Newbie Getting Started

[badlandz]

Hi everyone, I posted in the newbie forum for freshwater and didn't get any responses, and this is marine related.

I have been reading a lot about keeping aquariums recently and my eventual goal is to have a nano FOWLR, possibly reef (probably around 15 US gallons). I have never had a tank before have pretty much decided to start off with a tropical freshwater tank to save myself some money, probably the lives of some fish and get some experience for the time being. Also, I may be moving out of state within the next year or two, and would be much more willing to go ahead and donate freshies back to a LFS and just move equipment. I imagine figuring out how to move a FOWLR or reef would not be an easy task. Is this a good way to go about this? I am guessing that a lot of you have freshwater experience as well as marine. I was also wondering if anyone had any suggestions for equipment that could be used for a freshwater tank and be converted for use in a marine tank at a later time.

Thanks!

 

[SkiFletch]

Well badlandz, tbh, FOWLR tanks are barely more difficult than freshwater tanks. About the only thing different is the addition of seawater mixes and how to use those. Otherwise it's the same thing. Live Rock IS your filter and most fish choices for a tank that size are quite hardy. Knowing what I know now, I would have jumped straight into a FOWLR instead of spending time with freshwater. JMO of course

 

[Lynden]

The only reason SW is more difficult than FW is because of the cost in my opinion.

 

[badlandz]

You guys just have to make it hard on me huh? Haha, just kidding. I'm getting a couple of books (Paletta's New Marine Aquarium and Fenner's Conscientious Marine Aquarist) so maybe I should hold off on a decision til I read through them.

Let me ask this then, does anyone have experience moving long distance with a tank? Is it just easier to just sell the tank and start over?

Edit: Scratch that, I'm going to be moving to Canada and it looks like they will not allow me to import fish anyways.

 

[jeasko]

that made your decision easier then!
as lyden and ski both said with FOWL systems there is very little more to keeping them than a FW system, as lyden points out the most difficult part is the costs involved.

Guess you may want to reconsider once you have settled where your going.

 

[badlandz]

Yup, I will certainly be looking to setup a FOWLR tank once I have moved. In the meantime I still think I'm going to do a FW tank with cheaper fish that I wouldn't mind donating back to the LFS before I move. This way I can still have something and test to see if this hobby is really for me, and be sure that its not just a passing interest.

 

[SkiFletch]

Oh, just a question: Are you going to ship the tank to Canada? If so, you can start by buying a nano tank now and use it for freshwater

 

[badlandz]

Oh, just a question: Are you going to ship the tank to Canada? If so, you can start by buying a nano tank now and use it for freshwater

Yes, I think I'll do that.