Salt water aquarium, hard or easy?

Question

I want a 20 gallon tank with a clown fish and a blue damsel...

and some sea anenome? how do i care for sea anenome?

also how do i clean the tank? also what is the best floor substrate?

also how do i keep the tank nice and clear? what lighting do i need? and what is a goodfilter?

thankss sooo much! also what do the fish eat?

haha i sound sooo young asking all the questions but im 14 and i really wnat a salt water tank cause the fish are soo pretty!!

and i want something to take care of...

thanks sooo much!

Answer 1

14 and you want the challenge of a salt water tank...very brave...even the most experienced fish keepers find it hard to keep a saltwater aquarium a challenge. Is this your first tank? If so, I would suggest that you start with a fresh water tank and learn from experience of how to care for these water buddies. Then when you can afford (salt water tanks are VERY expensive $$$$$) to try to keep saltwater buddies, do allot of research and learn about the care and maintenance of them. Otherwise your setting yourself up for alot of disappointment and spending alot of money trying to care for something that you need years of experience and knowledge of.

Answer 2

saltwater tanks are very hard to setup and are definitely NOT easy as everything HAS GOT to be right.

also saltwater tanks have to be kept clean everything has to be kept at certain levels etc.

also setting up a saltwater tank however small or big you would like your aquarium could set you back a h**l of a lot.

i hope i have helped with your question.

Answer 3

I suggest you purchase a book on saltwater fish that offer a general overveiw on saltwater fish. look for an established pet store, one that specializes in fish. That way you can get some info and tricks of the trade from them as well as a good book referral. good luck.

Answer 4

20 gallons is 2 small, 30 is minimum for a clown, bigger would be better if you also have the damsel. Also, sea anemones need extreme lighting and need to be fed shrimp or krill. I am 12 and very experienced with fish, and still not up to the challenge of saltwater. If you think you are ready for a challenging fish, stick with freshwater until you are very good with aquariums.Some challenging freshwater fish are discus or elephant nose.

Answer 5

Filtration is the key and good reverse osmosis water......20 gallon is pretty small for a salty......but to each his own.  Lighting depends on the type of fish you will have, but T5 lamps are highly recommended.  You may want to consult your local fish store, and not Pet Smart or Pet co......a good store that actually knows what they are talking about.  I would start at least at a 55 gallon and get the cheapest saltwater fish to make sure your environment is stable enough before adding expensive fish.  Having had both, fresh water tanks are MUCH easier to care for.

Answer 6

Salt water aquarium, hard or easy?

       EXTREMELY hard!      

Q: I want a 20 gallon tank with a clown fish and a blue damsel...

A: IF you do get a book on Marine Fishkeeping, you will find out that the first basic rule: the bigger the tank the better because even minute water chemical changes signal the death knell (copper is the worst).

      

AND you must know how to test for salinity, kH, pH, trace elements among a thousand other things. AND u have to wait FOUR weeks b4 u can out in live fish. AND the filtration has to be optimal including the lights. AND you'll need protein skimmers. AND u'll need to change the water (by mixing new salt water) every 3 month. BUT of course, if your daddy-o prints money for a living, knock yourself out!

Q: and some sea anenome? how do i care for sea anenome?

A: Keeping the fish is already hard. Anemones will be doubly harder. When one anemone dies, it'll poison the whole tank. U'll have to start all over.

Q: also how do i clean the tank? also what is the best floor substrate?

A: U'll hv to use an extented cleaner. Do not put yr hands in ~ it's sticky n yr hand-arm-skin will contaminate the water.

Substrate: at least 3" of coral sand and broken corals. Preferably placed on top of wall-to-wall tank floor plates with under-gravel filtration with power heads.

Q: also how do i keep the tank nice and clear? what lighting do i need? and what is a good filter?

A: Optimal filtration, lighting? Refer to yr book IF u get one.

Q: also what do the fish eat?

A: Pellets are the easiest for yr Clown. Don't over feed or else, yes, pollution, back to square 1.

Q: haha i sound sooo young asking all the questions but im 14 and i really wnat a salt water tank cause the fish are soo pretty!!

A: You can want one. You can have it. BUT to keep it...ummm...lots of knowledge, experience, patience and $$$$$.

Q: and i want something to take care of...

A: A pet frog, turtle, guppy should be easier!

Q: i liek the salt water fish because they are sooo much prettier and to me they dont look as fishy lol

A: Yeah, like i said u can hv it but b prepared for the sacrifices.

Q: i have had two tetras and 2 guppies....they all died...and it wasnt my fault it was the neighbors by over feeding and not cleaning the tank while we were gone...so im going to get a neighbor that knows about fish to feed it and clean it and check the ph when we are gone...

A: NOT possible to find such a neighbour ~ u don't even have a single grain of knowledge about marine fish. U should start with freshwater fish really.