Saltwater aquarium tips?

Question

I want to start a saltwater aquarium, but I just found out how much money it takes. Are there any cost cutting tips? Do the cheap protein skimmers work? Are expensice lights necessary?

Answer 1

Sort of, not really, and yes.

Saltwater is expensive, that's really the bottom line when it comes to SW. Every newcomer to the hobby wants to go into SW but is soon discouraged when they realize the costs involved, and they stick with FW.
You can't cut corners with SW. The fish and corals are all much more delicate. It's not like FW, where if you forget to feed for one day, no big deal; no steady light cycle, no big deal; water evaporates and you don't fill it up right away, no big deal.
SW is a whooole different ball game. If you cut corners, you will lose fish, corals, etc.

The only cost cutting tips I can give you are to buy used. You can often buy quality used equipment and materials when other hobbiests take down their tanks, upgrade their equipment, etc. Try places like craigslist.com, ebay.com, as well as your local fish club and your local classifieds. Be patient, wait for deals, wait for stuff to go on sale, order online... it may take you several months to accumulate everything you need, but it'll come out cheaper in the end. Still not cheap cheap, of course.
Or just stick with FW :) I know that isn't what you want hear, and it's not the same thing, but you CAN do a nice mock-marine tank with some white sand, some dead coral, some peacock cichlids, and there are some really realistic ornaments out there (I once went to this guy's house and he had this fab tank that I thought was a marine tank, and I saw a anemone that I knew was rare and I asked him where he got it. Turns out it was rubber :))

Expensive lights are necessary, yup. If you have LR only with fish (FOWLR), you can go a little cheaper than if you want corals, but you're still in for 200-400$ lights for the LR.

Answer 2

I have a tips guide in the link below.

A basic SW tank can cost as much as a basic FW tank does. It just depends on what you want in a SW tank. i.e. fish only, fish with base/live rock, or a full reef tank.

I know people who have spent over $2000 on their planted FW tanks and plenty of people who have spent more on SW tanks.

Keep in mind you get what you pay for.

A used tank could have scratches, been medicated with copper (which is bad), or have a slow leak.

Some cheaper skimmers like the BakPak are decent but paying more for a quality skimmer like the Aqua C Remora Pro for example will give you better skimming which reduces your organics which improves the quality of your water.

Cheap lighting like Jebo Odyssea that have electrical/fire issues versus quality lighting like CoraLife or Current U.S.A.

Buying used lighting can also cost more in the long run if you end up needing to replace all the lights or have to rewire a new ballast.

The easiest way to save money is to build everything you can i.e. the stand, sump, skimmer, lighting. I wouldn't attempt to build your own tank personally but that can be done as well. (links below)

Reading & patience are the two things I'd recommend most.

Rushing with a SW tank is only asking for trouble.

Answer 3

I have given this same answer 5 times in the past week. Yes you can have a nice salt water tank for not a lot of money.

You can get away with a 30 gallon. I have fish in one of mine. If you search the want ads and papers, you can probably pick up a 30 with hood, tank and stand for around $100 or less. I actually find them left at the side of the road on garbage day. People who thought they wanted a tank buy it then toss it. My gain. (last one I picked up, a 150 gal w/stand and lights and filter. Don't want to get your hopes up. Right now, walmart of all places has a 55 gallon tank with hood and filter for $99.00 Stand is $69.00 Just what you need.

Patience is the key to a salt water tank. The whisper filter that comes with the tank at walmart is fine for the size. (Until you get the fish bug, it will do its job.) Now before you begin, find a local reputable pet store, Not necessarily PETCO or PETSMART. These are too commercial, won't deal and the 16 year olds that work there don't care. A local small shop that relies on good information and good fish keeping to stay in business. They will help you more than you could imagine.

First you must choose where you are going to put your tank. You want to steer clear of windows and heat registers or it could cause a problem in the future. Be sure you have a powersource close. Word of advie, salt water has a habit of "eating paint". Walls behind your salt water tank should also be part of your cleaning ritule (I have large mirrors to protect my walls from salt residue, it also reflects the corals back into the tank making it seem bigger than it is). With that said, we start the process.

If you choose to go with a 30 gallon tank, I would highly recomend an under gravel filter. These can be purchased for a 30 gallon for $10-$15. They aren't needed, but in a smaller tank, makes clean up a breeze.

