I have an approximately 55 gallon tank, and I would like to set up a saltwater aquarium (preferably one with fish AND coral). All I have right now is the tank; no hood, no filter, nothing. I have no idea where to begin so if someone could help me out, I would like a list of all the equipment that I need (also links to buying these products would be great). Any other information that you think I should know is also welcome. 
Thanks.
it not cheap to have saltwater fish tank it can coast you anywhere from 500 to 1000 dollars
* Aquarium
* Aquarium Photo Background or Paint the background – see Aquarium Aquascape Design for more info on painting the tank background.
* Aquarium substrate such as live sand or crushed coral
* Live Rock
* Saltwater Mix
* Saltwater Hydrometer or even better a refractometer
* Aquarium filter (not absolutely necessary if running with adequate amounts of live rock, but nice to have if you need to use a mechanical filter or activated carbon, etc.)
* Replacement filter media like filter floss and activated carbon (if you get a filter)
* Multiple Powerheads (2 or 3)
* Heater – be sure to get one large enough for the size tank you’re getting
* Protein Skimmer – See the equipment reviews section for protein skimmer reviews
* Saltwater test kit(s) to test water parameters and monitor the infamous aquarium nitrogen cycle
* Saltwater fish food
* Aquarium vacuum
* Fish net
* Rubber kitchen gloves
* Aquarium Glass Scrubber or make your own DIY Algae Scraper
* Two, clean, never used before, 5-gallon buckets
* Aquarium thermometer
* Brush with plastic bristles (old tooth brush) – needed for cleaning the live rock
* Quarantine Tank for acclimating new arrivals and monitoring for signs of fish disease
* Power Strip
* Optional but definitely recommend getting a Reverse Osmosis or RO/Deionization filter for the make-up water.
I need step by step instructions on how to set up a saltwater aquarium?
how many mbuna african chichlids can i keep on my 20 gallon tank……..?
i clean my tank atleast once a week so would that make a difference on how many african chiclids i can keep
tropical fish in a tank that has previously had salt water fish in it?
Can i put tropical fish in an aquarium tank that has previously had salt water fish in it? If it is possible, how should i clean the salt out of it? Anything will be helpful! thanks.
Baltimore Aquarium November 1, 2007
Baltimore Aquarium critters swimming, flying, flipping, jumping fun!
Gong – Tropical Fish/Selene
Gong – Tropical Fish/Selene
Where is the very best place to buy aquarium supplies online, including shipping prices?
I’ve found lots of sites but don’t know which ones to trust and which ones would provide cheap to free shipping.
Big Als does have a nice selection but shipping is about 9 dollars and I’m not buying that much stuff. I’m really hoping for free shipping because money is tight right now and I just need some artificial plants.
How do I transfer my fish and aquarium rocks safely to a larger tank?
I have a ten gallon fresh water aquarium and just purchased a new 20 gallon.What is the best and safest way to move my fish to the new aquarium? I have a good algae and water balance in my present aquarium. I have a couple guppies, tetras, algae eaters, molly’s and algae eaters.
Yes, thanks. I did say algae eater twice. I was in a hurry.
Is a saltwater aquarium a lot harder to maintain than a freshwater?
I have a freshwater aquarium (10 gallon), and it’s nice and all, but I’d like to try an aquarium with some really beautiful fish. A lot of the colorful ones are saltwater. I take care of my tank, and it’s not a big hassle. I change the water, add some chemicals, feed them, make sure everything is ok every day, and that’s about it. Is a saltwater tank significantly harder to maintain? And besides for what I just mentioned I do to take care of my freshwater tank, what additional things do I need to do to support a healthy saltwater tank?
Or would you recommend just buying a bigger tank and purchasing aggressive fish? Those seem to be really nice too. I was thinking cichlids and some others, maybe an eel too. Can peaceful fish such as my australian rainbow be put in with fish like those? Thanks, any ideas/help/comments would be appreciated.
In answer to how much I want to spend, not too much, but I don’t have a set limit. I want to make sure I get good equipment. The size I’m planning for is 55 gal. Is that a good size that will allow me some diverse fish, or is that too small? Also, as someone mentioned the lighting, is that for the coral etc., or fish? In my current freshwater tank I rarely have the lights on.