While it is true that exotic salt water fish are a bit more difficult to maintain than fresh water fish, the maintenance required is nothing the average person can't handle. But without proper maintenance it is impossible to create a healthy environment for your Achilles Tang, Flame Wrasse, Annularis Angel, Golden Butterfly and other salt water creatures. It is wise to study the habits of exotic salt water fish and understand what their natural environment is like before buying the tank and investing in the fish.

One of the first things you will learn is that salt water fish tanks must be filled with huge amounts of water to remain stable and absorb shocks, and this water must be maintained to meet very specific standards and nutrient levels. The nutrient cycles include the addition of dissolved oxygen to the tank and the emission of carbon dioxide from the tank, which can be controlled by the water-air interface or the activity of an air pump. There are also phosphate, iron, sulfur, and micronutrient cycles that occur as a result of the food that enters the tank and exits the fish's systems as waste.

The water must be kept clean for the Achilles Tang, Flame Wrasse, Annularis Angel, Golden Butterfly and other salt water creatures to remain healthy. Dead fish and corals should be removed immediately, salinity levels should be maintained properly and any dirt or debris should be removed as soon as they are found. The pH levels of the tank must be maintained too, which can be checked with various testing kits and maintained by adding mixture of salts, minerals and additives like sodium bicarbonate. And, of course, any water added to the tank should be filtered and not just taken straight from the tap.

The use of aeration from power heads, air pumps, and internal water flow improvements in the design of the filtration system points for inflow and outflow can also help maintain salt water fish tanks. Your exotic salt water fish will depend on it.