A beginner salt water fish tank should be as simple and easy to maintain as possible, although the nature of salt water makes it so even the simplest species will require some careful consideration. Most people start out with cheap salt water fish so they don't risk accidentally killing a $500 investment if they make some mistake in feeding or keeping the water at the right level. There is also live coral that many people like to add, as well as a number of decorative elements that can be used to make the tropical environment livelier. When stocking a beginner salt water fish tank, it's especially important to make sure that the fish are not ill, because they will infect the other fish and cause a catastrophe that no hobbyist wants to deal with no matter how experienced they are. And while cheap salt water fish are a good idea for a beginner, buying an aquarium that is cheap and/or small is not so much of a good idea at all. The live coral and fish life forms will be much healthier and more attractive looking in a higher quality glass tank that is at least 35 gallons and preferably above 55 gallons if space allows. Some cheap salt water fish that are good for beginners are damsels, which are very easy to keep in a wide range of water conditions and are great for people who are still learning the ins and outs of salt water maintenance. The beginner salt water fish tank owner should not introduce species such as grammas, basslets, and hawk fishes until they have a good knowledge and experience of marine fish. Live coral should generally be added at the beginning though, and the hobbyist should get advice about which species are the best for easy maintenance and sharing the space with the fish. With a few cheap salt water fish and a nice little aquarium, it doesn't take long to fall in love with this hobby.
