• questions about marine and freshwater aquariums

  • Jeffrey

I don't know how appropriate the question will be... but still, I have no other way to ask here: could you please tell me, as a beginner, since I have never had an aquarium, which is better to start with, a marine or a freshwater one? And the second question, which is quite inappropriate: how much more expensive will a marine aquarium be compared to a freshwater one? Thank you in advance for your answers.

John5528

Bland. For a very long time.

Patricia

thank you so much!

Christopher

Since you have never had an aquarium, which one is better to start with, saltwater or freshwater? Of course, only freshwater, and take something simpler and not very demanding; it's cheaper and easier, and learning on it will cost you less.

Natasha7622

I was thinking that no more than 130 liters, and for fish, I was considering catfish and a couple of angelfish, or is that very difficult???? Well, maybe some shrimp too, but I don't know if catfish and angelfish will eat the shrimp? And I'm not sure what kind of water I have at home, hard or soft, since angelfish need only soft water. Do you know how I can determine this in a simple way? And thank you for your response.

Martha

No matter what aquarium you start, you'll still regret not choosing a bigger one... freshwater or saltwater, depending on your finances. Saltwater is more expensive and much more so, but there are fewer worries.

Emily

What other beautiful livebearers are there besides guppies that are also easy to keep? And if after a year I still want to keep angelfish, will I have to remove the guppies or other livebearers? Thank you for the good wishes, Zhenya.

Wendy

Unfortunately, I won't have enough money for the sea in that case.

Emily3506

Just type "live-bearing aquarium fish" in the search engine and you will see, and also look at the photos.

Maria

I’ve really gotten into reading and forum discussions; I approach every issue this way, and here... thank you.

Adam

take the sea

Rodney3101

Hmm... easy to say, but where are the arguments? There are plenty of arguments for the freshwater option: cheaper, easier. Yes, the sea will remain my dream, it is extraordinarily beautiful, but I can't afford it financially.

Amber9312

If you can't handle it, don't stress yourself out in this thread. If you're good with money, people will help you here – everything will be fine, even if you're a newbie.

Earl

I asked this question to find out if I can handle it, whether the sea is much more expensive than fresh water. They said it is very much more expensive, so I’m not stressing about it anymore.

Andrea8397

The topic is as follows: 500 liters - 5000 dollars. This is real. Cheaper only with one of my friends from Zaporizhzhia. But there are their own conditions.

Cynthia6578

Is it monthly or just to get started?

Helen

Yes, that's right, my soft reef aquarium of 500 liters has already reached somewhere around $3600-3800 after the lighting upgrade. P.S. I have 20-25 kg of Black Sea sand and about 20 kg of live rocks from the Black Sea, and if I had bought all of this, the price would have been even higher.

Gabriel

If you spend them every month, then I am talking to oligarchs here. I also apologize for such inappropriate behavior, but it was very important for me to know if I was doing the right thing by giving up on my dream. Now I see that I was right. Thank you for the advice.

Emily3506

This is a one-time expense. Each person has their own monthly expenses. Mostly small amounts.

Michelle13

Hmm... but still, I will first test my skills with freshwater, and then someday I will get a 20-liter jar with a clownfish. That's a distant dream; I saw such setups on a Russian forum, but when I read that they feed actinia with artemia, I felt a bit sick, as I don't eat them every day myself)))

John3335

When you are ready, come over - we are waiting.

Andrew4194

thank you

Christina9947

Start with freshwater! I didn't have an aquarium before either, but now I'm doing it together with my husband. It's true that the bigger the aquarium, the fewer problems you have with it. My husband has a 17-liter tank, and we used to clean it every week, but now we only do water changes and wipe the glass. We also plan to siphon the substrate and clean the filter, but it's been over three months since we set it up. The fish are happy and seem healthy, eating eagerly whatever our son gives them. The Neocaridina shrimp are even breeding!

Nicole7268

But there is still a pseudo-sea?! Why not give it a try?

Stacy6866

You can also find suitable fish and there are decorations, I've seen them!

Tracey

What you call a "pseudosea" is not even close to the most primitive sea. It's just a commercial gimmick. A banal freshwater body with painted corals.

Maria6659

Well, I don't know... my husband and I were watching "here" what people come up with, and we liked it! We'll buy a new lid and a new cabinet, and then we'll restart with the language design... Overall, it's a matter of taste! And the sea is a bit tough! Plus, there are some other gadgets we need in addition to what we already have! And salt, they say people used to make it themselves, but now we have to buy it all the time...

Robert800

It's definitely easier with the sea than with freshwater. More expensive, that's for sure.

Sheila1322

There-there.....

John3187

Beauty requires sacrifice. In this case, material ones.

Karen2578

Well, what beauty!! But with persistence and minimal knowledge, it is possible to create a freshwater aquarium that is simply amazing..... And if we take inspiration from the work of other forum members......

Ronald

Again, you already said - it's a matter of taste.

Melissa

I already understood this, I read it, but I can't do it at sea for now because my finances don't allow it, so I will try myself in freshwater, thank you.

Sandra7004

I think around 120-160 liters, no more. Can you recommend which brand is best for buying an aquarium? I found online: JUWEL Record 160 aquarium 101x41x46 cm 160L, with all the equipment and stand. Do you know how good it is? Will it need any modifications? Thank you.

