Would You Or Have You Ever Gone Salty Marine/reef..

[Squid]

Always though about Marine myself, but never got round to it for one reason or another. I just wondered how many of us are really budding salty tank keepers, but have not gone down that route for one reason or another, or whether you are just not interested at all.

Interested in your thoughts.

Squid

 

[steelhealr]

Becoming a marine aquarist often causes some trepidation amongst freshwater keepers. I know. I was there. Certainly, the science behind the fish and the water is different, but, many principles are the same:

• fish are animals and each species has certain requirements to thrive
• you must know how to stock your tank with regards to compatibility
• the tanks and equipment require maintenance
• tanks can be kept quite simple or they can be complex biotopes
• if planned well and set up correctly, a marine tank can run with minimal maintenance

Anyone who keeps a freshwater tank can keep a marine tank. I DO explain that outside of freshwater, there are a few considerations that a new marine aquarist should know beforehand prior to diving into the hobby.

1. marine tanks may cost more money over time. Certainly some complex FW biotopes (planted tanks) can do the same
2. marine tanks can take more planning and require some reading to learn the difference in managing saltwater
3. corals can be expensive. On average, SW fish do cost more than FW fish (small SW fish may start at $15-20 whereas many small FW fish can be had for a few dollars).
4. the larger the tank you can afford and have space for, the better off you will be (unless diving into the challenging area of nano reefing)
5. you must have patience to read and learn

Overall, change is what is scariest, but, the only thing you have to fear is fear itself. Once you have a marine tank set up in your house, it truly is a beautiful and mesmerizing thing to behold and the colors.............

SH

 

[ChilliPepper]

I'm hoping to change my 190L into a marine next year at some point, as well as having my 5ft tropical for my larger cichlids. It's something I've always wanted to do, and after several years of tropical experience behind me, I feel ready to think about it! Can't afford it yet though, and want to keep my smaller cichlids for a while yet. Still plenty of species to try

 

[AdAndrews]

if all goes to plan, i will be taking my 125litre spotted puffer tank into marine in about 6 months

 

[BryceHockey]

Would love to go Marine someday, right now the price is the main problem. I could barely afford to get my freshwater tanks going and stocked so Marine definitely isn't a possibility right now.

I wouldn't abandon freshwater though, ideally would love to have one large saltwater tank and a decent sized freshwater tank.

 

[skiltrip]

Always though about Marine myself, but never got round to it for one reason or another. I just wondered how many of us are really budding salty tank keepers, but have not gone down that route for one reason or another, or whether you are just not interested at all.

Interested in your thoughts.

Squid

Around 7 years ago, when I decided to get an aquarium again (had one when I was a kid), I originally was going to go gung-ho and get a Marine tank. That's my personality to go whole hog and sometimes it takes some talking down to straighten me out. So after some discussions with some guys at my LFS, they convinced me to go freshwater, and I'm glad they did. I'm not a huge fan of taking too much extra responsibility. Freshwater is just the right balance of work/pleasure to be the right fit for me.

Since then, I've been very happy with freshwater, and I'll most likely never go Marine, both because of the expense, and extra care and responsibility that needs to be put into it. I find the options for freshwater fish stock to be so huge that I don't feel limited at all.

Good question .

 

[Truck]

Wheres the been there got the T shirt option?

 

[Squid]

Wheres the been there got the T shirt option?

It's there on the end. You must have missed it ;-)

 

[Truck]

Nice one, cheers

 

[Squid]

That's my personality to go whole hog and sometimes it takes some talking down to straighten me out.

I know that feeling.!

 

[OldMan47]

I am starting to feel quite comfortable on this side and have no desire to start a whole new hobby that uses some of the same equipment. I can admire a nice reef tank but have no desire to try to keep one. I suppose that I could quickly learn the basics and have fish survive but why when I can continue to explore the wide variety of FW species without destroying a natural salt water environment.

 

[bae1994]

I am starting to feel quite comfortable on this side and have no desire to start a whole new hobby that uses some of the same equipment. I can admire a nice reef tank but have no desire to try to keep one. I suppose that I could quickly learn the basics and have fish survive but why when I can continue to explore the wide variety of FW species without destroying a natural salt water environment.

well i guess that makes sence but salt water is becoming more andmore tank bred as the laws are getting stricter

but i get what your saying

also there at the moment

 

[Ally555]

If there was someone to pay for everything, then sure, I'd get a marine tank today. I would adapt to the change and do any extra maintenance needed quite happily. But beng only 14 and not having a job, I can not afford it. I also don't have the space, as it would have to go in my bedroom and my tanks already take up all my space. I guess it is a possibility for the future, but for now I'm sticking to tropical aquariums.

 

[Bebobb]

I don't really seem to be interested in the salty side for some reason. I have considered a nano reef a few times, but never actually got into it. I'd rather just stick with fresh water.

 

[lljdma06]

Honestly, I love the look of it and am not particularly intimidated by the maintenance (high-tech planted is very similar), but I feel I haven't yet exhausted the possibilities of freshwater for me move to Marine at this time. I've only recently discovered some of the rarer, smaller fish species and freshwater invertebrates, and I'm enjoying that at this moment. I'd love one eventually, though. Something that explores the biotopes of South Florida or the Caribbean sea. I like the look of the local flora and fauna.

llj