New to saltwater!

[Fullofit343]

So i've been keeping cichlids for quite a while now and i just emptied up my 10 gallon tank that was previously freshwater. Instead of it sitting around i thought i would finally give saltwater a try and can't wait! I know people are always talking about how much work a small sw tank is but i'm ready for the challenge. I have a bunch of questions but the first is why people always say saltwater is so much more work then freshwater. What really goes into the tank that makes it so much harder then freshwater?

 

[drnsee]

Personally I think it is more of the knowledge you have to acquire and time you must invest. Smaller tanks definitely require more frequent maintenance (water changes, monitoring, adjustments for stability). Please do your research before diving in. It is indeed a challenge.

 

[TimSchmidt]

The introduction of salt is the big difference. Small thing on the surface but that salt and water has the salinity, calcium, magnesium, strontium. idodide, alkalinity, and all the other trace elements that salt water creatures require. Oh yeah and then need to be as stable as possible, but each tank uses up these elements at a different rate. It is fun and the tanks are gorgeous, but there are a lot more moving parts with these tanks.

On the other side of the fence it can be as easy as making sure you keep the water topped off with fresh water and change out 1 or 2 gallons of salt water a week and a lot of those issues listed up above are taken care of. :cool1:


It's a matter of perspective. Is the fish tank half empty or half full? :roll:

 

[davenia7]

I ignore my cichlids and they thrive, breed even... I ignore my saltwater, the hair algae and bryopsis overthrow the coral.