A number of important decisions go into setting up a saltwater aquarium: how big a tank do you want? What kind of filtration should you install, and what about heating and lighting? Do you want to include a coral reef or other invertebrate organisms? What kind of substrate will you lay in? However, these decisions will all stem from one important factor: what kind of fish do want to house in your tank?

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A saltwater environment is more complex than a freshwater system, and because saltwater aquarium fish are usually collected from their natural environments rather than bred and raised in tanks by breeders, there are greater risks in handling and shipping. For this reason, saltwater fish cost more than freshwater varieties. Also, natural marine environments are inherently more stable than freshwater environments such as ponds and rivers, so marine fish are less tolerant of large fluctuations in water temperature and chemistry. Setting up your tank properly is therefore a critical task, and it is easier to maintain a stable environment in a larger tank, so a minimum size for a saltwater tank would be 30 to 50 gallons; reef tanks should be even bigger.

In selecting an appropriate mix of fish, in most cases your fish should all be of a comparable size. In a marine environment, small fish tend to get eaten by bigger fish. Also, strangely, the less two fish resemble each other, the more likely they are to get along. Close cousins may be more aggressive toward each other.

A good fish to start with is a damselfish, about 2 inches in length. These fish are ideal for reef tanks, or tanks with lots of rocks and caves; they can be aggressive with others and among themselves if you have a school of them, so they need places to hide. Adult damselfish tend to become solitary, though chromis damselfish are one genus that school; chromis are less aggressive than other damselfish.

Clownfish are another very popular saltwater reef fish; the broad bands and bright colors make them beautiful and fun to watch. Clownfish often settle into sea anemones in a symbiotic relationship; most other fish avoid anemones, which have stinging tentacles. Successfully raising anemones in your tank is a challenging task, and anemones are not required for clownfish to thrive, though they make a striking addition to any marine tank. In the absence of anemones, clownfish will hover just as comfortably around coral or rock structures. Clownfish are a member of the damselfish family and, as such, can be aggressive and territorial, especially as they get older.

Blennies and gobies are smallish fish (2 to 6 inches in length) that dwell near rock caves close to the substrate; they often display unique personalities and can be fun to watch. They are ideal beginner marine fish; they eat a variety of foods, don’t pose compatibility problems (although blennies can sometimes be territorial), and can be kept in fish-only or reef aquariums. Some varieties eat algae, providing the added benefit of keeping your tank clean.

Tangs, also known as surgeonfish, are identified by characteristic spines along the sides of their bodies near the tail. These spines are used aggressively, or defensively; if you handle tangs, be careful with the spines, as they can inflict painful wounds. Tangs need hiding places and plenty of room to swim; most reach lengths of 6 inches. Introduce tangs with other species gradually, to ensure compatibility. Because of their small scales, tangs are particularly susceptible to marine ich, a parasite infestation that commonly afflicts many marine fish.

Triggerfish are a more aggressive marine family, larger in size than some of the families mentioned above. Triggerfish are carnivorous; they are easy to keep because they eat a variety of foods (including your fingers, if offered!), but they do not get along well with other fish and need plenty of room to move around and establish territory. Also, triggerfish tend to eat invertebrates. They are not interested in coral, so you can keep triggerfish in a reef tank, but it’s usually not a good idea to mix them with expensive shrimps, crabs, or sea urchins. Lionfish, likewise, can be striking to look at, but are aggressive carnivores that will eat smaller fish and crustaceans.

You will need to do substantial research to come up with a combination of marine creatures that are compatible and manageable in terms of feeding and care. Most fish will not bother coral, but there are many compatibility issues between invertebrates and fish; not only do many of the more aggressive marine fish species eat crustaceans and other invertebrates, but some invertebrates are suspected of being carriers of the marine ich parasite that is in turn harmful to fish. Obviously, your selection needs to be carefully balanced. But a successful and varied marine aquarium can give you years of viewing pleasure.