New tanks take a while to “settle” and stop looking ugly, and you’ll need to go through the learning curve to learn about nutrient flow in your tank.īecause saltwater fish are pricier than freshwater, losing a fish can be devastating. It comes about because of a mix of factors, including the water you use, your salt mix, and the lights. So, to keep your salinity constant, you either need an auto top-off system or the patience to do the math.Īlgae is a problem that often surprises beginners. Saltwater evaporates quickly, and you can’t just top it off like a fresh tank. Salinity is an important water quality parameter that isn’t present in freshwater tanks. With balanced parameters, any algae under control, and a level head, you will thrive with your new saltwater tank. It’s not that keeping them is difficult, just that it’s a more complex process than with freshwater fish. How Hard is it to Keep Saltwater Fish?ĭespite their reputation, many of the popular saltwater fish types are hardy and will be forgiving of your first mistakes.
Tanks must fully cycle before any fish are introduced.Remember that even peaceful saltwater fish can dislike similar species in the same tank.Compile a solid “stocking list,” with careful thought to space and, if trying for more than one species, compatibility and aggression.Second, most saltwater fish need a lot more space than freshwater fish, so plan accordingly. First, you need to realize that cycling a saltwater aquarium can take up to 6 weeks, and often averages 4. By taking it slowly and carefully, you can enjoy saltwater fish as a beginner. However, don’t let that put you off of a very rewarding hobby. Saltwater fish are also an expensive hobby compared to their freshwater counterparts, so you don’t want to make costly mistakes! So, understanding the needs of a basic setup is key. Saltwater Tank Setup for BeginnersĪ saltwater aquarium can seem intimidating, and it is a more complicated aquarium type than basic cold water or tropical aquariums. It’s not a beginner-friendly fish at all, so save this beauty for later in your adventures. You also need an excellent reef system for them to thrive at all. They’re also large and active, yet fail to thrive if there are bigger or more active fish in the reef. Very beautiful, but as difficult to feed as the Mandarin fishes. When you’re taking your first steps towards owning saltwater fish, the last thing you want to do is run into an aggressive fish-or one that will starve itself to death in your beautiful new tank.īelow are some popular saltwater fish that are best left to specialists or advanced owners, despite their popularity. It breeds well in captivity, and tank-raised Yellow Tangs adapt well to new setups and are hardy. A native of Hawaii, their ecosystem has been dangerously overharvested, and from 2021, there is no more legal harvesting of wild-caught Yellow Tang. It’s critical you look for a tank-raised Yellow Tang. They also need you to give them plenty of rock for picking at algae and other microflora which will develop. They’re active grazers that need a lot of swimming space, as they’re also active swimmers. This is slightly less of a beginner saltwater fish than some on our list but can still be well-managed in a new setup if you’re willing to understand them.
Scientific Name: Dunckerocampus pessuliferus.However, they’re a nice challenge in the right tank. Some invertebrates are also hostile to them. They don’t like fast-moving or aggressive fish and don’t do well with corals that sting, corals that consume small fish (brain coral), or anemones. They need to be kept in mated pairs or small groups and only do well with shy and small fish, like dragonets, seahorses, and firefish. The Candy Pipefish has an attractive and bold cream and red coloration with dark rings. You’ll find them close to the bottom, but rarely at the substrate level. Strictly speaking, it’s more closely related to the seahorse than fish, but it makes for an interesting addition to your reef tank. This is probably the hardiest pipefish and can be good for advanced beginners, although they’re a lot more difficult to keep than the others on our list.
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