Why Saltwater Aquariums are so expensive?!

[GraffixMedias]

Spoiler alert - spent probably $100 setting up my tank and my clownfish are chillin 2 years later. Super hardy creatures

[mllrd]

“Other people will try to sell you their aquarium kits” proceeds to try and sell his aquarium kit

[microwavabl]

So if you want real advice from someone who has a 125g salt water tank, worked in a pet store for years, and is studying to be a marine biologist, here we go. Firstly, this tank is far too small for any salt water aquarium, these fish need way more room. Also, the actual reason salts tend to be more expensive is that most have a hard time breeding in captivity meaning around 80% (give or take depending on the fish) are actually taken right out of the ocean. So, the things to actually know for success. One, start big with quality. In general it is way easier to keep a larger tank as the fish have fewer disputes (no fish actually do well together, some just work better than others) and are less stressed. Yes, it’s more work for you and a more expensive upstart, but trust me, it will save you money in the long run due to fewer casualties. Secondly, start with less expensive, hardier fish as you always will have some casualties to begin due to less experience and also tanks typically have a bit of a bump at the beginning for everyone before it is established due to factors like beneficial bacteria needing to build up and plants needed to grow. That’s another thing, please for the love of god use live plants. Yes, it will be more expensive to buy, but especially if you’re taking in fish that are used to the ocean, you need to do your best to simulate their normal environment as closely as possible, and that means live plants. These also contribute a lot of other things to the tank that you can look up because I’m already typing a lot here. And honestly the biggest piece of advice is just to not get disheartened as this hobby is fun but can be brutal. There will be many upstart deaths, your tank will likely get diseased at some point and die off with salts, and there will be a lot of work with little payback often and you really do just need to get through it as it gets so much easier with more time as the tank becomes stronger and you get more knowledgeable. Now hopefully this helps someone at some point.

[heroinfather]

$500 is not cheap… especially for a 20-30L cube tank kit

[hommefatale]

Great work george. Brings me back to the first saltwater aquarium that i started with. Many years later, im still in the hobby.

[CrustaceonsReef]

I have twenty plus years in the hobby and have owned tanks ranging from a two gallon pico system to a two hundred gallon system. That being said, a saltwater aquarium can be very inexpensive to own and maintain. The key however is having PATIENCE, discipline in choosing live stock (Don’t add too many or too large fish to your tank!) and doing consistent maintenance. Where most people go wrong is rushing the initial cycle, adding too many fish and not doing consistent and temperature/salinity accurate water changes. For a basic clownfish system with an anemone, I’d recommend a 20 gallon long tank or 29 gallon bowfront. Add rocks, sand, water and your heater, light and a small circulation pump. Turn on your equipment and let the tank run as it normally would.. For cycling, I typically start my cycles with a piece of raw cocktail shrimp placed in sandwich bag filled with little holes to allow water flow to pass through. Use whatever starter bacteria you like. You want to see the water get cloudy and turn clear on its own. After that, wait an additional month before adding any animals to the tank (This is where most people mess up.). Your ammonia and nitrites WILL be zero and your tank will be ready to successfully keep fish and invertebrates. After that, every week, use a gravel vacuum to clean the clean the sand while draining out 10% of the water volume. Mix the same amount of replacement salt water (Tap water isn’t ideal but it can work. Just make sure to use a dechlorinator) using a refractometer and bring it up to the temperature of the tank using a spare heater (which you should always have anyways). Add when it’s ready. And keep in mind, during the week, you’ll have to add a little bit of reverse osmosis fresh water to the tank to compensate for evaporation. I like to make a small sharpie mark on the back corner of the tank as a “water level” indicator. For feeding two clownfish, I recommend only feeding them enough food daily that can be consumed within two minutes. I prefer a mix of frozen brine and mysis shrimp. Avoid flake or pellet food as it tends to be loaded with phosphates and can very easily cause hair algae outbreaks.

[mortemracoon]

$500 for that nano tank kit? absolutely not.

[sirderpsalot]

I would say the biggest reason is people not doing their due diligence in learning proper fish husbandry and a bit of necessary biology.

[TRW]

$500 is way too much when you can buy a fluval 13.5 for $150

[jaimeparra]

Lmaoooo, my boi tryna sell them shits, my boi said “ I need to sell at all costs” ifwy, I support, do yo thing

[Bluetongue.]

People, please don't take advice about setting up a salt water aquarium from a guy who set up a regular HOB filter in his
..

[Dan-xxjq]

I think it is an excellent idea! As most folk I know are absolute beginners and are fearfull and intimidated, as I was, when i looked at all the complex equipment in the back of the tank.
But if a beginner can get the complete kit, ie "Salt Water Tank for Dummies", it would be so exciting to immediately start your tank without having to spend hours researching and studying all that is required to run it.

[yhashizume]

Me just chilling with my 10 gallon grouper tank and my saltwater waterpump and decorated my aquarium with free beach sand and rocks.

All that I just spend $56

My tank just chilling for 2.5 years

[douggiles]

Just wondering how 4+ out of 7 pages of reviews on your website all seem to be written the exact same date: December 17th 2023? Seems strange that the first couple reviews are spaced apart and seem normal then a majority of them miraculously get written the same day and all 5 stars, something smells fishy and not in a good way. 😂

[ramusbadisfish]

$499.99 what sets this product apart from other brands that sell their kits at similar if not cheaper prices? Like the fluval saltwater 32g kit is $499.99 for your 15 gallon
And they have a 13.2 gallon for $200

[sumtingwong]

I love how he looks away when he says "ill refund your money". Dont buy this shit

[josephbarajas-dy]

“Buy his kit it’s the best of the best”. ”your fish won’t die” lol every tank is like the same he just tryna get talk to buy his product lol

[niqht_maree]

If you just want clowns its a total of like 200 dollars. Its really just slightly more expensive than freshwater. All you need is live rock with some clowns and all the other basic kits

[mdnehal]

500 dollars for this aquarium? In india we get the same all the equipment for 2000INR which is about 24.00 USD

[ELLI-iz]

I love how You sit and talk about how expensive saltwater tanks are and then you say “Buy my kit!” And I go to check it out and it’s $550😂