Aquarium enthuasists

[pickupman66]

Hey guys... I know its a little off fo rhtis board, but for those that are into Saltwater aquariums and such, my local club is hosting a pretty big event. we normally get about 400 or more folks for this. this year, the raffle is for a very high end setup with all the trimmings. its about a $2000 setup!

http://www.reef2reef.com/forum....html

[willfish4food]

Is a saltwater harder to maintain than fresh?

[FLIPPINB]

Yep!

[pickupman66]

yes and no. If setup properly, it can be very easy.. mine is. you get out of it what you put into it. once setup (the expensive part) they can be as easy as doing a 15% water change every month. I do a 50% water change in my kids freshwater tank every 6 weeks. My Reef evaporates up to 25 gallons a week so that helps me get new water in.

[Fish_4_Five]

It's no harder then running a fresh water tank "correctly". Most don't though.

[RoadrashPaul]

Lindsey,
Are you going to be there? I went to the one in Murfreesboro with my dad a couple years ago and it wasn't very good. Let me know if you are and I may see if he wants to go.

[kstephens]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by willfish4food &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Is a saltwater harder to maintain than fresh?</td></tr></table>

No. I think maintaining a properly set up saltwater tank is much easier than fresh water. However, setting one up is much more difficult. Once you get it set up and the water levels are stable, then there is little to do, other than your typical maintenance. My last reef aquarium was a small reef set up, and all I had to do was to add water to make up for evaporation. But it took me close to a year to get that one set up (cycling and curing rocks, substrate....) and slowly adding critters/corals over time to let the water re-stabalize after each addition

[johnson16h]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by kstephens &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">

No. I think maintaining a properly set up saltwater tank is much easier than fresh water. However, setting one up is much more difficult. Once you get it set up and the water levels are stable, then there is little to do, other than your typical maintenance. My last reef aquarium was a small reef set up, and all I had to do was to add water to make up for evaporation. But it took me close to a year to get that one set up (cycling and curing rocks, substrate....) and slowly adding critters/corals over time to let the water re-stabalize after each addition</td></tr></table>

Yep. My buddy has one. All he does is add 5 gallons of water a week, and enjoy.

[SoonerFan]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by willfish4food &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Is a saltwater harder to maintain than fresh?</td></tr></table>

I would think you would want to learn on a freshwater tank. Learn a lot about tank chemistry and natural filters and all that before going into salt. The problem with salt is the difference in the price of fish. First of all, you are going to lose fish...especially at first. In a fresh tank when you lose a fish you're out a buck or two for a Mollie or a Guppy or maybe even five bucks for a small Cichlid. On the other hand, with saltwater your starter fish may be costing you $15...$25 and on up to well over $100 for the really cool stuff. The other thing...you have to build a saltwater tank very slowly...start out with maybe only one fish and then after a while maybe add a piece of coral a snail. I've had freshwater tanks that were successful that I set up during the day and put fish in that same evening.

I've been out of it for a long time. I was a slave to tanks and birdcages for a while...quit it all. My only pet now can go through the doggie door and take care of his own business.

[pickupman66]

Paul.. heck yea ill be there. I am the chairman of the swap. I arranged most of the prizes. Last year was awesome. This one will be really good too. We expect over 400 people.

[mikepags]

BS....... we both know its not........once you get it it can be easy to keep going but its not easier

[Roddy]

I sold my 90gal reef tank last fall. I miss it now.

[3dees]

I have had both. saltwater is much more expensive to set up but actually easier to maintain. I have a 120 gal. discus tank and do a 70% water change every 5 days.

[RoadrashPaul]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by 3dees &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I have had both. saltwater is much more expensive to set up but actually easier to maintain. I have a 120 gal. discus tank and do a 70% water change every 5 days. </td></tr></table>

That is a great looking setup. Why do you have to do such a big change so often?

[3dees]

thanks. discus are high maintenence. they demand prestine water. many discus keepers change that much water every other day.

[Stumps]

That is a sweet setup ! nice looking Discus too.

my bud breeds discus and he has some very cool looking exotic colors but after watching him do his "maintenance" I'm pretty sure I'd have used them for bait by now .

[pbmang]

We keep discus fish as well. That is a nice looking setup you have. Right now we are looking to change up our tank since our fish are quickly outgrowing it.




Modified by pbmang at 7:14 PM 3/25/2012

[Fish_4_Five]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by 3dees &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I have had both. saltwater is much more expensive to set up but actually easier to maintain. I have a 120 gal. discus tank and do a 70% water change every 5 days. </td></tr></table>

That's a nice setup. I'm about to set up a 180 gal discus tank. Where did you find that wood?

[3dees]

thats Manzanita. got it from manzanita.com in california.