total dissapointment with FW tank

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
i love getting answers from people on both sides, but seeing as i dont have 2000 to sink into a decent set up im gonna stay fresh until i have like 200-300 to put towards a small 10-20 gallon fowler set up
 
It would take a long time to fill a tank like that and a lot of money. That's why you start small and get coral frags for cheap from local people. As you get experience and have money to upgrade, those frags will be large enough to transfer to the larger tank. You can also get expensive corals and sell frags of your own to make money for a larger tank or more coral. That's what I do and it works out pretty well. People on here always want to know what fish is best to breed for making money and things like that. Breed a strange morph of clownfish or sell coral frags and you can actually make some cash. It helps balance out the expenses of going sw. Also, I recommend buying used when you're just getting into sw.

Pomatomus said:
As well as at least 5 years. It takes a whole new level of patience to watch corals grow. Most of them at least.

Just so you know, the "rocky lakes" (Rift Lakes) house specific cichlids. If you're trying to keep it natural, that means that African Rift Lake cichlids are most appropriate (peacocks can be REALLY colorful). Not that it really matters. Just do what you like. Most of my tanks don't represent a particular biotope. However, Central/South American cichlids (like festaes) don't always like the way you decorate. A lot of the large CA/SA cichlids like to dig up the gravel and uproot plants. My salvini (another beautiful cichlid) has piled all of the gravel towards the front of the tank!

There are friendly FW fish with color too (bosemani rainbowfish, cardinal tetra, etc), but in general the colors are less brilliant. However, no SW tank can match the green of a planted tank. I would post pics of my reef tank and planted tank but my camera just can't do them justice. The planted green-washes every picture lol. And my camera has trouble with the fluorescent colors of my corals.

No matter which you have, let me say that lighting will make a HUGE difference in the vibrancy of your tank. I was using regular T8 fluorescent lights....until I upgraded to T5's and Power Compacts. I'm not going back lol.

Once you really finish customizing and accessorizing your tank it will be unique and I'm sure you will enjoy it. Our customers always say "I just want lots of color", but as a marine/aquatic biologist I can tell you that mentality just doesn't resonate with fish people. That's probably the source of most of your opposition. I know that's the case with me!
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It's not that MFK is anti salt, it's just primarily a freshwater site. We have a great SW section, especially the shark and ray section. It's all what you like. Go for what makes you happy, that's what this hobby is all about. And you can always switch it up.
 
PSU21Reef said:
It would take a long time to fill a tank like that and a lot of money. That's why you start small and get coral frags for cheap from local people. As you get experience and have money to upgrade, those frags will be large enough to transfer to the larger tank. You can also get expensive corals and sell frags of your own to make money for a larger tank or more coral. That's what I do and it works out pretty well. People on here always want to know what fish is best to breed for making money and things like that. Breed a strange morph of clownfish or sell coral frags and you can actually make some cash. It helps balance out the expenses of going sw. Also, I recommend buying used when you're just getting into sw.
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Yeah that's what I meant by starting off a small 10-20 tank and upgrading, it's not a lot of room for corals but I can have a few types.
aclockworkorange said:
It's not that MFK is anti salt, it's just primarily a freshwater site. We have a great SW section, especially the shark and ray section. It's all what you like. Go for what makes you happy, that's what this hobby is all about. And you can always switch it up.
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I'm staying FW. I feel like I would be rushing if I changed to SW and everyone knows th faster you move in this hobby the harder you crash. And it is a hobby I should enjoy it I shouldn't struggle to pay for it and to stress over what I have in my tanks. I have been happy with FW fish for a very long time and I don't see a good reason to change now. I mean changing to cichlids is like a step in another direction but still in the same area. And I can do a pretty decent setup in under 100. Rather than spending the 2000 for salt. And yes I should have said people are more oriented towards fresh rather than saying anti-salt
 
aclockworkorange said:
It's not that MFK is anti salt, it's just primarily a freshwater site. We have a great SW section, especially the shark and ray section. It's all what you like. Go for what makes you happy, that's what this hobby is all about. And you can always switch it up.
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nah reading the posts they are pretty negative but yeah understandable this is a mainly large freshwater tank, people are also anti african cichlids lol

i guess it would be the same reaction if people posted at reef central about how they prefer fw fish more i guess

i love them both
 
yeah it would be the same, i joined because i had freshwater not salt water so its understandable why its like this
 
yeah i agree , but those who have kept or have saltwater aquariums know, they are awesome and fish have tons of personality, freshwater is awesome too, think anyone into aquariums would appreciate the beauty of both types and all types of fish :dunno:

here is my 550 gallon mainly angelfish salt, in wall

8bce3745.jpg
 
clekchau said:
yeah i agree , but those who have kept or have saltwater aquariums know, they are awesome and fish have tons of personality, freshwater is awesome too, think anyone into aquariums would appreciate the beauty of both types and all types of fish :dunno:

here is my 550 gallon mainly angelfish salt, in wall

8bce3745.jpg
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Very nice set up but waaay to big for me lol and I do appreciate both but was looking for a change. Lol today I seen a pair of cute sweetlips lol I went home and did research and holy crap they get over 2' wow
 
I didn't weed through every page of this thread but if you don't like the colors of your FW fish maybe consider African cichlids. FW is 100x better than SW in my opinion. SW costs way too much and it's very tough if not impossible to come even minutely close to mimicking their natural habitat. So, in other words, they will likely all perish a slow death anyway. Not to say it can't be done... Just a lot of work. And, without proper connections, it can cost a TON of money.

It's your call.

You want colorful fish? Heck... try some really nice discus and see how they do. They pair up and breed and you have some gorgeous fish... Not only that, you possibly can have babies to either sell or breed for a different kind of strain. Beauty is always in the mind of the beholder.

This is my view having both for almost 25 years.
 
ive always been a freshwater person, but one day i just couldnt stay away from saltwater anymore
i ended up spending a whole bunch of money for live rock, live sand, protein skimmer, and all the necessities
i bought a clown trigger and a few tangs
they are colorful colorful fish. very pleasant for the eyes, but BOOOORING compared to CA/SA cichlids
i never got to get the fish i wanted for saltwater though (miniatus grouper) but im not sure if it would've made much of a difference
long story short i converted the saltwater tank back to a freshwater tank
 
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