Saltwater aquarium?

Question

How much would a basic aquarium cost, based on all of the chemicals needed to maintain the water and fish, food, filter, and a 20 gallon tank? How much are nice looking salt water fish? I know it will be exepensive, but just looking for a price range so I can get an idea.

*Is a 20 gallon tank small for a salt water aquarium, or would it be better to get a 30 gallon tank?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Since you seem to be a new aquarist where saltwater tanks are concerned, you should start with a very large tank. The smaller tanks can go bad in 12-24 hours and all your fish will die due to bad water. The larger the tank, the longer you have to catch a potential catastrophe and correct it.

There is a lot of maintenance and water testing that needs to be done in the marine hobby due to the water quality demands of saltwater fish and creatures.

The minimum reccomended tank to start the marine hobby is a 55 gallon. A complete set up including special lighting, protein skimmer, filters, sea salt, tank, hood and stand will run you about $500.00. Then you start buying fish for it. Most saltwater fish are pretty pricey. Although some of th cheaper damsels can be purchased for around $6.00 each. Live rock is very expensive (about $8.00 per pound).

Many of the fish are not compatible with each other and will end up dead due to agression.

Go to "About.com" and follow their links to setting up and maintaining a saltwater aquarium (marine tank). They have lots of great info there.

Answer 2

You can do a 20 gal SW, but it'll be difficult. They say the bigger the better/easier to maintain. I tried it with a 10 gal, and it was a real pain in the a$$. The water evaporates quickly, which will increase the salinity, which can kill some fish and definitely the inverts. 55 is usually what they say for a minimum size. Also, a lot of the fish get quite large or are incompatible with others, so you'll be really limited on what you can get for that size of tank.

They are expensive to set up and maintain too. IMO it'll easily be a minimum 200. with the fish. Check out these forums, they'll have some good answers for you on starting up and exactly what you'll need. Just read through the posts, you'll find a lot of info.

http://www.aquariacentral.com/
http://www.aquariumboard.com/forums/home.php


Alright, so I was way off on the price I did say minimum though :)

Answer 3

Before you ask this question you should be asking yourself what you want to put in the tank. Ligting and filtration really varies depending on what you put in the tank. The more filter feedrs you put in, themore filtration (usually protien skimmers) you use. The type of life in the tank may only require florescent lighting, but if you want to get into a variety of corals, you will have to go with something much more expensive. The majority of marine life (including corals) like space around them, and maintain territories, so the larger the tank, the better. Here are some sites for you to browse through (includes pricing)
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/categ.cfm?pcatid=15
http://www.liveaquaria.com/general/compatibility_chart.cfm
http://www.liveaquaria.com/general/general.cfm?general_pagesid=293
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/category_summary.cfm?dept_id=0&siteid=6&acatid=306
http://www.elmersaquarium.com/k20290saltkit_1_29gal.htm
A

Answer 4

To start you are looking at about 300-500.00 just for small set up w/out fish. What I did was found a 30 gallon tank at Petco on clearance for about 150.00 and just got all the pieces as I could afford it. Set it up for a few weeks, then added fish. If you have never had a tank before...please read up on salt tanks first. Not easy as a starter tank.
The bigger the better to start with on a salt tank.

Answer 5

The first lady has it right.
I disagree with the cost. Mine is fresh water and I paid $450. to get mine set up and that was with coupons for fish when I bought the tank.
Go to a specialty fish store (not Petco or Petsmart, those people are idiots), and start making a price list. Talk to the employees, that's what they are there for. Ask about tank size and water quality.
Remember that SW tanks need A LOT of electricity as well. Lots of folks don't take that into consideration.
Good Luck

Answer 6

Get the largest tank you have room for.

A nice reef tank, 30 gals, can be several thousand dollars. On the low end, a few hundred. Corals are very expensive.

A Fish only tank (with sand and rocks) is cheaper and easier to setup. I think you can have a nice fish only tank for about $300

Answer 7

I have a 30 gal. saltwater tank and I have around $1000.00 in that tank just to set it up around $600.00 more to stock it and take care of it with the chemicals

Answer 8

the bigger the better is the general rule for marine beginners. i have several 20's running and i have had no problems. if you set it up right its not as bad as a lot of people think.i have about $1000.00 in my set up but i bought very high quality gear for my tank, that is also including all livestock, corals,fish,small inverts etc.