see i want to set up an aquarium for saltwater fish but i’m not sure how and what i need.Also if a reef and a saltwater are the same or different ?
see i want to set up an aquarium for saltwater fish but i’m not sure how and what i need.Also if a reef and a saltwater are the same or different ?
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a reef tank contains coral and invertebrates in addition to fish. A saltwater can contain fish only, fish only with live rock, or be a reef tank.
As far as what you need I’m going to assume you know about freshwater tanks and go from there. Above and beyond what you need for a freshwater tank you will need a protein skimmer. If you go with a reef tank you will also need enhanced lighting. You will have to have at least high output florescent or compact florescent. You will need a hydrometer which measures salt levels. For a reef tank you will also need live rock and live sand additives of various chemical elements and a specialized test kit, and either and RO filter or a local fish store that sells RO water,
if you are a beginner, do ALOT of research by looking online, talking with many people who own one and taking notes. i would start out with a 100 gallon or bigger tank. smaller than 80 gallons isnt really good… so think bigger the better! it takes constant attention and you need to cycle for 2-3 weeks. so go to your pet store, invest on a big aquarium tank, and get some opinions on things you can get for it. i can tell you right now, that you will need flouresent lights, filters, heaters, bubblers, and live plants. there are many different things you can do with a saltwater aquarium, many different fish you can own. and it is a very rewarding expierience.
reef aquariums are basically live plant aquariums with sea cuccumbers, live sand and coral. the saltwater aquarium basically consists of different kinds of fish as well as the plants and all.
Depending on size $800 to $1500.
In a saltwater tank, you only have fish, invertebrates, and live rock. In a reef tank, you have fish, invertebrates, live rock, and coral. A reef tank requires much more research, higher water quality, and expensive lighting. A duel T-5 light strip for my 10 gallon nano reef cost $80. Thats only a 20" light strip too.
You need to watch the fine print. Generally reef refers to saltwater, but there are exception. Watch for fresh or saltwater. You can buy fake reef to use in either. If as you get better you decide to try live coral most of the time you’ll need saltwater. Read something about fresh water coral but don’t know what it is. Saltwater fish and invertebrates are tougher to keep. Just read this explanation: Animal in the sea evolved in a habitat the remand pretty steady, so they need water condition that remains the same and high quality. Fresh water fish had to deal with many different habitat so you can fudge a bit, but nothing going to survive very poor water. Try signing up for abouts saltwater news letter. Got there by running search under Saltwater aquariums. Just starting myself, and spent long time to see if it is doable. They all say the same: look before you leap. You will find tons of stuff on the web good luck and enjoyment shorting though it all.