Which is easier: a saltwater tank or a freshwater tank?

Question

i'm interested in starting a fish tank. of course, i am a beginner. what would be some great fish to start out with in either tanks? by the way, the last time i had fish was when i was a kid. many, many eons ago. any advice would be appreciated. thank you...

i purchased a 29 gallon aquarium kit. i thought i would go for a moderate size. i have a basic idea of what kind of fish to get. i was thinking of maybe a blood parrot cichlid. i know cichlids are considered the most agressive of the fresh water community, but i are they hard to start with. well, not like i'm going to go buy and oscar off the bat. lol! what about bala sharks or rainbow sharks? how are they with barbs or mollies? no goldfish for me. too dirty, but beautiful...

Answer 1

Generally speaking freshwater is easier to keep and I would suggest you start back into the hobby there. No doubt much has changed since you kept fish just a few years ago, so the best first purchase for you is a good aquarium book. Get one and read it cover to cover. Browse websites AFTER you read the book. The web is a wonderful resource full of fantastic info on fish keeping, but not all you find here is good advice or good information. Read the book first and arm yourself with the basic knowledge you need to tell the good sites from the bad ones.

Then get your tank and hardware. Set it all up to be sure it works and you understand it BEFORE you buy your fisrt fish. Not that you should wait until then to think about fish, you should have a good idea what you want to keep before you buy the tank so you can get the right size and the right equipment for your fish.

Start there and come back with specific questions the book or websites might bring up in your mind.

I would also warn you to NEVER accept the advice of a pet shop empoyee as gospel. Especially where the large chain stores are involved. Many of them really are ar too poorly prepared to offer reasonable advice.

MM

Answer 2

I will start by telling you that you should go with a freshwater tank as a beginner. Salt water are more expensive to set up, etc. Get at a 10 gallon and talk to a pet shop employee. (Not Walmart). (fish tanks can be time consuming, so I would not spend too much to get started, just to make sure you dig it)Most of the people in the pet shops that work the fish section have aquariums themselves. Make sure you know how big your fish will get cuz too many fish in too small an aquarium will cause lots of problems. Do not buy real expensive fish to start. Your tank will have to grow a bacteria bed and then will take care of itself, other than your water changes. I would buy community fish to start. They seem to be the hardiest. Neon Tetras are sometimes hard to keep, but platies, guppies, white clouds, maybe a cory cat(bottom feeder) all are some that are small and should do well. Make sure that you buy species that do well together or they will fight......Good Luck!

Answer 3

I even have the two clean water and saltwater. you prefer stay rock to help clean the tank simply by fact saltwater fish prefer a plenty purifier atmosphere. in case you place sand in with stay rock it is going to grow to be stay sand at last so no could desire to spend the further money for stay sand I definitely don't be responsive to in case you need to use gravel. like maximum fish tanks as quickly as its cycled it somewhat is not in all probability that plenty artwork. in case you have the money i might say decide for it. it somewhat is plenty greater dazzling watching a saltwater tank in action then freshwater. in spite of in case you will learn which you won't be able to in good condition many fish in a 20 gallon tank with saltwater. 3 on the main. And non of the large appealing fish like angel fish or butterflies will artwork in that small of a tank.

Answer 4

Freshwater tanks are MUCH easier than salt water tanks. Salt water tanks are very complicated and take lots of time to properly maintain. I think that a very good fish for a freshwater tank is an angelfish. They're very pretty and live pretty long for a fish. You can just go to your local petstore and get some further advice on which fish to put with an angelfish.

Answer 5

Well ill start off by saying i asked the same question and got answers like freshwater is much easyer so on and so forth but to be honest with you i love my saltwater aquriam sure its a lil more money involved but in the end salt water aquriams have a lot more options in animals that can inhabit the tank with fresh water you get the same 'ol fish everyone else has. but its up to you if you have any questions im more then happy to help you out.
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Answer 6

My opinion is freshwater fish. I own both salt and freshwater. I love my salt cause of all the different colors but with a freshwater tank you can make mistakes and not loose a fish. your temp goes down by 1 degree in a salt tank and your fish are done

Answer 7

I am new to owning a saltwater tank. I have found it not as complicated as some people make it out to be. I have done a lot of research though and asked ALOT of questions at my look fish store as well as on this site. I have found it very expensive but i think as long as you are willing to spend the money it deserves you should be okay.

Answer 8

beginners don't need to start with salt TOO many factors to watch out for . They are pretty thought but fish for salt are much more expensive much easier to kill off and there are species that are sold known to hurt humans ie lion fish which sting and are about ten times as lethal asbee stings Not saying dont ever try but get yourself a fresh water get goldfish if in six months to year there still doing good then change to more tropical fish and build up from there .I tryed salt and failed big time and Im still working up the courage to try again and losing 400.00 in fish wasnt to encourging either

Answer 9

It is much easier to maintain a freshwater tank then it is to maintain a saltwater tank. Although a freshwater tank is not a maintenance free aquarium. Plus saltwater set ups and fish are much more expensive.

Answer 10

Personally, fresshwater tanks are WAY easier but it depends how dedicated you choose to be. If you want a freshwater get one, the same goes for saltwater. But it al goes to wether you are willing to dedicate your time because keeping fish is not just dumping water into box and putting fish in and calling it a day. It takes time to cycle a tank and cleaning it weekly takes dedication. If you want to go ahead.