what is the best way to start a saltwater tank?

id like to know about:what fish are good starter fish?what fish are active and entertaining?what the approx cost is for a 29 gallon tank with the works?how to get the enviornment in top notch condition?i have never had a tank with anything more than a goldfish that lived for almost 10 yrs...it was 8 in long!...so i suppose in the fish world i am a beginner...

gOLDFIHS

If you can get clean ocean water to start with that would be best. There are a lot of costs for filtration and keeping the chemistry right.

Here are the main types of marine tanks to consider installing, in order of difficulty and expense:Simple Marine/Fish Only - The easiest saltwater tank - one populated mainly with different types of damselfish - is about as hard to care for as a freshwater cichlid tank, and only slightly more expensive to set up and run. You will need very good filtration, heaters, salt and salt hydrometers, a good book on basic saltwater tanks and a tank of at least 30-40 gallons for best results. Yes, you can get away with a smaller tank and much less fish - but a larger tank will lead to a more stable environment, helping you find success in the marine arena.Damsel fish do cost more than most freshwater fishes (more than $5 a fish), but are much, much cheaper than almost any other saltwater fish. If you are going to be making mistakes with saltwater tanks, it's better to start off with these relatively inexpensive and hardy little damsels. Certain freshwater fish - notably the livebearers, can also be adapted for salt water. Either way, this is the best way for a budding marine aquarist to get a few notches on the old belt of experience.Brackish Tanks - this is not technically a marine tank - but it is not for freshwater fish, either. A brackish tank simulates an estuary environment - places where fresh and salt water mingle. Many lovely animals are adapted to this type of environment. Puffers, eels, archers, scats, monos and livebearers are often seen in such tanks. While brackish tanks have their own set of maintainance rules, these are often easier to care for (and are less expensive) than marine or reef tanks. It can be hard to find certain brackish species in local stores, however. Most brackish animals and plants can be ordered online at the very least. Mangrove swamp themes are popular and incorporate areas of both land and "sea". Marine Fish Community with Live Rock - most of the desirable saltwater fishes fall into this category: clown fish, tangs, butterflys, cardinalfish, squirrelfish, wrasses, angels, triggers, dogfish, grammas. These tanks, once set up properly, can be quite self-sustaining - but only if very large tanks are used - 75 gallons is not too big. You will also need things like protein skimmers, powerheads, live sand and perhaps an attached refugium. Marine fish are very sensitive to fluctuations in salinity, temperature and water quality, so you will want to spend the money on proper tank electronics. The necessary equipment is somewhat expensive, and the fish are also pretty spendy. You don't want to make mistakes with a $50 fish - and that is a cheaper end of the marine fish price spectrum! Of course, you will need to do your research about which fish are peaceful in the tank with others, and plan your community accordingly.Tthese sites have plenty of information on planning salt water communities:Wet Web Media: MarineLive Aquaria Marine Fish IndexAquahobby Marine GalleryReef CentralInvertebrate Tank - This is just like a marine fish tank, but without the fish. In this set-up, the emphasis is on a community of cohabitable invertebrates. These creatures are fascinating and appear truly bizarre. Do your research, once again, before tossing shrimps, crabs and crazy-looking whatnots in your marine set-up.Reef Tank - These are those glorious, colorful, alien-looking tanks full of corals and anenomes. They may or may not actually contain fish, and if they do, are an afterthought. Special lighting equipment is needed, in addition to the usual marine tank necessities. These tanks require very, very specific care, and can cost literally hundreds of thousands of dollars to establish and maintain. Fish must be chosen with care to be compatible with the living corals, and must be used sparingly. After all, fish add to the bioload, and can ruin the perfect water conditions demanded by reef aquaria. Gobies and blennies are common reef inhabitants - indeed, they need a reef environment to survive.You can research types of corals and fish for reef tanks at these sites:Live Aquaria Coral IndexWet Web Media: Marine InvertsReef CentralGL

as rule the minimum size tank for salt water is 50 galloni would suggest you get to know someone from your local pet store who has his own tank ,water chemistry and maintenance is complicated, one mistake and you will kill hundreds of dollars worth of fish

My first question to you is how experienced are you with fish tanks? If you are have you ever run an agressive tank, like oscars or gramies? After reading that you are a beginner I would definate suggest look at a freshwater tank, hobbiest that have had tanks for their entire life, when they try saltwater, fail. But, if your a real risk taker and willing to be devote approx. an hour a day when it starts up, even before fish, heres alittle info. A Saltwater tank is more difficult to run and more expensive. Some say that sea salt is the best way to start a tank, but that is not always necessarily true. First off you gotta take into consideration that odds are the water you can pull from the ocean is not prestine, and microorganisms that are benign is your area may be killers when the water is heated, or cooled dependant on where you are. Also realize that many fish are bred in captivity especially the more common and less expensive ones. Above all remember, Saltwater tanks can be difficult to start, but if you have the patience and time to get it set then you can have a healthy ecosystem. Dependent on how much you want, and how high scale you wish to go I would definately say be prepared to pay over 400 for set up. Thats the tank, the chemicals, the filter, the heater, etc. That does not include additions or fish, and if you are just starting setting it up, I wouldnt worry about fish yet. After you have the water in the tank it will easily take a month before you can even look into fish, I work at a pet shop, and we tell new buyers that a buyer shouldnt really buy fish into the tank has been running for 3 months, we have experts who would say as long as a year. If you want top notch condition, Id have to running and settled to a happy level and fish no earlier than 4 months. Good starter fish are any fish that cost the least, because marine fish prove to be expensive. There is no such thing as a "starter" marine fish. Some can cost 50 plus without being top notch, and pet stores do not carry guarantees on salt water fish that they do on fresh water. What I would suggest is going to a petstore and getting an idea of what kind of marine ecosystem you have in mind. A 29 gallon marine tank is alittle on the small size, so you will find yourself limited. Odds are they will tell you that you should invest in atleast a 50 gallon tank. In a 29 gallon tank expect about 6 fish, depending. Once you know what kind of fish you want, talk to the marine specialist, they will be very helpful. Its difficult to give definatives without an idea of the size of the tank or what you want, 29s can be long, tall or wide, and that makes a difference, and prices on fish vary with the market. I wish you the best of luck.

start with small tank.start with anything available on your locale. dont go for color, active or entertainiing. what is important is you learn from raising the fishes. choose the hardy type fishes or curstaceans. you may fail at first but you know experience is the best teacher.

If your just a beginner to fish and tanks right now i would not suggest starting a salt water tank. They are extremely hard to take care of and require much more time then freshwater tanks. Their also much more expensive. I really suggest you start a freshwater tank youll be much happier you did.

i have 2 saltwater tanks a 55 gal and a 30 high. salt tanks and fish are costly , damsels are ur stater fish to get the biological filteration started for the other fish. damsels are pretty hardy fish. it takes about 3 mon. to 1 yr. to actually be able to put other fish in.u have to buy a test kit for saltwater that runs about 25.00 - 30.00 dollars depends on what u get. u need to goto a pet store and get everything priced . i have 2 niger triggers in my 55 gal tank , they are active, like to fight.