Having an aquarium in your home or office is always a fun. Essentially, two types of aquariums exist: Salt water and Fresh water. Each type has its unique requirements, benefits and difficulties. It is important to consider the following factors before making a decision on the kind of aquarium:
1. Maintenance: Salt water aquarium is a lot more difficult to maintain than a fresh water aquarium. The fresh water aquarium is easier to clean.
2. Cost of acquisition: The cost of acquisition includes the cost of aquarium plus the cost of fishes and other accessories. This cost is higher in case of salt water aquariums. Salt water aquariums require live rock, which is a type of natural filter obtained from coral reefs. It is difficult to procure and is very costly.
3. Size: A fresh water aquarium can be started with 10 gallons of water, but the salt water aquarium requires at least 55 gallons of water.
4. Variety of fish: You can stock wide varieties of fishes in a salt water aquarium. Apart from the fish, you can also add other marine animal and plant life. It enables you to have an ocean in your home. Marine fishes are colorful and look great, but they are very expensive.
5. Time: Due to heavy maintenance issues of salt water aquariums, they require more time and attention. You need good filters and quality testing kits. Maintaining the right pH level and right amount of salt in the tank is imperative for the survival of the fishes. The tank has to be run without any fish for about 2 months to get the cycle of nitrates and nitrites going. Meanwhile, 1/3 of the tank water needs to be changed every week. The entire set up requires a lot of patience.
6. Lighting: Presence of coral reefs and live rock make it very essential to have lighting in your salt water tank, because they can die in absence of adequate light. The balance of light is not that delicate in fresh water tanks.
Salt water aquariums require more money, time, experience and patience to be successful when compared to fresh water aquariums.
If you are a beginner and looking for casual hobby. It is a good idea to start with a fresh water aquarium. After you have learnt the basic rules, you can start a salt water aquarium.
In the end, what really matters is, the kind of fish that you want and the kind of right environment that can provide. It is heart breaking to see dead fishes in your aquarium. Therefore, the decision about the type of aquarium should be taken after much deliberation.
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