a few questions...

how much would you spend on a salt water aquarium setup? the tank i have is 3 feet long and 2 foot deep. i also want ot add coral ect. any ideas? i haven't decided on the fish yet!

in a tropical tank, would you use real plants or fake ones?

i have some tropical fish and im thinking of getting some more, i have done some research on the fish i want but want something unusual, better if they are bright coloured. i have dark coloured fish, (2 silver sharks, 6 black skirts, 1 pleco and 2 clown loaches). i like all these fish but want some colour in the tank!

thanks for your time!

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0.0.1 anery corn snake
1.0.1 bearded dragon
0.1.0 berber skink
1.0.1 leopard gecko
2.0.0 cats
loads of tropical fish

marine tank, would spend about 1000-1500 quid, on decent equipment and livestock

i'd always plant it properly if i went freshwater, live plants, CO2 kit, undergravel heating the full works

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1.1 leos, 1.1 fat tails, 0.2 Beardies, 1 Whites, 2.0 Cresties, 4.1 Cats, Fish: 4.4 P. Dovii, 5.5.6 Peacock Bass (5 sp), 1.1 C 'Cobra', 1.1 festae, 1.1 green terror, 1.1 nics, 1.1 C. Marmorata, 1.1 C. Johani, 1.1 C. 'Strigata', 1.1 C. 'red tapojas'; 1.1 P. Friedrichsthalli, 1.1 Mots, 1.1 managuense, 1.1 H. Bocourti, 1.1 H. Pearsi, 1.1 H. Carpinte, 1.1 H. Cynoguttatum, 1.1 V. Argentea, 1.1 V. Zonatus, 1.1 N. Salvini, 2.2 Grammodes, 3.4 Hoplarchus Pssiticus, 2.2 Trimacs, 3.4 haitiensis, 1.1 tetracanthus, 3.2 Red tiger mots, 14 Uaru (2 sp) 1.1 Umbies, 2 Arapaima, 3 Red tail catfish, 1.1 P. Leopoldii, 1.1 P. Motoro, 3 Silver Arowana, Var. polypterus, var. Channa sp, M. wyckii, 3 siamese tigers, 2 jelly catfish, 1 Golden dorado
Member number 1717

Marine Keeping is almost a hobby in its own right and there is a very steep learning curve.
I would say try a fish only system with live rock, corals can be extremely problematic.You would need VERY powerul lights ,like metal halides, to provide the necessary light for the corals . This increases evaporation in the tank and adds to your power bill .

The tropical freshwater end of the hobby is just as rewarding, with tons of colourful fish. I would recommend some brightly coloured guppies or swordtails, but if you want something different a pair of Kribensis cichlids or some Serpae Tetras would add a dash of colour too.