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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 12/1/2008 12:03:13 PM
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I'm thinking about doing some saltwater in the future but I keep hearing "saltwater is hard don't do it". So is it really that hard?
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Starting Member
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Last Login: Today @ 12:05:49 PM
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| No, not really. I mean, if you buy stony corals or clams and have to keep the calcium levels in the water up, and if you buy fish with specialized diets, then if will be hard. If you are good about maintaining the water level and salinity in your tank and check your pH levels often, and do all the proper maintenance, then Itwon't be that hard. I think that the real challenge is getting the tank up and running. Between getting the salinity of the water to the right levels, and curing the live rock, setting up the tank can be a really bumpy road.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 38 gallon freshwater: 1 turquoise/green severum, 2 gold gouramis, 4 red & blue columbian tetras, 1 otocinclus, 1 clown loach, 1 bristlenose pleco 30 gallon saltwater: 1 coral beauty angel, 1 clarkii clown, 1 firefish, 1 banded coral shrimp, 1 emerald crab, 1 gray serpent star, about 20 dragon eye zoanthids, 2 green rhodactis mushroom corals, 3-4 red rhodactis mushroom corals, 3 purple and green ricordea mushroom corals, 1 live rock hitchhiker bivalve, and 1 live rock hitchhiker tube worm with 2 long tentacles GO HCHS SWIM TEAM!!!!!!!!
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Junior Member
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Last Login: Today @ 10:34:44 AM
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| In my oppinion, saltwater is easier. More expensive to set up but with the efficiency of the biological (nitrification/denitrification) filter and equipment like skimmers that can remove not just trap pollutants and dosers...... less work to maintain. Most properly stocked reefs only require monthly water changes of 20%-25%. The freshwater tanks I've kept required weekly water changes of the same percentage or more. Just further proof that all things are relative!! :)
So many species, so little money!
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Fishkeeping GURU
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 12/24/2008 1:39:36 PM
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I find saltwater easier in some ways, harder in others. It has a steep learning curve, that's for sure, but once you get past the usually very rough first year or so, it gets much better. In the end, a badly set up saltwater tank will be difficult to maintain forever, but done well, they can be easier than freshwater. I think the key is plenty of dedicated research first and taking it very slow.
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Average Member
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Last Login: Today @ 4:04:50 AM
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I don't find it harder, take away the time spent mixing salt and I spend less time maintaining my saltwater tanks then I do my fresh water tank. (which really isn't much time since the power heads mix it, I just measure it.)
I spend more time on the freshwater then I do on the salt.
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29 gallon f/w various plants and fish.
40 gallon s/w
29 gallon s/w
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Junior Member
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Last Login: Today @ 10:34:44 AM
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| Et tu Guru :), Good to see/hear from you! Again, all things being relative, each has it's high and low ends. A fish only tank of either sort, lightly stocked and properly set up, will be easy to maintain. Likewise a saltwater reef or a freshwater planted tank will require more time and of course experience to keep up. I still hold to saltwater!!:D
So many species, so little money!
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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 12/2/2008 7:05:11 PM
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| I too have both and each have their merits. If you want to go to saltwater, do your research. Check out your LFS and see what they know. Keep in mind they are in business to sell. There are many websites with massive amount of infomation on keeping saltwater. If you want to keep just fish (FOWLR) it is easier than if you want to keep a reef system. People look at my tanks and think it is alot of work, but I don't think so. I love keeping fish and the maintenance is relaxing to me. As with freshwater, the larger the tank the easier it is to keep. There is also alot to learn about water parameters, fish, and invertebrates. Saltwater is also more expensive, but well worth it. Saltwater is quite rewarding!
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