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Best fish tank under 5 gal for saltwater

trever22

trever22

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Im thinking of getting into salt water fish lately. My dad was really big on saltwater but when he married my mom he had to get rid of all his stuff cause she didnt like it:yabbmad: So I have been looking on ebay and found a few but I am not sure if its the right one to get. I want one preferably about 3 gal. I dont really know much about setting one up but my dad could help me with that. But what fish tank do you guys suggest I get, You opinions are appreciated :D

Thanks,
Trever
 





Coherent Light

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That's really to small unless you only want a fish or two. Saltwater fish require more area per fish vs freshwater.
I've been saltwatering for 20 years
 
trever22

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Coherent Light said:
That's really to small unless you only want a fish or two. Saltwater fish require more area per fish vs freshwater.
I've been saltwatering for 20 years
Click to expand...
I dont plan on having many fish and I need it to be small. I see videos on youtube an they have a 1gal salt water :crackup: So I say why not 3 gal. But any suggestions
 
hakzaw1

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THE smaller the tank the quicker things go wrong- less than 40/50 gallons is too small- most serious salt aquarists also maintain a small say 25/30 gal as a 'hospital' tank and keep new arrivals seperate to assure you are not introducing problems and to house any fish(cheapest is ~$7) that shown early signs of issues. Without major experience with fresh or brackish tanks you should expect a lot of loss of fish and $$$. Also you new tank needs to be up and running few weeks before you add any $ fish.

The stuff needed costs many times more and you need a lot more of it and why not just go with Chiclids?? some are as colorful as salt. S. American or African are nice (but dont always mix well)dats what I did.

3 gallons is fine for a goldfish or a betta or pair of bettas.
 
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Coherent Light

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You can do under 5gal. Maintaining water quality becomes more difficult the smaller the tank. Larger tanks have less variability with salinity, PH, and temperature. I ran a 20gal reef tank for years, and was told it should have been impossible Ha Did It. If You go small you'll need to stay on top of water changes and the like. Go for it if you have the time to devote to it.

Len is correct in what he is saying. My latest tank is a 76gallon bowfront with 2 175 14000k metal halides and a 75 watt compact fluorescent. which I hope to restart soon now that I'm semi-settled.
 
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trever22

trever22

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hakzaw1 said:
THE smaller the tank the quicker things go wrong- less than 40/50 gallons is too small- most serious salt aquarists also maintain a small say 25/30 gal as a 'hospital' tank and keep new arrivals seperate to assure you are not introducing problems and to house any fish(cheaprest is ~$7) that shown early signs of issues. Without major experience with fresh or brackish tanks you should expect a lot of loss of fish and $$$. Also you new tank needs to be up and running few weeks before you add any $ fish.

The stuff needed costs many times more and you need a lot more of it and why not just go with Chiclids?? some are as colorful as salt. S. American or African are nice (but dont always mix well)dats what I did.
Click to expand...
If I could I would go for the big, but like I said my dad knows alot about saltwater fish and thats pretty much all he knows :crackup: So yes I know you have to have the tank running for a while before you add fish. And you have to add a specific amount of salt and keep it a certain temperature. I just dont want to spend a shitload. A 3 gal IMO is perfect. Like I said if I could go bigger I would but I cant.

I was thinking about this JBJ PicoTope Aquarium/Tank
 
Coherent Light

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Marine Depot is good supplier. The tank looks nice, however it will not be as easy as they make it seem. Since You have help you could probably make it work.
 
hakzaw1

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you'll see- Coh-L is the exception not the rule--I saw what happens dozens of times as Pet shop employee. And they were the ones that ignored my advice and insisted on salt w/o reading the books and heeding good advice. Whats you Dad say about 3 GAL salt?

I still say go with cichlids. Sooo much easier and many will think they are salt.
 
Coherent Light

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Len is telling you straight, and African chiclids do have some flash to them. If You do get with marine depot be prepared for some ups and downs till you figure out what will work and what won't.

It took years before I was confident enough to try a 20gallon saltwater tank.
 
trever22

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hakzaw1 said:
you'll see- Coh-L is the exception not the rule--I saw what happens dozens of times as Pet shop employee. And they were the ones that ignored my advice and insisted on salt w/o reading the books and heeding good advice. Whats you Dad say about 3 GAL salt?

I still say go with cichlids. Sooo much easier and many will think they are salt.
Click to expand...
I havent told my dad about my brilliant idea yet:crackup: And the reason I dont just go with cichlids is because I wanted a clown or 2 and a damsel
 
Coherent Light

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I would recommend a 35gallon corner tank. It's not too large, but it will give you more wiggle room on water quality. Surface area is not as high as with a square or rectangle, but you're dad prolly won't let you overload it.

The pico tank will have some die off no matter what you put in it. trial and error = expensive saltwater fish.
 
trever22

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Coherent Light said:
I would recommend a 35gallon corner tank. It's not too large, but it will give you more wiggle room on water quality. Surface area is not as high as with a square or rectangle, but you're dad prolly won't let you overload it.

The pico tank will have some die off no matter what you put in it. trial and error = expensive saltwater fish.
Click to expand...
Anything under 5 gal?
 
Coherent Light

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Honestly Nope. Only for a medicine tank. It's your decision were just showing you the pitfalls with small tanks.
 
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