What is the main difference between fresh and saltwater aquariums pertaining to set up and stuff?

Question

I have a freshwater tank where i keep chilids and have been pretty successfull with them, but for my next tank I want to try a saltwater tank. Is it much more difficult? I heard you have to have a large tank for salt water. What is the smallest tank that can handle a salt water set up?

Answer 1

If you mean a fish only saltwater tank the only real difference is adding salt, getting a hydrometer and premixing the saltwater at each water change. Very little else is very different. With your success in cichlids, you are no doubt aware that knowledge is the key to success with fish so you'll understand when I say go get a really good book on saltwater before you try a salt tank. There are few enough practical differences, but as small as they are that can make all the difference in success and failure. You can also find a lot of excellent info at the website below.

I wouldn't recommend starting in saltwater in anything less that 55 gallons personally.

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/index.htm

Hope that helps

MM

Answer 2

In my opinion there is a world of difference between the freshwater and saltwater realms. Water quality is curcial aspect, there a different substrates, more powerful lights are needed if you want corals, excellent filtration is a must...there are many aspects to saltwater. So many that even a simple question like yours can not be answered, the way it should, here.

A reef tank/saltwater fish tank can be a true thing of beauty...if it's done correctly. The key, the most crucial aspect to this hobby, is to have a huge arsenal of knowledge at you disposal. The best place I have found for this is the Living Reefs website.

http://www.livingreefs.com/forums/register.php?referrerid=1343

Here you will find MANY knowledgable, friendly, and helpful people with years of experience in the hobby within the forums and chat rooms. There is also a plethora of helpful articles geared up for everybody. From the beginner to the seasoned aquarist, everyone can benefit from the information on the site!!! Do yourself a favor and take a look, join up, and enjoy the addiction that is saltwater aquaria!!!!! I promise you that you won't be sorry.

Answer 3

They say 50 gallon minimum for a first-time saltwater aquarium. The smaller the tank, the faster small changes in water balance can start to affect your fish. You already know about maintaining temperature and pH and testing ammonia & nitrate levels, so in theory it should be easy to just add one more factor (salinity) to test. You'll need live rock as well instead of the pebble substrate, lots of good microbes & little creatures living in there to keep all your chemicals balanced. Read up and talk to your local aquarium shop owner... you can tell a good aquarium store by the variety & health of their fish, and a good owner/manager/salesperson should be very willing to talk with you about what you need... and an ethical shopkeeper shouldn't sell you tropical fish without knowing you've got a good setup for them.

Answer 4

ok, i will help in this one. first of all, in case you have on no account had a tank formerly, i do no longer propose a saltwater tank, you would be pulling your hair out by way of the months end. Freshwater tanks are plenty extra straightforward (and extra value-effective) to maintain. Saltwater fish are costly, time eating and confusing for a guy or woman new to protecting fish to deal with. I easily have had a fifty 5 gallon freshwater tank for 7 years and that i like it! I had a saltwater tank for over 2 years, and enable me inform you, extremely some fish met their dying at my green hand. i latterly have been given rid of the saltwater tank through actuality that it required way too plenty maintenance. I spent maximum of my loose time (and money) attempting to maintain each and every thing so as and actually only have been given uninterested in it. i prefer to propose going with a freshwater setup, you will spend far extra time taking part in the tank rather of cleansing, attempting out water and figuring out to purchase costly ingredients to your tank!!!

Answer 5

he main thin is money the fish, food filters and such are going to be much more expensive. saltwater fish are far more susceptable to problems from poor water chemistry then freshwater fish. Iknow people that have smaller tanks But for me the smallest I would start with is a 55 gal. you should have a good bio filter , a protein skimmer , a uv sterilzer and alot of live rock to start.

Answer 6

As a first timer i would suggest one of the nano type tanks, most are self contained and require little other equipment to buy. The cycle time is longer. I would cycle a fish only tank for at least a month or longer if you are still registering ammonia. A tank with live rock should be cycled at least a week with CURED rock. Best bet is to talk to your local store associate and lwet them know what your doing. I set my gf up with a 12g JBJ nano tank for her first tank and she loves it. Get the dx model if you want to have any photosynthetic organisms (corals, anenomes, macro algae)

Answer 7

The main difference is $$$
Do some research and you will find out that saltwater is NOW just as easy to take care of as freshwater. (fish and coral)

Answer 8

its a myth that it needs to be large. it just is alot easier b/c it keeps the water chemistry more constant. it is slightly more difficult if you just do fish, if you do a reef setup its alot harder. the other thing you going to notice is cost. i have cichlids to in the Midwest, they average $15 for some decent none grab bag African chiclids. salt water however a good fish is between 50-75 and they die easier. a power outage killed about $300 in salt water fish and all my freshies were fine. so just be wanred

Answer 9

Well, saltwater mosly uses sand. Saltwater are kind of easier to take care of due to the fact they wont have as much disease as fresh.

Answer 10

salt water fish areveryardtotakecareof!! you have to buy special equipment!!