Who Gives A Fish Forums

Setting up a marine tank isn't on my agenda atm lol, way too pricey, I mean I'd rather buy a horse lol.

I already have a tank, external filter, heater and all that jazz...

But if I was starting from scratch, could I get away with setting up a saltwater tank using just this gear?

Or do I need extra bits like a sump (what's that all about btw?)?

Can't I just use a freshwater setup but with saltwater instead?

Sorry if that sounds daft, I'm just curious lol.

no you cant just use a freshwater setup with saltwater, its way more complicated than that. you'll need a protein skimmer, a chiller, and a few other things. its not just about adding salt, trust me. time and money are a big factor, its a big commitment.

thought so lol!!

so whats a protein skimmer then? i mean, is it like a filter or somethin? do u need it to keep the water clean or what?

You don't actually need a chiller or a protein skimmer. And a sump? Not necessary either.

It's actually possible to use freshwater equipment for a saltwater tank, especially if you're only keeping fish and hardy inverts. In that case, it's not much more expensive or time-consuming than a freshwater tank.

It's only when you get into reefkeeping that saltwater tanks start to get pricey.

Yeah, so for a fish-only setup, you're looking at just adding a couple of powerheads and some live rock.

so i could keep a nemo and some crabs in a marine tank with just a few extras?

i'm in no rush, still loving my freshwater fish atm, but maybe in a few years when i've got my own place i'll set one up - those tanks that double as room dividers are amazing, btw.

anyway, another question - my little 17 litre tank, is it big enough for anything marine? even a tiny hermit crab?

also, do you still need a heater for a marine tank?

bout my tiny tank lol, anything i can put in it?

17 litres is classed as a pico tank. I'd recommend searching the forums or Google for what's suitable, but a hermit crab could work. For tropical marine tanks, you'll need a heater, but not for coldwater ones. However, coldwater setups are less common and might require a chiller, which is quite pricey, depending on where you live.

In a pico tank, you'll also need some filtration, live rock or a powerhead. I'd suggest checking out the forums before setting one up, they're a treasure trove of information. I agree with the others that for a fish-only system, basic equipment can get you by, but once you start keeping corals, you'll need to upgrade.

Many people start with just fish and eventually move to reef keeping, so it's easier to set things up correctly from the start.

thanks guys lol

ive actually managed to convince my mum to let me go marine, so if i can sell my current fish in a couple of years that'd be amazing

questions though - how many fish could i have in my tank, its almost 200 litres

also, out of interest, whats a protein skimmer? someone mentioned it earlier and i was wondering lol

and does my cycling have to start over from scratch? thats the part im dreading

thanks

thx guys, i've managed to convince my mum to go marine, so if i can sell my fish in a couple of years, that'll be brill

anyway, got a few more questions - how many fish can i have in my tank (it's almost 200 litres)?

also, what's a protein skimmer (just out of interest)?

and does my cycling have to start over?

btw, i know some of you said i can use my freshwater setup for marine, but just to confirm, it's not as simple as just adding salt, right?

oh, and one more thing, i know you said i can keep a hermit crab in my little 17 litre tank, but how many fish can i keep in there? is it even worth it, or would it be a nightmare to maintain?