Interested in starting a saltwater tank

[LuckyJGuy]

So, I guess I just have a few basic questions and ideas for now, since I won't be starting the tank until mid summer, so here they are.

It's best to have something larger than 30 gallons. Is this true? It seems that there are a lot more fish that grow to large sizes as compared to fresh water, so I guess it could be. I have no idea what fish I want right now, Im still looking at that, for sure I have to have a Puffer. Anyway

Does a beginning salt water tank have to be cycled like a freshwater does?

What special equipment is needed/

[OrionGirl]

I'm moving this into Marine Newbie....

Lager tanks are more stable. For someone just starting, this means the tank will be easier to keep within acceptable parameters, and more forgiving about overfeeding/deaths than a smaller water volume.

There are not many puffers that will work in a small tank--few that will work in anything less than about 75 gallons. The more popular ones, like porcupines and dog face puffers, will not work, long term, in anything less than 75, and many won't work even then.

Yes, SW tanks need to be cycled just like FW.

A basic setup: tank, sand, rock, lights, heater, powerheads for water movement, and a protien skimmer. Specifics will vary depending on what animals you want to keep.

[skippy2]

You will want to start out with the biggest tank you can afford. Bigger tanks are alot more forgiving than a smaller one. Besides, once the sw bug hits, and it will, you will just end up getting a bigger tank anyway. Might as well start out right in the beginning.

[mogurnda]

As the others said, the size of the tank has more to do with stability than the size of the fish. Plus, marine fish just don't do well in the same densities as FW fish.

If you are thinking about a fish-only system and have to have a puffer, you might go with a toby.