Fresh water VS Salt water Tanks

[H20-Cam]

Hey all,

i have a 10gallon freshwater tank with absolutley nothing in it. Ive never dealt

with salt water before and was wondering if i should change to saltwater instead of

fresh water. The salt water fish are more interesting than fresh water, not to say

that freshwater is bad. Ur opinion would be great!

 

[OscarCichlid]

I love my 10 gallon salt tank. I have an AC 150 in it and it keeps the water crystal clear. I have sand substrate, and 3 peices of dead coral. In it are 2 Damselfish and they are fine.

 

[Adrinal]

Copy from a related post:

I just want to make a quick note.

SW FOWLR if done right is not too exensive to get going.

But, you need to stock WAY less than FW. I mean WAY WAY WAY less.

The smallest I would start with is a 40 breeder with a 10/20g sump.

Or nano 10g 1 tiny fish 1 shrimp 20g sump..

(catching the sump part?) esp smaller tank needs a sump IMO.

Much more intensive research for SW.
................
Here is the thing. FOWLR tanks look like crud... well they look ok... after a while you will get some nice purple/green corline growth and a few smokin fish.

But you could have done a cichlid tank. or a nice planted FW tank for less cost, difficulty, space, noise. And, it will look a whole lot better, you can add WAY more livestock per volume/space/filteration.

Its not untill you get to reefing that things start looking better and are more interesting than a FW tank can be.
Still here you need:
1) lots of money for set up. 2) Even more money than that or ability and love of DYI to taper the costs some. 3) Love research (or love to kill losts of animals often. 4) Ongoing costs for electricity.


It can be done semi -economically... but take your time and research a ton first.

To answer your question again directly.

FOWLR tank is not difficult asuming you have hardy species, not overstocked, suitable for your tank size.

 

[drobbins27]

Too sum it up:

Saltwater= Very Expensive
Freshwater= Very Expensive, yet a lot more for what you pay for...and better

 

[Great Lakes]

Close, kind of.

Freshwater = cheap, looks ok.

Freshwater species tank, like Cichlids = Higher cost, can look exceptional.

SW with live rock = Expensive, not much bang for the buck other than fish color.

SW Reef = Freakish costs, high monthly maintenence costs, kids college tuition, induces paranoia. Also addictive. Get larger tanks continually, remodel another bedroom for your daughter because you drilled holes in the wall behind your tank so you could have room for a 100 gallon sump, grow out tanks, prop tanks hospital tanks, refugiums, extra tanks for that fish you just had to have/save, but had no room for in the display tank.

Then people walk into your house and freak out at the sight of it.

GL

 

[Hazmat]

SW Reef = Freakish costs, high monthly maintenence costs, kids college tuition, induces paranoia. Also addictive. Get larger tanks continually

That is so true........I think I'm going to go buy another fish tomorrow

 

[rico]

all that is true but there is also the point that sw is so unforgiving i.e. temp,ph ,salinity and quite a few other factors.sw fish are very intolerant of poor conditions or any that very from the norm because the ocean where they come from never really changes.