I am thinking of starting a new 20 to 40 gal saltwater. Is there any info on how to and what is difference between salt and fresh(other than the salt)? Thanks
New Tank
- Thread starter umatrix
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I suppose the biggest differnce is going to be the setup cost. SW tanks will cost a lot more in the beginning. And they can cost a lot more depending if you want corals or not. Since you are on the fence I would highly suggest figuring out exactly what fish you really want to keep (either FW or SW) and then let us help from there. A 20 gallon SW tank is possible but it will really limit your fish choice as SW fish tend to need more room than FW fish of a similar size. Plus the SW tank will reuqire much more care, especially in the first few months.
I agree with TKOS, the first three months of a SW aquarium are a lot of work. The water chemistry is the most difficult thing to learn, but once you get used to things it gets a lot easier. For SW definitely get the largest tank you can afford. Larger bodies of water are more stable over time, and your temperature, specific gravity, and dissolved mineral levels will fluctuate less in a larger thank. Stability is good. Plus, SW fish are used to the ocean, so they need larger swimming spaces than do FW.
I'll steal a page from Mogurnda's book and recommend that you buy "The Conciouencious(sp?) Marine Aquarist." It is a first rate book available in any bookstore for around $30. Someone on this board got it at Amazon.com for $18.99! This book will save you a lot of time and money over the term of owning your aquarium.
I'll steal a page from Mogurnda's book and recommend that you buy "The Conciouencious(sp?) Marine Aquarist." It is a first rate book available in any bookstore for around $30. Someone on this board got it at Amazon.com for $18.99! This book will save you a lot of time and money over the term of owning your aquarium.