should i try out saltwater
- Thread starter fish_man_ben
- Start date
Welcome aboard
I strongly suggest doing thourough research on everything Nitrifying Cycle, Filtration, aquarium size, and each fish specie you are interested in. Like stated more expensive than Freshwater but not difficult if research is done prior.
Exhaustive and complete list of hobbies that are not money pits:
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Origami? Maybe?
Ive been doing freshwater for many years, and just this year I decided to try saltwater. I was always under the impression it was difficult and more expensive (but you never know until you try.)
So I used my 150L (100cm x 35cm x 45cm) with a sunsun 304b canister filter. and honestly I find it just as easy as freshwater, if not easier in some cases.
The key thing about SW is not to overstock, and if possible keep as much live rock as possible. I was changing my water every week (20% water change) but found this was actually too much. I now only change my water once every 2 or 3 weeks ( still at 20%) and I found everything does much better. My nitrates never go above 5ppm (seems to stabilize at this level) otherwise the water is "too clean" (need them at this level for macro algae).
I have a closed canopy tank (it was a standard freshwater I converted) so there isn't much evaporation. Just top off a few ml once a week and that's it.
In SW its best not to fiddle. leave it be as much as possible.
FW (this is my experience) is more maintenance. The only additional cost for my SW system is the marine salt. (which isn't expensive and lasts forever). This is assuming you aren't keeping SPS or LPS corals. SW Fish are the same price as FW in my area.
What I really love about SW - Almost everyweek I find something new in the tank. Spaghetti worms, bi valve clams, small crabs and more recently a whole lot of turnictes. They dont require anything extra in terms of food or maintenance, they are just hitchikers on pcs of rock or things I have found on the beach weeks ago that then start spreading around your system. Honestly SW can be absolutely fascinating to watch grow.
I dont have a fancy coral setup, just very basic simple stuff. some small fish, live rock and algae. All the equipment is standard freshwater (apart from a refractometer I bought to check my salinity)
Life is so short. Who not give it a try?
Just remember not to overstock and it will be simplier than you think!
Video was over a month ago, Ill get a new one done this week so you can see how it changes.
So I used my 150L (100cm x 35cm x 45cm) with a sunsun 304b canister filter. and honestly I find it just as easy as freshwater, if not easier in some cases.
The key thing about SW is not to overstock, and if possible keep as much live rock as possible. I was changing my water every week (20% water change) but found this was actually too much. I now only change my water once every 2 or 3 weeks ( still at 20%) and I found everything does much better. My nitrates never go above 5ppm (seems to stabilize at this level) otherwise the water is "too clean" (need them at this level for macro algae).
I have a closed canopy tank (it was a standard freshwater I converted) so there isn't much evaporation. Just top off a few ml once a week and that's it.
In SW its best not to fiddle. leave it be as much as possible.
FW (this is my experience) is more maintenance. The only additional cost for my SW system is the marine salt. (which isn't expensive and lasts forever). This is assuming you aren't keeping SPS or LPS corals. SW Fish are the same price as FW in my area.
What I really love about SW - Almost everyweek I find something new in the tank. Spaghetti worms, bi valve clams, small crabs and more recently a whole lot of turnictes. They dont require anything extra in terms of food or maintenance, they are just hitchikers on pcs of rock or things I have found on the beach weeks ago that then start spreading around your system. Honestly SW can be absolutely fascinating to watch grow.
I dont have a fancy coral setup, just very basic simple stuff. some small fish, live rock and algae. All the equipment is standard freshwater (apart from a refractometer I bought to check my salinity)
Life is so short. Who not give it a try?
Just remember not to overstock and it will be simplier than you think!
Video was over a month ago, Ill get a new one done this week so you can see how it changes.
I was hoping I could turn my 160L tank in SW and have a marine setup once if I get my 2nd larger tank.
This post makes that sound more promising for me, appreciated.
The costs are much less if you are doing a fish only with live rock setup.