Fish Tanks...Salt or Fresh?
01-20-2004, 05:16 AM
#11
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Originally posted by Wardey
I've got a 200 gal. reef tank and after it stabilizes, it's maybe an hour or so a week of maintinance. Just don't skimp on your equipment and it's no big deal. I heard all the horror stories about how hard it is but really, it's no problem after you get it right. Buy a protein skimmer by all means. I'm not sold on the chiller yet. It was an expensive item that needs to be located in the garage if possible. Alot of heat and noise. I have about 10K invested in mine to date. Dave
I've got a 200 gal. reef tank and after it stabilizes, it's maybe an hour or so a week of maintinance. Just don't skimp on your equipment and it's no big deal. I heard all the horror stories about how hard it is but really, it's no problem after you get it right. Buy a protein skimmer by all means. I'm not sold on the chiller yet. It was an expensive item that needs to be located in the garage if possible. Alot of heat and noise. I have about 10K invested in mine to date. Dave
that's a helluva fish bowl
01-20-2004, 05:32 AM
#12
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Go salt you will enjoy it much better in the long run. But if you never had one before. go but a small tank at first and start with fresh to see if you even like the whole idea. The colors in salt water fish are 100 times brighter.
01-20-2004, 07:14 AM
#13
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I have a 120 salt water reef and a 75 fresh. Salt is more time intensive to set up properly, but like was said, don't skimp in the beginning you'll thank yourself in the end. Total invested in the 120 is about 6,000, total invested in the 75 fresh is about 1,500.
maint. on the salt consists of checking parameter's once a week and a 10-15 gallon water change once a month.
depending if you want a salt water reef tank or salt water fish only will determine how expensive it's gonna get..
maint. on the salt consists of checking parameter's once a week and a 10-15 gallon water change once a month.
depending if you want a salt water reef tank or salt water fish only will determine how expensive it's gonna get..
01-20-2004, 09:48 AM
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Once you have the salt water tank up and running it is a complete ecosystem and requires almost no maintenance. Add a little water once in a while and check salinity levels once in a while and your good. Now, if you like to play musical fish thats another thing because it will throw the system off everytime you change something. Ive had clown fish for years and years without ever touching anything or doing anything other than cleaning the front glass. The algae has to stay. Its a part of the ecosystem. And they are way more colorful than freshwater. Avoid the fish that will only eat live food, that can be a chore. I had a lionfish that would eat flakes but many wont. Salt is the greatest but be patient, the system has to be started correctly and patiently. You may lose the first few things you put in there so dont buy expensive at first.
Last edited by formula31; 01-20-2004 at 09:52 AM.
01-20-2004, 10:09 AM
#19
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If you do a tank, spend the money up front to do it right and it will save you alot in the end. If you do salt water and you try to save a few hundred up front, but then you kill 2 $100 fish then you have not saved anything.
My tank is 1600 gallon fresh water, the fish are not as colorful but there is no maintance. I have only fed fish and added some water for the last two years, never even cleaned the glass
My tank is 1600 gallon fresh water, the fish are not as colorful but there is no maintance. I have only fed fish and added some water for the last two years, never even cleaned the glass
