What type of aquarium is best for you?
From ReefPedia
Not to sound discouraging, but a saltwater aquarium is not for everyone. I would not recommend a saltwater aquarium to someone who has very little or no experience in keeping freshwater fish, little time - frequently traveling, or a very tight budget.
For someone who is interested in keeping saltwater fish, but has little or no experience with freshwater should first begin with a freshwater aquarium for at least one year. By doing so, you will learn the basics of filtration, water stability, water testing, and general fish care.
If you have very little or no time, it is very hard to maintain a saltwater aquarium. The typical aquarium will need maintenance at least once a week. If you cannot change your lifestyle, consider hiring an aquarium maintenance person to setup and maintain an aquarium at your home.
A saltwater aquarium is not inexpensive, in fact most aquariums cost between $50-100+ per gallon. For example, a 75 gallon reef aquarium would cost between $3750 and $7500+.
If you are still reading, the next step in planning your aquarium is to decide what type it will be. There are two main types, FOWLR - Fish Only With Live Rock and a REEF - Fish, Live Rock, Corals etc. The name of this site is reefpedia, so most of the articles will be geared towards setting up a reef tank.
The typical fish only with live rock tank focussing on large fish like angels, groupers, sharks, some tangs, triggers, and eels. The fish are the focal point and the live rock is added to provide a source of natural filtration and environment. A FOWLR aquarium usually costs less than a reef tank.
A reef tank places emphasis on creating a community. It is more complicated and mixes fish, corals, snails, crabs, starfish, and many more microrganisms than one could imagine. In this case, the fish are usually not the stars of tank, but rather the bright corals and other invertebrates.
Hopefully, you feel inspired and eager to begin your new adventure.
Article originally contributed by RazerCorals Want to contribute an article in your company's name? Email us!
