Aqua Escape

How much do Salt water tanks cost monthly?

Are salt water tanks a very expensive thing to up keep or just to set up?
Thanks

I'm not sure how you want to break down "monthly". Are you talking about the food bill and salt to use for water changes? Or are you talking about the cost of fish (and replacements if one dies), etc? Time invested is also a consideration.

Saltwater tanks in general are quite a bit more expensive (and more work to take care of) than their freshwater counterparts. You should count on at least twice the expense with the original investment for equipment, etc (twice is probably being lenient though, as the cost can be much more than that). Their food costs are probably pretty close, and you'll also need salt for water changes.

You also cannot take the short-cuts that those of us with freshwater tanks take when it comes to changing water, etc. A saltwater tank cannot have fresh water added to it (unless you're topping off from evaporation), so you have to pre-mix the salt water in a separate container a day or two before your actual water change.

The fish are a lot more expensive than freshwater as well, so this may be something to consider too.

There are some great books out there on saltwater tanks and care - and some good beginner books that I've been reading to research for my first marine aquarium, which I hope to set up later this year once we move. I don't want to bother with it now since I don't want the hassle of attempting to move the setup.

Anyhow - good luck if you decide to go saltwater. They're such beautiful tanks!

Consider these types of saltwater aquariums before you make a decision:

1. Fish-only saltwater aquarium – with one of these types of saltwater aquariums, you will house only one fish species. You can choose between coldwater and tropical types of fishes but you can’t keep both types together. Tropical fishes have brighter colors and are quite appealing; examples are angel fish and clownfish. Cold water fishes include tompot blenny and shanny.

2. Invertebrate-only saltwater aquarium – if you choose one of these types of saltwater aquariums, you will take care of invertebrates like hermit crabs, prawn, shrimp, and perhaps sea cucumbers and starfish.

3. Fish and invertebrate – obviously this is a combination of the first and second types of saltwater aquariums. It’s a bit difficult to maintain this type of aquarium because some fishes feed on invertebrates and the other way around. You have to conduct some sort of research before you can choose the fishes and invertebrates that can live together. Diseases or infections easily spread in this type of aquarium.

4. Reef aquarium – before you attempt to set up one of these types of saltwater aquariums, you have to conduct your own research about it because it’s tricky to set up. The aquarium will house different kinds of corals and reefs; you will have a mini-ocean in your own home or office.

5. Specialty salt water tanks – as the name suggests, the aquarium will house a specialty of marine life; for example, you can have an aquarium full of sea horses. Sea horses are known to be slow eaters and timid and so you can’t have other species around it. Sea horses should have tall Types-Of-Saltwater-Aquariumstanks because they swim vertically. Some people have a shark, octopus, or ray aquariums. These sea creatures have special requirements and needs a specialty aquarium.

Saltwater Aquarium Fish Selection Advice