Any fishkeepers here? Saltwater or freshwater

[ModSocks]

Originally Posted by Lumpy

That's why I went w/ a freshwater community tank. I lost track of how much I've spent for my 55g, but it must be over $1000 by now.

Plus, w/ a freshwater, you can go w/ a planted tank. Here's a pic of mine...

Very cool tank.

If I ever owned one, I'd def go Freshwater.

Owning a Saltwater tank is more work than owning a dog...with much less satisfaction.

[cabletech94]

Originally Posted by Lumpy

That's why I went w/ a freshwater community tank. I lost track of how much I've spent for my 55g, but it must be over $1000 by now.

Plus, w/ a freshwater, you can go w/ a planted tank. Here's a pic of mine...

wow, that does sure look purdy (really).

i recently just shut my 55 gallon down after 15 years worth of use. even made it through 3 moves. ended up with a parrot fish that was a living debbil. and even he made it 5 years.
i'll start it up again, but i'm gonna move it to the the basement that's part of a finish plan, so probably in the next 5 years, too.

[Iowanian]

When people say "expensive" to have a salt tank, could you elaborate on the dollars(range) and what costs so much?

[cabletech94]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

When people say "expensive" to have a salt tank, could you elaborate on the dollars(range) and what costs so much?

how much ya got?

yup. that expensive, braugh.

[WV]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

When people say "expensive" to have a salt tank, could you elaborate on the dollars(range) and what costs so much?

How Much for a 10 Gallon Mini-Reef Clownfish Tank?
The cost to set up a simple 10g "Nemo and Friends" reef aquarium.+


By Stan & Debbie Hauter, About.com Guides
See More About:

setting up an aquarium
reef tanks
mini-reef aquariums

"Having a saltwater aquarium doesn't have to cost and arm and a leg."

This is a little 10 gallon tank we refer to as a "Nemo and Friends" aquarium. You don't have to go big to have a saltwater aquarium, and this small aquarium didn't cost much at all to set up.
Photo © Debbie and Stan Hauter
How much would it cost to set up a 10 gallon mini-reef tank with clownfishes? Of course product prices will vary, but the total estimated cost to buy all the items listed here for setting up what we like to call a simple 10g "Nemo and Friends" aquarium (see full photo view), about $273.00 to $348.00. These figures include reef lighting that will support soft corals.

Here's a breakdown on everything:

All-Glass Aquarium/Aqueon 10 gallon aquarium = $13.00 - 17.00

Aqueon 20 Power Filter = $20.00 - 28.00

All-Glass Aquarium 20" Incandescent Full Hood = $35.00 - 45.00

2 Coralife 18 watt 50/50 Mini-Compact Bulbs = $25.00 - 35.00

Hagen AquaClear 20 Powerhead = $22.00 - 28.00

Marineland Visi-Therm 50w Submersible Stealth Heater = $18.00 - 23.00

Thermometer = $2.00 - 3.00

Mag-Float 30 Magnetic Algae Cleaner = $6.00 - 9.00

20 lbs. CaribSea Arag-Alive Sand (Fiji Pink) = $25.00 - 31.00

3 small pieces (about 5 lbs.) Fiji Live Rock = $35.00 - 45.00

Instant Ocean Salt 10 Gallon = $6.00 - 8.00

Instant Ocean Hydrometer = $8.00 - 11.00

2 Tank-Raised Ocellaris/False Percula Clownfish = $35.00 - 50.00

1 Four Stripe Damsel = $5.00 - 8.00

2 Blue-Legged Hermit Crabs = $3.00 - 6.00

1 Astrea Snail = $2.00 - 4.00

1 large Mexican Turbo Snail = $3.00 - 5.00

Artifical Plants: 1 Aquarium Systems SeaGarden Caulerpa Vertcellata and 1 Dictyota Rossa, 1 Tetra Water Wonders 9" Corkscrew Val = $10.00 - 15.00

1 large natural sea shell (Not included in estimate due to such wide ranging prices.)

Total Estimated Set Up Cost = $273.00 - 348.00

(*Prices reflect comparison online to retail average cost of items in February 2009.)

[ModSocks]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

When people say "expensive" to have a salt tank, could you elaborate on the dollars(range) and what costs so much?

First off the fish cost a lot more. And you have to be prepared for them to die, because like I said before, you can do everything by the book and they may still die. You need the proper lighting and proper filters, typically very expensive stuff.

It's mainly the maintenance. Needs to be cleaned very frequently and the PH balance needs to constantly monitored.

[ModSocks]

Saltwater tanks are the biggest pain in the ass.

Sure, the fish look cool.....when they're alive. An owner of a hotel I worked at decided to put an aquarium flush in the wall in the lobby. He and I took care if it.

JFC....I would never own one of those things. Keeping the PH balance right is a hige pain in the ass....and even if you do that right, they still die.

IIRC, we've killed Tangs, Angel Fish, Puffer fish (at least 2 of those i think). There were a lot more that I can't remember right now.

We had a good sized Lionfish too. He was hardy and all, but he made it no fun trying to clean the tank.

[The Bunk]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

Saltwater tanks are the biggest pain in the ass.

Sure, the fish look cool.....when they're alive. An owner of a hotel I worked at decided to put an aquarium flush in the wall in the lobby. He and I took care if it.

JFC....I would never own one of those things. Keeping the PH balance right is a hige pain in the ass....and even if you do that right, they still die.

