Saltwater fish are easier to care for than ever, and many people that have stuck to freshwater because of its easy maintenance are now making the switch. It actually is not as hard as one might think to convert a freshwater tank to a fully functioning salt water fish aquarium. And there are many types of cheap salt water fish that you can find to start a new tank with, and after getting the hang of things there are more exotic and expensive species to enrich the tank with.
When converting a freshwater tank to a salt water fish aquarium, you should consider the size of their current tank. For the saltwater fish to thrive it is best to have at least a 29 gallon tank, so anything smaller than that will probably not be sufficient. A larger salt water fish aquarium is even better. Larger tanks are more forgiving for the beginner saltwater fish owner, so you can learn if you are overcrowding or overfeeding without killing the fish. Temperatures also fluctuate less in a large salt water fish aquarium, which is good for a beginner.
Once your old fish are gone, you can disassemble the tank and clean everything out with warm water. You should never use soap or glass cleaner in a salt water fish aquarium. Saltwater fish also require different pieces of equipment and supplies than their freshwater cousins. Aragonite-based gravel, a good marine salt mix and a hydrometer to measure how much salt is in the water are all required. Then all you need is some cheap salt water fish; everything else you should be able to transfer from the old freshwater aquarium.
Before putting the saltwater fish into the aquarium, you also want to make sure the heater is working properly, and if the light bulb is old you might want to consider replacing it. Now you're ready for those beautiful saltwater fish!
