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Q&A for How to Start a Saltwater Aquarium
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QuestionDo I need to feed my fish more than one kind of food?Doug Ludemann is the owner and operator of Fish Geeks, LLC, an aquarium services company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Doug has worked in the aquarium and fish-care industry for over 20 years, including having worked as a professional aquarist for the Minnesota Zoo and Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. He received his Bachelor of Science in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior from the University of Minnesota.It's a good idea to give your fish different types of food. Switching the type of food you give your fish every few days can help them eat a well-balanced diet.
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QuestionWhat are the benefits of a protein skimmer?Doug Ludemann is the owner and operator of Fish Geeks, LLC, an aquarium services company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Doug has worked in the aquarium and fish-care industry for over 20 years, including having worked as a professional aquarist for the Minnesota Zoo and Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. He received his Bachelor of Science in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior from the University of Minnesota.A protein skimmer helps keep the water in your aquarium clean by collecting dissolved organic compounds, such as waste. The protein skimmer will filter these out, leaving the water clean.
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QuestionHow many fish are allowable for a 20 gallon tank and how many live corals can be put into it?Community AnswerSome would say two, but to be honest, you can put as many fish as you want, as long as your bio-load isn't too much for your filtration. A good rule of thumb is to have 1 pound live rock per gallon of water. Corrals are alive to and can produce waste but can also get ride of toxins.
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QuestionCan I use a 20-gallon tank?Community AnswerA 20-gallon tank is the minimum tank size for a reef or saltwater tank. Although it may be harder to maintain than a bigger tank, it is possible to create a saltwater tank using 20 gallons. Be mindful of the fish stocking to ensure that too many fish do not over-pollute the system.
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QuestionCan I use a 10 gallon tank for a saltwater aquarium?Community AnswerYes, but it is much more difficult. The smaller the tank is, the more unstable the system is. Ph, salinity, and temperature can all fluctuate very quickly in a smaller tank, so managing one is not a task suited for beginners.
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QuestionCan I put actual crabs, eels, and starfish in a home saltwater fish tank?Community AnswerCrabs and starfish should be fine. I've heard of starfish eating crabs so be careful of the size of the starfish. As for eels, I wouldn't. But that doesn't mean you can't.
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QuestionWhat fish go together?Community AnswerThe answer is heavily dependent on what size the tank is, what type it is (reef/non reef), and what the water parameters are. Be sure to research each individual fish you may want. For a smaller tank, such as 15-30 gallons, a common fish stocking is a pair of ocellaris clownfish and a firefish, which go great together.
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QuestionWhere do I get the salt mix?Community AnswerFrom any pet store. Synthetic salt is good for beginners. It has a lot more minerals then regular sea salt, but make sure to use RO water.
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QuestionWhere to hook up the filter and heater?Community AnswerHook them up in the back of aquarium, side by side. This way, the flowing water will help to push the heated water throughout.
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QuestionHow many fish can I put in a 16-gallon tank?Community AnswerMaybe two to three. It depends on the size of the fish.
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QuestionIs a 12 year old qualified to keep saltwater fish?Community AnswerDo you have experience with an aquarium? A goldfish bowl isn't considered good fish experience. Are you responsible? If you have good experience and are responsible, you might be able to have a salwater fish tank.
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QuestionCan goldfish and guppies live in an aquarium together?CaeiiaTop AnswererNo, guppies are a warm-water fish, and goldfish grow huge, need different temperatures, create lots of waste, and need more filtration.
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QuestionWhat size tank should I use for a salt water shrimp?Community AnswerYou would want at least 5 gallons in the tank but 10 gallons is the perfect size for shrimp.
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QuestionIs a 10 gallon tank good to have clams in?Community AnswerYes, that would be fine.
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QuestionWhere can I get my salt from?Dylan Posts StuffCommunity AnswerI suggest an aquarium store, since aquarium salt contains minerals and is more healthy than regular salt.
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QuestionHow long should I wait to put fish in the aquarium?Community AnswerIf you're impatient, 3 days. If you want the fish to have good chances of survival, a week.
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QuestionI am ten years old. I researched saltwater fish, freshwater fish, have taken care of a sick fish, know the signs of a depressed/stressed/sick fish et cetera. Am I qualified to keep a saltwater aquarium?Community AnswerYes, if you are responsible and understand the difference in freshwater fish and saltwater fish.
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QuestionCan I start a saltwater tank in a one gallon?Community AnswerNo. You should have five gallons, at least, for a saltwater tank.
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QuestionHow many fish can I have in a 45-gallon tank?Community AnswerNo more than 8, I would say, but it depends on the type and size of fish.
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QuestionHow can I tell if I have the right aquarium for saltwater fish?Community AnswerYou can ask the professional at your local pet shop before purchasing the aquarium, and they will be able to help you complete your purchase according to your needs.
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QuestionHow do you mix salt and water?Community AnswerYou can get the salt mix from the pet store, and mix it with RO water in a bucket before adding it to the tank.
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QuestionI have a 30 gallon tank and I plan to put an eel in it. How long does it need to cycle for?Community AnswerA 30 g tank is too small for even the smaller eels. You need at least a 50 g tank. I would look around and see what fish is compatible with your size tank. Also, there is no specific cycle time, the cycle is over when the nitrifying bacteria can process any added ammonia. I would look up the nitrifying bacteria cycle. The cycle can take a couple of days to up to a month or so. It varies.
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QuestionCan guppies and clown fish live together?Community AnswerNo; guppies are freshwater, and will die in a saltwater aquarium very quickly.
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QuestionCan starfish live in the fish tank?Community AnswerYes, In a properly establish marine aquarium they do great! Be cautious, as some star fish are not reef-safe. A local fish store would be able to advise which starfish would best suit your tank.
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QuestionCan I keep coral and a clown fish in a 10-gallon tank?Community AnswerYes, corals and clowns are fine together. I have 2 clowns and 10 corals. All are thriving.
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QuestionIs there a specific good book I can read to get to get started?Community AnswerThere are many. Do an online search for aquarium books, or check with your local library.
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QuestionIs it possible to grow marine crab in this aquarium?Community AnswerYes, you can keep marine crabs in almost any tank, but you should do some research about them first.
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QuestionCan I make a saltwater tank out of a 3 gallon tank?Community AnswerNo, that's much too small. You'll need at least a 10-20 gallon tank.
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QuestionDo I have to use sand for the bottom of a salt water tank, or can I use gravel like my fresh water tanks?Community AnswerYou can use gravel, you just have to make sure it gets cleaned frequently so salt doesn't build up on the gravel. For that reason, sand is easier, but it's your choice.
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QuestionHow do I calculate how many liters of water will fill an aquarium?Community AnswerSimply multiply the dimensions of your aquarium. For example, 30cm*30cm*30cm / 1000(W*L*H) aquarium would be 27 liters.
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