How do I set up a 55 gallon saltwater aquarium?

Question

I have already been to Petsmart. I would like someone's advice who has setup and maintained a saltwater tank.

Please do not answer if you do not have a saltwater tank currently or had one in the past. I would like personal experiences with them, NOT people telling me to go to pet stores.

Answer 1

it mainly depends on what you are ultimately going for in the long run ive been keeping fish only, fowlr, and reef tanks for 11 years now my best advice for you is to read like hell. i cant say that all pet stores dont know jack because im an aquatic specialist at one, but most will tell you stuff just to sell you crap if you go fish only or fowlr (fish only with live rock) and no inverts(corals starfish, all the cool sh!t) they are very easy and not much difference in price or care besides the fish themselves(besides the addition of sat of course) just if you whatn a reef or invert tank you pretty much cut out half the fish you can get(no triggers, most large body angels, butterfly fish) for your first tank i would stay away from reef (a 55 dont make a very good reef anyway too deep and narrow, the lighting to do good on it makes them too expensive for most people) about.com is a very good website for information. you can email me if you have any specific questions on anything

Answer 2

Get a book on saltwater aquariums. Not just for setting up but to use as a reference when things go wrong. I have three saltwater tanks. The one that does the best has a refugium (overflow filtration tank) and a uv filter. Get the sand in and the water straight (ph balance, salinity) before adding live rock. Let the tank run with good water, the rocks, and sand for at least a month before you start adding fish and corals. The last tank we got was a 55 gallon which is bigger than the other two and we didn't consider that when giving it time to mature and put stuff in too soon. We are still fighting an algae problem 10 months later. Also make sure you buy decent light fixtures and bulbs. The one thing to always remember is that you can't fix water quality with chemicals like you can with freshwater so it's best to have good quality saltwater going for a while before you introduce living things. Also a book can help you make a decision about what fish/corals to get and what not to mix together. Some fish will destroy your coral and some fish do best when paired with other fish or corals. Saltwater aquariums are an expensive hobby you will kill things and it needs more attention than a freshwater tank.

Answer 3

It takes a fair bit of patience and expense to start one. First, you need to decide what you want in your tank. Reef tanks require a lot of extra equipment (like halide lights, skimmers, sumps and refugiums). With a fish only tank, you could get away with a really good three stage filter system and florescent lights. Either way, you have to buy a marine test kit, hydrometer and heater. You need at least three inches of crushed aragonite/live sand as a substrate and a least one pound of live rock/gallon of water for the tank to be successful as it will be a part of your filter system and provide supplemental food for the fish. Reverse-osmosis cleaned water is the only way to go. De-chlorinated tap water will still have impurities.
It can take several weeks for the tank to be ready for fish, and it usually tanks 2 years for the tank to be fully matured. Until then you will have regular blooms of algae and slime.
A proper clean up crew of snails and hermit crabs (possibly sea stars and shrimp) is a good idea. And you have to replace bulbs every six months.
Maintaining a fish-only tank is as simple as a tropical tank, but you need to mix the salt water before doing the water change.

Answer 4

If you go to a good fish store they will have all answers you need. You can also get a system that is self contained. PetSmart is not the best fish place. Ask around & see what you come up with.

Answer 5

Go to "About.com" and follow their links to their articles on setting up and maintaining a marine aquarium. They really know their stuff.

You can print the info out and keep it for reference.

Answer 6

okay, I know you are looking for serious answers. I can't resist.
no, seriously, do not attempt that feat by yourself. You will need help moving, cleaning it out. My brother left his at the house when moved out and it's so tempting to clean it out. But I know better than to attempt that by myself.

Other than that I'll check back to see what other answers you get so I can get his to be mine.

Answer 7

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