Saltwater vs. Freshwater Aquarium: Which is Right for Me?
Everyone knows that fish that live in the ocean can’t live in rivers and lakes with fresh water. It’s not just the amount of salt in their water that makes them different. You should get the right kind of tank and fish that can live in that environment if you want to have a fish tank. But how do you pick between a tank with freshwater or ocean water?
To help you make the best choice for your needs and wants, we’ll talk about the many ways in which these two types of tanks are not the same.
How much does it cost to set up a freshwater or ocean aquarium?
When you start a new sport, the first thing you should think about is how much it will cost. You should know that the price of setting up an aquarium can change based on whether you want ocean or freshwater fish. The most important thing that determines the price of the tank is the living things you want to put in it. Living things that live in saltwater and freshwater are very different in price.
Prices of fish and plants:
Fish that live in fresh water are usually less expensive than fish that live in the ocean. Betta fish and goldfish cost around $3, and tetras and gouramis cost the same everywhere. Other fish cost about $5 less than cichlids. You can also get cheap aquarium plants for tanks that only hold fresh water. It costs around $2 to $24 for these plants.
But fish that live in salt water usually cost more. There are different prices for fish. Dottybacks cost about $15, blennies $20, and clownfish $30, to name a few. Some kinds of fish can cost as much as $75! Putting plants and coral in a saltwater tank costs between $50 and $250.
How Much Do the Tank and Tools Cost?
Setting up a saltwater tank costs more because it needs more tools. It takes around $270 to build a good tank for fresh water. The package comes with the tank itself, rocks for the bottom, a power filter, a normal bright aquarium light, food, nets, scrapers, a separate tank, and pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate test kits.
However, you will need power heads to move the water, a protein skimmer, a hydrometer, salt mix, live rock, sand (which costs more than gravel as a bed), and extra test kits to see how much calcium and pH are in the water. In total, a saltwater tank will cost around $635. If you want to build one, it will cost twice as much.
You can make your freshwater tank better, though, so it costs about the same as a saltwater tank. For example, you might need to spend more on lights and fertilizer if you have a lot of plants. You can probably also find ways to save money on many of the things you need for saltwater tanks by doing them yourself, if you know what you’re doing.
Taking care of a saltwater aquarium vs. a freshwater aquarium:
A freshwater aquarium is generally easier to take care of than a seawater tank. This is because taking care of a saltwater tank requires more tools, care, and maintenance. It also takes a long time to make saltwater because the salts need to dissolve in the water for days before a hydrometer can be used to test the salinity. You can buy saltwater at stores that sell aquarium materials, but it costs more to keep the tank clean. You also have to test the water more often and watch out for animals that are more sensitive in saltwater tanks. “Stowaway” animals often show up in saltwater tanks when you add live rocks and sand. Some bacteria can help a developing tank, but the way it is treated needs to be changed. Other microorganisms are harmful and need to be lost. A freshwater tank, on the other hand, is much easier to take care of. You don’t have to do much because changing the water is easy, and there aren’t many shocks to watch out for.
Which one are you picking? A fish tank with either fresh or salt water.
Most of the time, a freshwater tank is better for people who are getting started. Before moving on to a saltwater aquarium, which is harder to take care of, costs more, and has more risks, a small tank is a great place to start.
However, it is important to remember that the extra time, work, and money that a saltwater aquarium needs is well worth it when you see a well-designed tank full of live fish. There are lots of different organisms in saltwater tanks, which makes the water colorful and lets animals interact in fun ways that you can’t see in freshwater tanks.
It’s important to get help from a professional, whether you are starting with a freshwater tank or are ready to take care of a saltwater aquarium. For us, tank fish are more than just an interest; they’re living works of art.
