Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've never kept a saltwater tank before and i would like to give it a try. The only things i'm really interested in all seem like they would be for someone fairly experienced. Does anyone know of a an easy shark, eel, lionfish, ect? I'm willing to put the money up for proper equipment, but i don't want to do it if i will just end up killing it.

You should try easier fish for your first saltwater tank. Have you kept a freshwater tank before? If not, I would suggest that you start with freshwater and work your way to a saltwater tank. I do not suggest more difficult fish for beginners, especially in saltwater tanks.

If you are still interested in a saltwater tank, and want more beginner fish recommendations, I would be glad to provide them for you.
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Phishie
Site Coordinator

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

I don't have much freshwater experience and no saltwater. It doesn't have to be a salt tank, I just don't want to go the goldfish or guppy way. I just went to a forum i figured would have experienced people in the more exotic "neater" fish. I'm also gonna check the freshwater forum, but i want something that can be a centerpiece thing. I could do it with my snakes, but i keep hots and that is a safty issue so i keep them in a dedicated hot house seperate from my live in house. I don't want anything that needs a huge tank, but it has to be big enough to not have to search for and pretty. I don't know that i would want to do the whole live coral thing, but if its better for the well being of the fish i would consider it. Pretty much i want to get into the hobby but i want something that is interesting enough for me to enjoy

Saltwater tanks are A LOT of work and need constant testing, especially since most of the organisms require very narrow water parameters or they will die.

There are many different freshwater fish, not just goldfish or guppies. I think guppies are beautiful fish, but I can understand if you don't want a smaller (I guess you can call them plain) fish. There's no need to post on the freshwater forum because we can continue this conversation here. I think there are a lot of very interesting freshwater fish. I wouldn't recommend puffers for you until you get more experience with diseases and water quality, but there are freshwater puffers. Beginner fish that are colorful and very entertaining, in my opinion, would be cichlids. They are hardy and quite colorful. They're semi-aggressive and aggressive (depending on species) so they can be very interesting to watch. As far as breeding goes, they are the parental sort and will watch carefully over their young, which is very rare in the fish world. What size tank do you consider too big? Because you said you want a centerpiece and to me that means a rather large tank (maybe like 100 gallons or so). The bigger than tank, the easier it is to take care of, meaning the water parameters don't change as drastically as they do in a smaller (say 10 gallon) aquariums. No matter the size of the tank, water changes should be conducted every 2 weeks and should change 20% of the water volume. Gravel cleaning should be done, and filter media should be changed as well.

Live corals should only be kept for very experienced hobbyist, and hobbyists with time and money for all the equipment and food items, etc. needed to keep coral happy and healthy. That being said there are plenty of saltwater fish that can be kept without a reef tank... that is once you get to the experienced level required for saltwater tanks.

When you are getting ready to start a tank setup, let me know and I will send you an article on aquarium setups, and how to cycle your tank properly before you add fish. If you want more options for beginner freshwater fish, let me know too so I can send you the names and information on those fish.
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Phishie
Site Coordinator

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

I actually have a 75 gal. right now that isn't being used for anything. How much harder is saltwater than freshwater. I have plenty of time to work with it. When i'm not at work i'm at home cleaning or building cages for my snakes anyway. If it is that much harder then i'll go fresh in the 75 and get a larger one down the road for salt. In either case what equipment would i need to purchase and what are some good suggestions on compatible colorful fish? Thanks

Oh by the way i wasn't knocking goldfish or guppies. I already have a tank of them for my daughter and want to do something a bit fanier for myself

Personally, I don't have a saltwater tank, nor have I ever, but I do know from talking with people that a saltwater tank requires more knowledge of water parameters and how to alter them accordingly. I will not get a saltwater tank until I know everything there is to know about freshwater systems and the various factors that go along with them. That's just my feelings.

Saltwater fish are much more sensitive to water parameter changes (so like your temperature, pH, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, salinity, hardness, etc.). So since you have little experience with freshwater fish (which are less sensitive to water parameter changes, at least the hardier fish), I strongly suggest you stick with a freshwater aquarium even though you don't mind spending the money and have the time. I can understand your wanting a saltwater aquarium because I want one too, but my first concern is the well being of the animals so I won't get one until I know that I can provide the best possible home. There are more water parameters with saltwater aquariums than in freshwater aquariums, and they (SW aquariums) require more filtration equipment that the FW aquariums.

