tristan65
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
I just came back from a very good specialty fish store. I went there resigned to buy myself a small freshwater tank since, after much research, it looked too costly and complicated to buy and set up a tank of at least 55 gal to start my first saltwater aquarium (which is really what I want...).
After talking about freshwater tanks with the salesperson (he was highly recommending the Aqua Via tanks with filter incorporated in the hood), he finally got out of me (!) that I would prefer a saltwater tank. He told me that he could sell me a package with a smaller tank to start a reef aquarium -- the store actually has a few smaller tanks set up as reefs as demos. In all of the books I have consulted, the author recommends a tank of at least 55 gal in order to keep good water quality, especially for the invertebrates. He said this was true in the past but that there are now excellent new more compact "all-inclusive" filters on the market that have changed that reality (he was referring to an Amiracle wet dry trickle filter).
Should I follow his advice and buy myself a 26 or 36 gal tank to start a reef (with fish and invertebrates)? I understand that a smaller tank will limit the number and size of the fish I can have but if I have to choose between a reef with a few smaller fish and no saltwater aquarium at all.... Can you tell me if this would be a mistake and I would have a hard time keeping my critters alive in such an environment?
Thanks!
After talking about freshwater tanks with the salesperson (he was highly recommending the Aqua Via tanks with filter incorporated in the hood), he finally got out of me (!) that I would prefer a saltwater tank. He told me that he could sell me a package with a smaller tank to start a reef aquarium -- the store actually has a few smaller tanks set up as reefs as demos. In all of the books I have consulted, the author recommends a tank of at least 55 gal in order to keep good water quality, especially for the invertebrates. He said this was true in the past but that there are now excellent new more compact "all-inclusive" filters on the market that have changed that reality (he was referring to an Amiracle wet dry trickle filter).
Should I follow his advice and buy myself a 26 or 36 gal tank to start a reef (with fish and invertebrates)? I understand that a smaller tank will limit the number and size of the fish I can have but if I have to choose between a reef with a few smaller fish and no saltwater aquarium at all.... Can you tell me if this would be a mistake and I would have a hard time keeping my critters alive in such an environment?
Thanks!