FRESHWATER

VS

SALTWATER

Which is right for you?

How much harder is it to keep saltwater than freshwater?  How big is the difference?  I hear these questions every day that I work.  My usual answer is, "One is not really harder than the other, they are just different.  The key to keeping salt water is patience."  Let's take a look at some of the differences between the two.  Keep in mind that saltwater fish and equipment alike are usually more expensive than freshwater.  There are many reasons for this.  Most saltwater fish are still wild caught rather than tank raised as most freshwater fish are today.  The wear and tear on the equipment is more extreme due to the mineral content when dealing with saltwater.     

When setting up a freshwater aquarium your equipment can be pretty basic depending on what you decide to put in the tank.  Gravel for the substrate, undergravel filter if you decide to keep live plants, good filtration unit (hang on or canister), water conditioner, heater if the fish are tropical, light, cover, thermometer, and fish.  A gravel vac'ing system is also important to have, along with test kits for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and Ph.  These are your basic tests, and the same ones we do in the pet stores when you bring your water sample to us.  At times other tests may be needed, but these are what we start with when looking for problems.

When working with saltwater things get a little more detailed.  Our saltwater friends will need a little bit more effort put into their water quality.  They are a bit more sensitive to their water conditions than their freshwater cousins.  When setting up a saltwater aquarium there is a basic list of equipment items.  Some things are optional depending on the creatures you choose to keep, but there are standard items that all saltwater aquariums will require.  Live sand or crushed coral for a substrate, canister filter (Eheim seems to be the best one for keeping saltwater.  With it's ceramic parts and strong mechanics, it's well worth it's expensive price tag), heater, marine salt, hydrometer (for measuring salinity/specific gravity), thermometer, extra power head(s) for circulation, lights (more extreme than for freshwater), and cover.  You will also want to start off with live rock once your tank is up and running.  A protein skimmer is a must have, and test kits for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, Ph, Calcium, Copper, and Phosphates will be important to keep on hand.