size for salt water tank

Question
QUESTION: I want to set up a salt water tank for my children. they are both young enough to be enamored of nemo and want some clown fish.  What is the smallest tank I could setup for two clownfish and the anemones?

ANSWER: Hello Jerry,

Im not sure how old your children are, but i know some freinds that have children (4 year old) that know the latin/species names of most of his fish and corals...

others tend to just like dory and nemo and things like that, but lose interest quickly.

Keeping a saltwater tank is not hard, but it does take a bit to get started, and you will need to learn quite a bit during that process.

It is also common for folks to get 'small tanks' thinking they are easy and or less expensive, which they are, (less expensive, not easier)... but most folks end up dreaming of getting larger fish and larger tanks, usually within a year, so the costs are not that cheap when they have to buy all over again.

keeping a smaller tank is more difficult then a larger tank...

You will have to do some things more often then folks with larger tanks.

When things change in a smaller tank, they make a bigger impact...

example:  water evaporate.  only FRESH water evaporates, so if you lose 1/2 gallon of waer in a small tank, (lest say 10 gallons) then that is a 5% change in salinity

if you have a 50 gallon tank and lose a gallon of water to evaporation that is only .5% change in salinity

this was just salinity,  there are a handful of other things that change on a daily basis, hourly basis... (temperature will change more quickly on a small tank)

but, to answer your question...

I would suggest nothing smaller then a 12 gallon tank for you and your kids.

JBJ makes a 'all in one' tank that is 12 gallons, it has a cover with light, and filtration in the back.

These things will help, but there are lots of stuff to know, so hopefully you will continue your research and maybe post some progress stuff here or on my new forum at

www.thelittleocean.com

You can chat with me LIVE, or with anyone for that matter


hope to see you around.


bill





---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I already have a 30 gallon freshwater tank that i am thinking of converting to saltwater.  Can I use the same filter equipment that my freshwater fish need?  I have an Aquafilter and a undergravel filter w/air pump installed.  also can you possibly give me a guestimate on the cost of converting this tank. (not including a new home for the few fish in it)  thanks for the help.

Answer
hello,

cleaning hte tank isnt expensive.  a little bleach, a little vinegar and some water and elbow grease


saltwater tanks do not use gravel, or 'undergravel' filtration.  You can use the 'cannister filter' if that is what you have, but that is limited and will create more work as well as more risk/problems...

typically most saltwater tanks use a 'sump', (another tank insde the stand), which contains the heater, filter sock/pads, (optional), and protein skimmer.

You can also use a hang on the tank filter, which again, is limited and more maintenance...

as for cost, hmm, could be cheap could be expensive, depends on what equipment you want, when you want it, where you get it...


I would suggest/reccomend a sump, heater, filter socks, return pump, overflow box, lights, protein skimmer, power heads, live sand, live rock

the sump really isnt that expensive and any old tank will do, as long as it fits under/insdie the stand... some sumps have compartments, which are nice but not necessary.  but building construcing compartments is kind of easy... (with some research)...

lights are kind of pricy... for fish only you can get by with power compacts, although they arent 'electrically and heat' friendly... most folks are using T5 lighting..

Protien skimmer, hmm, they range in price from $100-$5000

I would get something with a name brnd and or reccomended by others, (very subjective)

power head, seio or korallia or tunze or vortech... (AGAIn, pricey and subjective)

anyways, please look around, check out ebay for the items i suggested.

look on craigslist and look at hte complete systems and the equipment list they include and research the price of the different items

anemones require a VERY stable water condition, i do not reccomend placing of anemones into new tanks that are less then 6months to a year old...

anyways, good luck and please keep my posted.

the www.littleocean.com maybe a better place to carry on a dialogue if you are going to have more and more questions...

You will be able to get comments and feedback from me and any number of other members there