Welcome to the boards first of all....You will gain a wealth of information here as I'm sure you will see. Mostly the fresh water stuff is out. First of all think about what your going to keep in the tank, Is it going to be a "fish only with live rock"? (FOWLR) or are you going to do a reef tank? In my opinion the reef tanks are the best looking, with all the corals and fish, and live rock. A little more maintenance but worth the effort. Yes, you will need to do some research read all you can about what you are about to do. There are some very good books for beginners, one being a favorite here is "The Conscience Marine Aquarist" This is available at most good book stores or online. The hardware you will need to start off with is simple, Heater, a good salt mix, depending on budget it is imperative that you use RO water at least. (reverse osmosis) This is a form of very good filtration for your water. There are some fish stores as well as some of the grocery stores that sell this type of water, but it can be a hassle trying to fill an aquarium by running to the store all the time. You need to get a good test kit to test the perimeters of your water this being PH, Nitrites, Nitrates, Ammonia to start off with. You will also need a hydrometer, this measures the salinity of the water. You will find that using the common "swing arm" type of hydrometer isn't nearly as accurate as using a Refractometer. You will need some live rock this is natures bacteriological filter. Maybe a HOB (hang on back) filter of some sort. Although a seperate sump is quite nice. Most people I think use the "live sand" It's a bit more expensive than crushed coral but the benefits are greater. Most have some sort of electronic thermometer, these can be purchased pretty inexpensively. These are just a very few of the essentials. But there are some things to remember in this hobby which I believe everyone will agree on. One, this hobby takes a lot of time, and a lot of money. If your not going to be devoted to give it the attention it is going to require think about it before you do it. It may not be for you. If you are, then go for it. This is one hobby that is very rewarding. Two, no matter what NEVER get in a hurry....this cannot be stressed enough. Patience, Patience, Patience...It is a key to success. Everyone here on this message board is more than eager to help you along the way. If you have a question, no matter how dumb you think it is, ask it, I guarantee you someone has been there and done that and will help you to avoid costly mistakes. There is a saying that says " the only dumb question is the one you didn't ask" These people are not here to make fun of your mistakes they are here to help and share in their experiences. Well I guess I've said enough for now, you will see that you will get other responses like I said that's what were here for. Good luck and I'll shut up now.hahaha
