saltwater fish Archives - Seatech Aquariums

10 Best Saltwater Fish for Nano Reef Tanks

With a saltwater aquarium, you have many options for brightly colored, intriguing, and fun fish. Some of our favorite saltwater fish for nano reef tanks include:

Pajama Cardinalfish

Neon, Coral, Firefish, or Shrimp Goby

Royal Gramma

Orchid Dottyback

Blue or Green Chromis

Midas or Tailspot Blenny

Clownfish

Purple Firefish

Pygmy Hawk

Blue Spotted Jawfish (bottom dweller)

A tailspot blenny is ideal for a saltwater reef nano tank.

A tailspot blenny is ideal for a saltwater nano tank.

10 Best Freshwater Fish for Nano Tanks

If you would prefer freshwater fish, maintenance of the nano tank may be somewhat easier because freshwater fish are generally tougher. Here are some of the best freshwater fish for nano tanks:

Neon or Cardinal Tetra

Betta

Harlequin or Chili Rasbora

Guppy

Zebra, Galaxy, or Celestial Pearl Danio

Bluefin Notho Killifish

Dwarf Puffer

Bumblebee Goby

Sparkling Gourami

Salt-and-Pepper Cory (bottom dweller)

Guppies are popular for freshwater nano aquariums.

Not as Simple as It Looks

If you have never owned a fish tank, it may be tempting to try to start with a nano tank.

Keep in mind that a smaller tank will likely get dirty faster, as there is not as much water to help maintain a proper pH level. For that reason, regular water changes are crucial to the health of your fish and to maintain the beauty of your aquarium design.

Because it’s a small living space, it’s also important to choose fish that are likely to be compatible and to include components such as gravel and plants.

For assistance in nano tank maintenance or for general information, contact us at Seatech Aquariums.

On the surface, the differences between freshwater fish and saltwater fish are obvious: one lives in saltwater and the other lives in freshwater. If you delve deeper into the issue, however, you’ll see there are actually several less apparent differences based on the biology and history of the fish.

In fact, you could say the two different types of fish are from different worlds.

The Main Differences Between Freshwater Fish and Saltwater Fish

Let’s start with some basic definitions. Saltwater typically refers to water found in oceans and seas, and freshwater is found in lakes, rivers, ponds, and streams. Freshwater only accounts for less than 3 percent of all the water on earth, but ironically, freshwater fish make up almost half of all fish species.

The differences between freshwater fish and saltwater fish include the idea that freshwater fish are more resilient.

Gourami fish are among the more popular fish for freshwater aquariums.

The way fish take in and eliminate water is perhaps the most significant difference between saltwater and freshwater fish. Fishes’ natural biological functions compensate for the environment in which they live in order to survive.

Both types of fish need salt in order to survive, but the way their bodies function is actually the opposite of what one may expect.

A saltwater fish’s body contains less salt than the water around it. In order to prevent dehydration, it takes in a large amount of water and secretes the salt through its gills. In other words, it’s saltwater in and salt out on a regular basis. Saltwater fish produce very little urine in order to hold onto the now more pure water created through this elimination of excess salt.

A freshwater fish, on the other hand, does hold onto the salt in its body because there isn’t as much of it in its environment. It takes water in through its skin and gills all the time in order to stay healthy. As a result, it produces much more urine than saltwater fish.

Other Notable Differences

There are many differences between freshwater fish and saltwater fish, like this black, gold, and white dotted clown triggerfish.

Saltwater fish, like this Clown Triggerfish, tend to be more colorful than freshwater fish.

Because the bodies of water that freshwater live in are smaller than oceans and seas, the body of water itself changes over time. As a result, freshwater fish may be tougher and can adapt to their environments easier than saltwater fish do. Saltwater fish that live in abundance of space are accustomed to a more stable lifestyle. As a result, taking care of saltwater fish in an aquarium may be a little more challenging.
Freshwater fish can be coldwater fish or tropical fish, while saltwater fish are almost all coldwater fish, which means they are comfortable in slightly cooler water.
Saltwater fish tend to be more colorful and diverse in their appearance as a result of how they live and behave in their natural habitat in the ocean or sea.
A few types of fish and other animals can live in either saltwater or freshwater, although it’s not common.

Brackish Fish

Scat fish are among the most common brackish fish.

Some types of fish live in brackish water, which is where freshwater meets saltwater and where rivers flow into oceans. There isn’t a big selection of these fish, called brackish fish, in the aquarium hobby, although some hobbyists do keep brackish tanks.

Breeds of brackish fish include drum fish, tigerfish, Asian cichlids, halfbeak fish, flagfish, and scats.

Tag Archives: saltwater fish

Saltwater Fish and Freshwater Fish that are Ideal for Nano Tanks