A 75 gallon is a very nice sized tank. A happy home for most fish. I've included an article from Drs. Foster and Smith, they have several articles. Here's another link for you: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?c=3578&articleid=613&d=158&category=266

I'll let you make your decision because I've given you my opinion, but I can help you as much as I can. If you do want a saltwater aquarium, you will not be able to start off with sharks or rays, pretty much you can check out liveaquaria.com and they have a section called marine fish for beginners. There is one fish on that section that I strongly disagree with for most hobbyists, but you have venomous snakes, so perhaps you may be ok with it.... the lionfish. They are venomous as well. There have been many reports of hobbyists getting stung, so I usually tell people to avoid them unless they are experienced. Just be sure to do a lot of research on the fish (regardless of fresh or salt water preference).

While you're on liveaquaria.com, you should really check out the african cichlids. They are quite colorful, and hardy fish for beginners. Like I said they are either semi-aggressive or aggressive and they are entertaining. If you want a bigger fish, Jack Dempseys are also quite colorful and hardy. I do have a preference for both of these options. Check out both sections on liveaquaria.com. I really would like to know what you think about the cichlids. They will allow you to have color and get into the water parameters (as they like harder water).
Thinking about a saltwater aquarium?

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Phishie
Site Coordinator

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

I looked at the site and saw alot of things i liked. Most were salt, but there were a few fresh that i found interesting.hat euipment would be recomended for a 75 gal? Salt and fresh. Would it be the same? If I do go salt i was thinking a snowflake eel and a lion to start with. I'm not sure with the fresh what i would start with

I would like to draw your attention to the specific gravity (sg) requirements for both of the fish you would like, they are very narrow requirements. This is an example of how sensitive marine fish are. The lionfish would be the one that is most sensitive because the eel has a wider (but still small range). The pH is also smaller range than the freshwater fish have. Have you read up on all the water parameters for saltwater tanks? It is important to understand what each is and why it is important to stay in that range (that being said it is also helpful to understand what would happen if the parameter goes above or below the required water condition). I just wanted to point out the differences I was telling you about earlier.

Salt water tanks require extra equipment that I am not exactly sure what you would need specifically, but it does tell you in the articles on Drs. Foster and Smith's website. I know that protein skimmers and UV sterilizers are used in saltwater setups. As well as your normal items (for freshwater and saltwater) like filters and water heaters. Chillers are also used if your tank gets to hot during the summer, but again I'm only familiar with experience in freshwater. I've also noticed that all of the saltwater setups I've seen have a separate tank for the filter area, but I haven't done a lot of research on that.

From the comments I've read on aquarium hobbyist, some people experience problems with stress on their eels from being transferred and being in a new tank... so they don't eat at first. Be sure to do a lot of research on the fish you do intend to get before you get them. That way you know what to expect.

I'm interested to know what freshwater fish sparked your interest. You can research all (fresh and salt water) fish that you are interested in that way you can make a well rounded decision. And as always, I'd be happy to help you find the information, but I usually start with liveaquaria.com and go from there.
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Phishie
Site Coordinator

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

The freshwater i was considering are african cichids, angelfish, discus, loaches, ect. However a friend of mine runs the local fish store and she said she would help me with a salt tank. She said that they aren't that much harder because the live rock and sand help with filtration and stuff as long as you cycle it properly. However I do think i'm going to find something other than the eel since it will eat any cleaners i put in the tank. I like the puffers but i would run into the same problem so i'm still working on the line up. At least i have about 2 months to decide. Right now i just have to hurry and decide on fresh or salt. I know i need a filter for either, but do fresh tanks use powerheads too? I've never done a larger than 20 gal tank. Will the extra oxygen help or just stress the fish?

Yeah, you can use powerheads in a freshwater tank, although I never have. Extra oxygen is always good, but it would depend on the fish you have whether the currents would be stressful. Slow swimmers don't particularly care for powerful currents.
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Phishie
Site Coordinator

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."