Need Help Deciding On Marine Or Fresh Water Aquarium.

[nathanxjr]

Hi. I want to start a marine aquarium. Problem is I have never kept fish befor and after doing some research I have now come to realise there is quite alot of science behind it and alot of patience even more so at the setting up stage. all of that I dont mind.trouble is I cant go any bigger than a 60 litre tank because of room and im not sure if this is big enough for a fish only marine aquarium any advice and tips form you people in know would be great. thankyou.

Nathan.

 

[winngames]

there is a little bit of science to all successful fish keeping and if your planning on a fish only tank theres not that much at all (most of the science is for keepin coral ) , im havin a little problem myself with nitrates but you get that with freshwater . in most marine fish keeping books they say minimum size for a marine tank is 3 foot, my lfs said the same.. personally i think thats rubbish, if that was the case they wouldn’t sell tanks like nano cubes. as for settin up ;

1) tank
2) lights
3) skimmer
4) filter
5) salt

and with all fish tanks, marine or fresh water you have to allow at least 6 weeks for the tank to mature. as for stocking a 60ltr tank i think you would be ok with 2 clowns. how much are you looking to spend btw ? the other big difference with marine and freshwater fish is price (not really a issue with a fish only tank ) i paid in total for a 20g tank, 10kg of live rock (buyin more tomorrow )and all the equipment about £480, i have 4 fish in the tank and that came to £92 1 mandarinfish, 1 copperband butterflyfish and two clowns

 

[weathermen]

Nathan

go with salt mate, I have freshwater and salt,

I run a high tec freshwater with CO2 and fertz, I also have a 75g Marine, since I've gone to marine I feel this is where I wonna be, the science isn't that bad, you will get all the help you need on here, the main difference is cost!

If I could go back "not that I didn't enjoy freshwater" I would have gone for salt, like most I was confused, the choice is yours!

good luck!

 

[Chuka1212]

I think the choice between freshwater and marine is a tough one, but there are some options to weigh...

1) the first is the cost. Without a doubt marine is more expensive, there is more equipment to buy, and if you want a tank that is more forgiving of mistakes, it should be bigger, which will cost more. Fish are generally more expensive for saltwater and you also must consider that most pet shops (at least where I live) offer no guarantee on the fish, where as fresh water almost always do.

2) You must also take into consideration the selection where you live. In most places it is a heck of a lot easier to get a hold of a bigger variety of freshwater fish. You must also think about how advanced into fish keeping you want to get. I feel like in certain areas where fresh water fish are more available, the possibility to breed and really advance in the hobby is easier. Again this depends on where you live.

3) about your comment on the science of keeping a fish tank, I feel like you are right. To do a tank right the first time and to have happy healthy inhabitants, attention to details and good husbandry is necessary and yes, there is science involved. But that doesn't mean people can't learn to do it.

4) Saltwater fish are more sensitive. They come from a body of water which has relatively constant conditions, whereas freshwater fish are always dealing with changes in their natural environment. So marine fish will be less forgiving of mistakes and sometimes are a bit more difficult to take care of.

In conclusion I would say, do some research, look at the fish available, and find out your budget. Ultimately it comes down to what ever seems more attractive to you. Good luck and let us know what you decide!

 

[Colin_T]

you posted this in the saltwater section. Everyone here is going to say saltwater not fresh
But seriously it is up to you. Unfortunately a 60litre tank is small so you will be limited to the type and number of fish you can keep in it. But it's not impossible.

Your best bet would be to go to a few different fish shops and look at the fish. Write down the names of any fish that take your fancy and bring the list back here. Then we can give you more advice on whether to go salt or fresh.
You can also have a chat to the workers and see what they think. Then come bcack here and get confilcting ideas

If you can't get to a fish shop then check out the local library and have a look in the marine fish books and freshwater quarium books. They will have pictures of fish along with the common and scientific names of them.

And if you can't be bothered doing that then check out the link below. There are pics of salt and freshwater fish.
http/www.perthaquarium.com.au/gallery/gallery.phtml

 

[nathanxjr]

Hi. tanks for all your comments so far.I must admit I find the marin fish more exciting than fresh. I wasnt even into fish about a month ago. Then I went into a new aqurtics centre that has opened. once i was in there I walked straight past the cold and fresh water tropical fish and naturaly just stopped at the marine section. I was there about half an hour just looking at all the amazing colours and shapes of the fish. Ive been doing some research ever since. budget isnt realy a problem as ill just buy a bit each month when I get paid. I realy like some of the clown fish so I would want them in my collection. basicly I would like any fish quite small and as colourfull as possible. Those little crabs look quality to but I realise they need a place out of water to. I could also do with a shopping list from you guys so I know what to get on to top of the tank.I want it to be a fish only tank. im not realy into the reef side of the hobby. not to say I wont be in the future. Please keep the advice coming its helping me loads.

Nathan.

 

[Colin_T]

a basic glass aquarium on a stand with a coverglass and a fluoro light unit is suitable for a fish only tank. Any sort of power filter will keep the water clean, although and external unit is probably better because it can hold more filter material. Add a layer of shell or sand on the bottom and a few rocks for decoration, then fill the tank with seawater and allow it to run. Add some ammonia to get the filters going and in a month or so you can add fish.

 

[steelhealr]

Hi...great post. Somethings above I agree with and some I don't nathan.

There is no doubt, that, for the most part, keeping a marine tank is more labor intensive and costly than keeping a freshwater tank. HOWEVER, there are some freshwater fish which are difficult to keep and require exacting parameters to keep healthy. For example, keeping discus....or a freshwater ray....is not like keeping a 20 gallon tank full of neon tetras or guppies. If you need a tank large enough to support a big fish, eg, a 300 or 400 gallon tank, well, costs and effort could go way up.

As for sensitivity of marine organisms vs freshwater, they are a lot hardier than we give them credit for. I have a clown living now for almost 3 years and a watchman going on almost 2 years. They've been through some conditions nastier than my FW tank...and they are doing great ( I have a 46G FW community tank).

You'll have to weigh on your own which way you want to go. There is no 'contraindication' for starting out with saltwater straight from the get go. I DO think that, if you had room, there is some good experience to gain with starting out with freshwater. First off, you get a feel for cycling and the ammonia cycle....you get a feel for doing some water changes....you get a feel for working with the equipment. You also learn if you like fishkeeping. It would be shame to fall out of 'like' with fishkeeping and lose hundreds of dollars by investing in SW first.

When you start with SW, there IS a higher initial investment...there IS more equipment...and 'stranger' things happen that you have to deal with in SW (eg, 'hitchhikers')..but...as most will tell you here, the glory of having a piece of 'reef front ocean property' in your home, well, it can be breathtaking.

Bottomline..it's a personal decision and if you have the funds, either way to start is fine. I DO caution people that starting a nano tank is a different animal and truly requires maintaining excellent water quality without fail. A 75G marine is really the size to start with. If you DO decide to 'go nano', take your time to read, research and prepare well. Everyone here is well-suited to guide you. Good luck. SH