IIRC, we've killed Tangs, Angel Fish, Puffer fish (at least 2 of those i think). There were a lot more that I can't remember right now.

We had a good sized Lionfish too. He was hardy and all, but he made it no fun trying to clean the tank.

If all you were checking was PH, that was your problem. That actually matters least of the harmful stuff that can be in a saltwater tank. Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite, and Phosphate are all much more critcal. Keep those in check and your problems will be minimal.

Also, if you have a good clean up crew of snails and the right bottom feeders, cleaning is a minimal task also. I rarely touch the inside glass of mine, unless it's to remove a smudge or something. The snails keep it looking almost completely clean.

[Lumpy]

Originally Posted by The Bunk

If all you were checking was PH, that was your problem. That actually matters least of the harmful stuff that can be in a saltwater tank. Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite, and Phosphate are all much more critcal. Keep those in check and your problems will be minimal.

Also, if you have a good clean up crew of snails and the right bottom feeders, cleaning is a minimal task also. I rarely touch the inside glass of mine, unless it's to remove a smudge or something. The snails keep it looking almost completely clean.

Very good points... especially about the parameters!

Ammonia and Nitrites should read at 0ppm and Nitrates should be >40ppm. As far as your pH, as long as it stays constant, there's no need to try to adjust it. A lot of people purchase the crap that increases or decreases pH only to find their stock dead shortly after dosing the tank.

Also, API makes a great liquid kit to test your parameters. When we were cycling our tank, we screwed up and bought the strips that you dip in the tank. Never trust those damn things! The parameters were reading wrong and we thought our tank was cycled. Then, when we added our first batch of fish, they were getting Ammonia burns and many of them jumped out of the tank.

[The Bunk]

Originally Posted by Lumpy

Very good points... especially about the parameters!

Ammonia and Nitrites should read at 0ppm and Nitrates should be >40ppm. As far as your pH, as long as it stays constant, there's no need to try to adjust it. A lot of people purchase the crap that increases or decreases pH only to find their stock dead shortly after dosing the tank.

Also, API makes a great liquid kit to test your parameters. When we were cycling our tank, we screwed up and bought the strips that you dip in the tank. Never trust those damn things! The parameters were reading wrong and we thought our tank was cycled. Then, when we added our first batch of fish, they were getting Ammonia burns and many of them jumped out of the tank.

The API kit is the best one I've used.

If you want to browse different types of fish, check out this site. Really cool stuff on there. I just got underway with my new tank after moving a few months back. So far, I've got a black and white clown, a kole yellow eye tank, diamond goby, and lawnmower blenny. I'm trying to go for more original stuff than the standard blue tank, orange clown, etc. It's hard to do though, as some of the really cool looking fish will tear up your coral.

http://www.saltwaterfish.com/

[Holladay]

I'll second everything mentioned.

I've had all sorts of tanks for +35 yrs. Never salt due to the expense and a mostly overlooked fact the for every gal of water, freshwater will hold 4x the number of fish vs salt due to the oxygen available.

I want a busy, full of bright fish, low maintainance and low cost.






These are just a few quickly found.

And the options are endless: planted, cichlid tank (african/south american/rift lake), passive, aggressive, small/big fish, barb tank (great for small tanks), compatiblity issues...

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Holladay

I'll second everything mentioned.

I've had all sorts of tanks for +35 yrs. Never salt due to the expense and a mostly overlooked fact the for every gal of water, freshwater will hold 4x the number of fish vs salt due to the oxygen available.

I want a busy, full of bright fish, low maintainance and low cost.

If you're wanting a freshwater tank with some fish variety, I would really recommend avoiding an Oscar. They're super aggressive, they'll tear the shit out of your tank, they eat/grow quickly, and they're messy. Everyone who starts off with an Oscar will eventually hate it when it grows into a giant asshole fish.

[Dr. Johnny Fever]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

If you're wanting a freshwater tank with some fish variety, I would really recommend avoiding an Oscar. They're super aggressive, they'll tear the shit out of your tank, they eat/grow quickly, and they're messy. Everyone who starts off with an Oscar will eventually hate it when it grows into a giant asshole fish.

I had Oscars for years and loved them. They'd move things but never tore my tank up and I didn't find them messy at all. Actually I thought they were quite simple. The biggest problem I ever had with Oscars was trying to raise more than one in a tank for a long time because of course one out of a group will end up being the "alpha male" and kill the others a lot of time. I did manage to have 5 in a tank... 3 reds and 2 albino for about a year in a 55 gallon tank. Once I was down to one big red it lived for 5 or 6 years and got quite large. That was pretty cool even though it was the only one left. My pleco got to about 14" long and a few inches wide too before it just up and died one day. Bummed me out.

Mostly I liked buying a dozen feeder goldfish and turning them loose into the tank... heh.

[Lumpy]

Thanks for the compliments, guys! We've had our 55g setup for almost 2 years. We also have a 5g planted freshwater in our bedroom that houses an African Dwarf Frog, 5 Red Cherry Shrimp, 3 Lyretail Guppies, and a shitload of Pond Snails.

[Holladay]

holy crap

Total Estimated Set Up Cost = $273.00 - 348.00

2 Tank-Raised Ocellaris/False Percula Clownfish = $35.00 - 50.00

that are gonna die!!!

these cost $1-2

school of some of these











toss in one of these




10 gal cost ~ $150 fresh water, active, colorful. And if a fish dies, go get another for a buck or two!!!