Why a saltwater aquarium? There's nothing more spectacular than the diversity of the ocean. A saltwater aquarium setup allows you to bring a little sample of that spectacle into your own living room. Compared to plain freshwater tanks (which commonly contain goldfish and other lake-bred varieties of fish), there are many more options if you're planning to choose a saltwater aquarium setup. The fish and other ocean creatures you'll be able to host range from beautiful to fascinating to downright weird, some displaying flashy colors while others exude a quiet grace.   

There are several different setups for a saltwater aquarium, ranging from the simplest to the most complex: a fish only tank, a FOWLR (fish only with live rock) tank, and a reef tank. While containing only fish in your tank is the cheapest and easiest to maintain out of the three options, it can be quite exciting to watch coral formations grow and develop over the course of your saltwater tank's life. The choice comes down to one of investment. The most popular choice and my personal favorite is a reef tank.   

This is the pinnacle of saltwater aquarium setup and will allow you to host a number of fish, corals, and invertebrates in your new saltwater aquarium. It takes the most effort to set up and maintain. However if you are going to make the effort initially you might as well go all out. Seeing a reef develop before your very eyes in your aquarium is mesmerizing and worth the time and money invested.