You are going to have to decide what you want in your tank. Clowns (nemo's) are great social fish. If at all possiable, get one male and two females. You will have to purchase a few items for your salt water.
Red Sea Salt $15 (You can go with instant ocean, an artificial salt, which is less expensive, and works for what it is needed to)
Which bottom would you wish? Crushed coral/dolamite or live sand. Clowns do not need sand I would recomend dolamite. It is much easier to clean.
An aquarium gravel syphon (gravity fed) depending on size from $5.99 $9.99.
Heater for the size of your tank. These can run from $9.00 for a 30 gallon and up
Chemical Test kit for Salt water This will range with what you get. Choose a better test kit.
Hydrometer for a beginner, I would suggest a level set rather than a floating. $3.99
A clean 5 gallon bucket actually two, used only or your salt tank. $2.99 at Home Depot
Novaqua + (water conditioner) $5.49
If you are using dolamite, you will need to rinse the dolomite (I use a strainer) to remove debris. Clean your tank with clean fresh water and a soft cloth.

Piece of advice, before you fill your tank, put your filter on the rear of the tank and adjust the distance from the wall. Be sure you leave enough room to move the filter or add pieces as your experience grows with your tank.

I do not sugest using a hose to fill your tank. Most hoses are not for drinking water and contain chemical residues. If you must, use a water drinking hose which can be found in the RV section of Walmart. Using a hose for a salt water tank will be rough since you need to disolve salt into it.

I prefer to use a 5 gallon bucket since the salt measuring is more accurate.

Once your dolamite/sand is rinsed (mind you don't rinse live sand) if you have an undergravel filter, now is the time to put it in. Pour your dolamite over the undergravel filter Don't worry about making it even or sloped since your water isn't in yet. Begin disolving salt into your 5 gallon buckets of water. Add your novaqua +. Check your salt levels Using a hydrometer Your goal is a specific gravity between 1.020 and 1.023. Fill your tank with the saltwater, leaving about an inch at the top. Start the filter system. Add the heater and thermometer. Most marine fish do best between 75 and 80 degrees. Let everything run for at least 72 hours and get the temperature settings right and the water moving. Cycle the aquarium. A just-set-up fish tank lacks the bacteria that it needs to form a steady biological cycle. After two weeks to help cycle your tank faster, buy a black mollie $.99. (Yes they live in salt water) Mollies will help cycle the water quickly plus gives you something to look at besides an empty tank. After about 6 weeks, if your water is testing within the right ranges, purchase a damsel. $3.99-$4.99. After another week if he is still doing fine and the water is testing out, go buy your clowns. They will run you around $12.99-15.99 depending on where you buy them. (This is where your pal at the smaller shop comes in. They will work deals with you, especiallyif you take fish when they come in. I purchased my snowflake eel for $19.00, my dog faced puffer for $22.00, and my Hawaiian Trigger for $25.00. If you aren't into the "Fancy fish" don't worry. There are many fish that are not expensive. Also, steer clear of sea horses. Not only are most endangered, their requirements and life span in an aquarium is only around 2 years. Reputable dealers will not sell sea horses. (They are for money making only) If you can find a sea squirt, get him.

When ever you can, when you visit the ocean, bring home a gallon or two of sea water. Rarely will you bring home parasites, mostly you will be suprised at what is in the water you don't see. It will also recharge your tank.

I know this isn't every last detail but I am tired of typing.

If and when you become a serious aquarist

Add your fish when the chemical levels are all okay and the tank temperature is within suggested limits.

Buy a powerhead. In saltwater aquariums, water movement is an absolute must. Be careful not to get one so big that it causes a whirlpool effect.

Later Get a protein skimmer, which is a necessity for marine tanks. This removes organic debris from the water before it has time to convert to nitrates.

In short: You DON"T need a protein skimmer, you DON"T need two heaters, you DON'T need special lighting if you don't have coral, you DON"T need a 50-100 gallon tank a 30 is the smallest you should go, but I have friends with smaller that do just fine, you DON"T need live sand, or Live rock to have a salt water tank. Your sand if you so choose to use it, you do not want to go deeper than 1.5 inches. 1 toward the front and 1.5 towards the rear. I just hate when people give advice on things they don't know.

Also, a protein skimmer is a protein skimmer is a protein skimmer. Doesn't matter what you pay. They are even inexpensive to put together. No expensive lights are necessary, however know the lighting requirements for any corals or anemone's your may get.

Good luck and you can IM me if you have any other questions.