3 comments to “I want to start a Saltwater Aquarium,where do I begin? I have some experience with Freshwater only,please help”

1. tommytune wrote:
   22. April 2008 at 2:24 pm :

   If you’re only looking for a small 20Gallon aquarium, i’d go with something like a NanoCube. It’s a 24G aquarium with all the proper saltwater lighting already built in….However, it can only be used for saltwater, so you cannot switch back to a freshwater. Saltwater tanks can get expensive, especially if you want nice corals….if you shop on ebay or craigslist, you can get a NanoCube saltwater fish tank for a few hundred. After you fill it with water, sand, and live rock, you will not touch the tank for about 8-10 weeks. So what you spend on the tank will be split over several months. You have to do this because, unlike freshwater, it takes time for the saltwater to regulate itself so that fish can survive in it. There are too many nitrates, nitrites, etc inside the water that must filter out over those weeks. The next thing you will do is purchase both red legged and blue legged crabs. They are essential for saltwater tanks because they eat the two different types of algae. red leg crabs eat red algae and blue leg crabs eat green algae. You will also at this time purchase saltwater snails becuase they crawl around and basically clean your tank. After they are in there for a week or two, you can start by adding one or two fish. You don’t want to add too many at first because you want tot make sure your water is regulated and that they will survive. if your fish is still alive after 2-3 days, your tank is probably fine and you can add more fish and corals. In a 24G Nanocube tank, you can probably hold 5-7 larger fish or 8-10 smaller fish, such as clown fish (Nemo). You won’t be putting plants really, just corals. The plants in Saltwater aquariums won’t survive here. The main difference between freshwater tanks is that the fish are prettier and you can have corals…it’s more expensive than freshwater tanks and water changes are more important. Let me know if you have more questions that i left out……

2. Jessica C wrote:
   25. April 2008 at 8:27 am :

   Any books by Bob Fenner and Cost varies You need Live Rock and Live Sand Proper lighting for corals T5 or Metal Halide, a heater rated for saltwater same goes for the lighting, Instant Ocean Marine salt and a hydrometer to measure proper salinity (salt level) 20 gallon I do not reccomend to start with the smaller the tank the harder to keep good water quality, you will need either a canister filter to keep down on salt deposits or a dual filter with bio wheels to keep your cycle in check, good cycle test kits. It is no harder then freshwater if you do your home work, it is a lot more expenisve….a detailed Price list
   LR~5-10$ per pound 1.5-2 pounds per gallon
   LS 3-8$ per pound 2-3 inches from the bottom
   good filter 80-120 dollars (for a 20 gallon)
   lighting 80-300 dollars T5 or metal halide for coral
   heater 25$
   hydrometer 8 dollars
   Kent Marine Chemicles for good alage and corals ~8$ per bottle per variety
   Instant Ocean~15 per bag or 50 per 5 gallon bucket
   Cycle test kits 6-10 each for ammonia nitrite nitrate PH Phosphate and Alkalinity.

   fish vary
   if you want clowns they start at 18
   damsels start at 5 but they are aggressive and have to be watched
   many fish you cannot have to start such as mandarins and blennys the require established tanks because the eat off the LR, sea stars need established water and cannot be exposed to copper and do not take kindly to poor water or water fluctuations. You can read about all this and more in a good book or browsing

   You do not want to put 8 or 10 small fish in that tank, 2 clowns of 4 damsels max, you cannot overstock a saltwater tank Saltwater fish like more room to swim…
   in my 75 gallon I have one lion fish and 1 trigger fish that is it
   in my 55 i have 5 damsels 1 clown a goby and some stars and 1 marderin, after you fill the tank make sure the salinity is at 1.025-6 the temp is perfect and the water has cleared, allow it to sit for 3 days and test your Ph if that is good add your damsels or clowns, these are hardy fish and good for cycling if you do a cycle with fish.Change 25% of your water weekly making sure to pre mix your fillwater and salt 24 hours in advance to allow all the salt to dissolve, drain about 6 gallons of water and add your new water, read on the cycle testing for ammonia the first two weeks, read here on that. These will also be the only fish you can keep on that size tank. 55+ is better for beginner. But read, go slow and be patient and you will be fine.

3. BobW wrote:
   26. April 2008 at 3:24 pm :

   The best place to begin is with a couple of books (look at my sources.) Bigger aquariums are easier but you can do a 20 if you do your research and don’t cut corners. You would be limited to a pair of clowns or something similar in a 20 gallon nano. Go to and sign up for their newsletter on starting a saltwater aquarium. They have lots of resources to read online as well.