Much thought should go into the decision of whether or not to set up a saltwater aquarium. Tank size and equipment list make the price tag for owning a saltwater tank much higher than a fresh water tank. If you put the time and effort into a salt water tank, you can create a little piece of underwater paradise in your home.
Beginner Tank Size for a Salt Water Aquarium
The minimum size tank that a beginner to saltwater aquariums should keep is a fifty-five gallon tank. If your budget allows for bigger than this, even better. Saltwater tanks require great stability in the water quality. The bigger the tank, the more stability the tank will have, while smaller tanks are inherently unstable. This fact alone may be enough for most parents to shy away from the idea of setting up a saltwater tank.
If the child is adamant about setting up a tank, compromising and setting up a freshwater tank is a better choice than going with a small saltwater tank because you are more likely to fail if you have no experience with saltwater. Even so, if space and money allow, setting up a saltwater tank can be easier than you think, and will impress your friends.
Necessary Equipment to Set up a Salt Water Tank
Setting up a saltwater tank can be expensive, costing around $500-$1000 or more depending on how elaborate you decide to get. In order to set up a saltwater tank, you must purchase the following equipment:
- 55 gallon or larger tank and stand
- Enough sand to fill the bottom of the tank 3-4 inches deep or more
- At least one pound of live rock per gallon
- A good protein skimmer
- A 20 gallon sump system with pump
- Heater
- Appropriate lighting
- Power heads for additional flow if you would like to keep corals in the tank
- Salt
- Hydrometer or Refractometer
Choosing an Appropriate Salt Water Fish
When deciding on what fish you will add to your new saltwater tank, be sure to look for hearty fish because most stores do not guarantee their saltwater stock. The Clown fish should be a decent choice, along with Damsels. Caution should be taken with Damsels though as they can be aggressive and beat up on other fish. Here are some ideas on other saltwater aquarium fish.
Caring for a Salt Water Aquarium
When setting up a new saltwater tank, you can go ahead and mix the salt and water together directly in the tank, but future water changes need to be done with water that is already mixed together with the salt. The specific gravity of the water should be 1.025, which can be measured with the Hydrometer or Refractometer. The temperature of the tank should be maintained at 80 degrees.
After 24 hours, add the live rock. Live rock purchased from a pet store is usually uncured, and must be cured before adding fish. This process usually takes several weeks. Cycling the tank will cure the live rock. Once there are no ammonia or nitrite readings in your water, the rock is cured and the tank is ready for fish. Weekly 10-20% water changes and freshwater top off to compensate for evaporation will help to maintain the water quality.
Before allowing your child to bring Nemo home from the pet store, think carefully about whether you have the time, money and space to set up a saltwater aquarium. Cutting corners and not knowing enough about maintaining a saltwater tank can result in an expensive experiment gone bad.
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