Fresh water and salt water aquariums each provide their own needs and advantages and it’s up to you to determine the type best suited for your home, budget and experience level.
Saltwater aquariums are more expensive to set up and require more maintenance. The cost is roughly double to set up a salt water tank (without the fish) due the need for additional aquarium equipment not necessary for fresh water fish, such as the live rock, protein skimmer and lighting. The live rock serves as a biological filter and provides food and a hiding spot for fish. Lighting can be very expensive but is absolutely needed to sustain certain organisms in salt water aquariums and showcase your setup.
Saltwater fish are typically more expensive than their tropical counterparts. Most fish are over $15 and the saltwater invertebrates (e.g. starfish, shrimp, crab) can be very expensive depending on the distance they were transported from the ocean. There is however a much wider selection of very colorful fish than with the freshwater variety. Many people consider the additional cost for the vividly colored fish to be worth it.
Getting freshwater fish to eat can be easier than saltwater fish. Fresh water fish have largely been bred in captivity and are on their 4th, 5th or later generation. They are used to eating commercial foods. Most of the saltwater species have been caught in the wild and are used to eating food in the natural environment. They require more specialized diets such as brine shrimp and greens. Coaxing them into eating foods found at the pet store may take several weeks or months to complete, and you may not always be successful, especially if the fish is stressed. This can be heartbreaking when you spend $50 or more for a saltwater fish!
Saltwater fish do quite well once your tank is up and running and you have a good understanding of how to care for them. If you have experience with keeping freshwater fish you shouldn’t have a problem adding a saltwater aquarium to your home. If you have no experience at all, you should probably build up freshwater experience before moving to saltwater. Either way, you’ll be rewarded with a tank of lively, interesting and colorful pets.
Written by John Elum, CityPetSite.com Staff
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