reverse osmosis filter that is used to treat tap water.

Reverse osmosis produces water that is nearly 100% pure, stripped even of essential minerals that your aquarium needs. However, these minerals can be found in most marine salt mixes. If you own expensive saltwater fish or are operating a reef tank, we think you'll find an RO filter to be essential.