Q&A for How to Start a Saltwater Aquarium

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.

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.

Some 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.

A 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.

Yes, 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.

Crabs 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.

The 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.

From 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.

Hook them up in the back of aquarium, side by side. This way, the flowing water will help to push the heated water throughout.

Maybe two to three. It depends on the size of the fish.

Do 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.

No, guppies are a warm-water fish, and goldfish grow huge, need different temperatures, create lots of waste, and need more filtration.

You would want at least 5 gallons in the tank but 10 gallons is the perfect size for shrimp.

Yes, that would be fine.

I suggest an aquarium store, since aquarium salt contains minerals and is more healthy than regular salt.

If you're impatient, 3 days. If you want the fish to have good chances of survival, a week.

Yes, if you are responsible and understand the difference in freshwater fish and saltwater fish.

No. You should have five gallons, at least, for a saltwater tank.

No more than 8, I would say, but it depends on the type and size of fish.

You 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.

You can get the salt mix from the pet store, and mix it with RO water in a bucket before adding it to the tank.

A 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.

No; guppies are freshwater, and will die in a saltwater aquarium very quickly.

Yes, 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.

Yes, corals and clowns are fine together. I have 2 clowns and 10 corals. All are thriving.

There are many. Do an online search for aquarium books, or check with your local library.

Yes, you can keep marine crabs in almost any tank, but you should do some research about them first.

No, that's much too small. You'll need at least a 10-20 gallon tank.

You 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.

Simply multiply the dimensions of your aquarium. For example, 30cm*30cm*30cm / 1000(W*L*H) aquarium would be 27 liters.