what is the differnce when caring for saltwater fish compared to freshwater fish?

Question

are saltwater fish harder to keep alive? is it more work?

Answer 1

Money, mostly.
lol

Actually, saltwater tanks can be easier to maintain, IF you did everything right from the start.
Fresh water fish are, for the most part, more forgiving of mistakes and neglect. For example, if you forget to turn on the fish light one morning, it's no big deal. If you forget to clean your water one week, no big deal.

Saltwater is not so forgiving.
To be succesful with saltwater, you need a large tank. No 10 gallons or anything; at LEAST 50 gallons. Bigger is better - because of things like evaporation, salinity, temperature, etc, salt water needs to be constantly monitored.

You also need a lot of (expensive) equipment for a salt water tank.
For fresh, you need: a tank, a lid, lights, a heater, a filter.
For salt you need:
A tank and a lid
You will need actinic or metal halide lights, perhaps some moon lights, to keep your corals alive. These fixtures can cost upwards for 300-500$+
You may need a large, canister filter, 100$+
You need a protein skimmer (this cleans the gunk that accumulates at the top of the water) 50-200$
You need power heads (oceans have a lot more current than lakes do, and so your water needs to have more current. that's what water pumps do) 2 or 3 @ 10-50$ each
You need at least 2 reliable heaters @ 50$ each
A sump or refugium is highly recommended. This is like a smaller tank or rubbermaid that is placed, usually under the tank, and where more water can be (which constantly cycles into the tank and back into the sump). A sump is just more water (so, if you have a 50gal tank and 20gal sump, that's 70gallons of water). A refugium (fuge) is like another tank, with a light and live rock.

Then you will need live rock. That's rock from the ocean that has lots of organisms growing on it. 1 pound per gallon is recommended, and it costs 5-15$ per pound.

Then, the fish and corals are considerably more expensive than freshwater fish.

That, my friend, is the major difference. Saltwater is perfectly possible, and not too hard, like I said, if you do it right. If you try to make it work and cut corners, like using smaller tank, or no powerhead or no sump/fuge, you will find yourself rapidly killing your fish.

An upside to freshwater, is that a lot of FW fish are captive bred. In SW, however, corals and fish and inverts are taken from the oceans, which are being depleted of creatures.

Anyway, go with freshwater to start with and see how you like it. When you think you're ready, save up, and go SW :)

Freshwater... that's the gateway drug ;)

Answer 2

It is much more difficult, It is much more complicated, much more expensive, more equipment, constant water tests, I'm not trying to tell you not to "Go For it", but be prepared to lay out some serious $$$. I suggest going to the library and doing some research on this. Have plenty of time to spend on saltwater fish and their environment. Don't let a dealer sell you something you don't need or of the wrong size. Don't rush into saltwater until you gather all the information needed for a successful salt water environment.

Answer 3

i'm fortunate to say that i will fish 3 kinds of water, sparkling, salt and brackish, on the breaking point of my abode. i'm also fortunate to say that i will fish the Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico by purely crossing the line. I actually have fairly some those concepts yet for me to say one water form is extra useful than the different will be a lie. I by no ability comprehend what i will seize even as quickly as I purpose a chosen fish. for instance, a week decrease back i became targeted on Snook in a brackish canal using finger mullet. I stuck a three pound Peacock bass truly. SO i will say that Pheasant Tail is ideal in this one, it surely relies upon on the position you're and who you ask. Thumbs up Pheasant and J.~reliable luck catchin.'

Answer 4

Salt water fish are ALOT more work at least when it comes to caring for the tank water!! I've never had any luck with them So I gave up I just don't have the time of money to take Care of one. my fresh water fish are much easier to take Care o f but I do have puffers in Brackish water. I can handle that!LOL And besides that I love my Betta's!!!

Answer 5

Zoe sait it like a true champion!

Do it right and work is hardly a term worth using while maintaining a tank.

Answer 6

salt water tanks can be more difficult especially if you do not know what you are doing

Answer 7

one lives in saltwater and one in not saltwater