Bethany

A great option to start. Everything in one. I went through the same path, but it caught my attention and I had to sell it and do everything from scratch to meet my needs. It's just that everything in it is average: average light for plants (or poor?), average filtration for cichlids, etc.

Adam

So I will sell them later, we'll see, for starters I need a start. I'm mostly interested in fish, but that's for later, angelfish. What do you think, if I want to get them in a year, what fish should I get now?

Alejandro

Why not get what you want right away?))

Sharon

Probably because it's difficult, I've never dealt with fish before, and now I'm starting with angelfish. Plus, I don't know how soft or hard my water is. The book says that angelfish only live in soft and acidic environments, but if my water is hard, is there a way to make it soft? The livebearers I plan to introduce first can live in any water, but I don't know if they will be able to coexist with the angelfish. I also really liked the neon tetras; how will they be able to live together? I like freshwater shrimp too, but I'm not sure about their compatibility.

James

Books are certainly good. But I don't think that Kyiv residents keeping scalars soften the water. Get what you like right away. Be bold, but without fanaticism.

Travis572

Currently, almost all pet stores offer free water testing. The devil is not as terrible as he is painted; there is nothing complicated about keeping scalars. The main thing is to approach the matter without fanaticism and indifference. Juwel is quite an interesting option, but there are also other, more rational ones. As an option:

Kristen1161

Thank you, I will think about the vials and will also check the special section for them on the forum, I will ask people there. Thank you for the link.

Sara

None. If you order someone from the forum to glue an aquarium and someone else from the forum to make a lid, it turns out much cheaper than a branded one. I don't want to argue about quality; for example, I don't need polished edges, and I also don't need a stylish branded stand. The reliability is the same. Many people throw away the built-in jewelry filter. Even better, post an ad on the forum about buying an aquarium, and you'll have options to choose from.

Elizabeth1221

The water coming from our tap is, to put it mildly, like urine. And the scalars live and grow perfectly in it. Water quality was only a concern during spawning.

Emily

Thank you, I will definitely think about it.

Rebecca1419

for starters, freshwater.

Brent8919

Yes, and small children. Thank you, I basically chose the aquarium, but it is 41 cm high. Do you know if angelfish can live normally in it? Or should I look for one that is 50 cm?

Catherine6534

Then it's better to have non-alcoholic beer, rubber women, plastic fish - no need to feed them. Pseudo is still just pseudo...

Michael3221

I had breeding tanks for scalars that were 40 cm deep, with a filling height of 35-37 cm, and the fish stayed there and spawned for months.

Allison

Your scalar fish will live in a 41 cm high aquarium if you don't neglect them. And don't forget, you are in a marine topic, so ask questions (since you've decided that the sea is not for you) that are relevant or about freshwater if you're in freshwater.

Bethany

I don't think starting with freshwater is a dogma. Essentially, you can't take much experience from it to the sea. There's no water treatment, primitive filtration, and water testing is also questionable, while the light is just incandescent bulbs. This obviously doesn't apply to advanced high-tech tanks, but the author doesn't plan for that either. Even in the famous book by Ivanov and Savchuk, the authors speak favorably about marine starts without freshwater preparation. In any case, if you get not what you want, but what you need, it is recommended that the aquarium will soon be dried out and the fish will be released.

Alyssa1438

I'm sorry for bringing up an off-topic discussion here. I thought asking about the sea and freshwater would have a better chance of getting responses. It's better to ask people who deal with the sea, as most of them have likely dealt with freshwater aquariums before. As for angelfish, I'm asking for the future; right now, I'm going to start with simpler fish. I'm also asking here because the people who respond to me have experience with them, while in the "Angelfish and Discus" section, only one person answered basic questions in two days. Once again, I apologize for the off-topic discussion.

Gregory

Are you kidding me about the herbivore with discus? As far as I understand, guppies are the most primitive fish, I don't want to offend anyone!

William5838

Who said I don't want to? I just wanted it a little less than the sea, that's all. I just want to test my strength in freshwater; if I can lift a freshwater aquarium, I won't give up, and then I can think about the sea.

Linda

thank you, you have calmed me down

Jeremy

Dear, take the veil off your eyes. Don't even think about a marine aquarium, otherwise it will lead to a sea of tears, a pile of money thrown to the wind, and then - a complete aversion to the aquarium topic. Focus on guppies.

Cassandra1840

All cichlids are beautiful; I noticed that not only angelfish and discus have faces that resemble clowns, but they are also quite charming. I really don't want to start keeping guppies, because later, when I want to get some cichlids, I'll have to find a place for them. Thank you for your support. A friend of mine from Moscow has a 130-liter tank; she recently bought a starfish, and this little troublemaker is eating the corals (she says she posted an ad for sale on the forum, got over 200 views, but not a single message! Nobody wants to buy it).

Shawn

Who said that guppies are the most primitive fish? This is a stereotype from the 1960s. Nowadays, all purebred guppies, specifically purebred ones, are fish with severely compromised immune systems that require just as much care as discus fish in a breeding tank. Even those that are mass-produced and sold in markets need proper attention. Otherwise, you end up with frayed and falling fins and fish that are swimming aimlessly in the corners. I'm not discouraging you. Just don't think that by getting guppies, you've entered a fairy tale.

Gabriel

Weakened immunity due to our aqua-breeders trying to reshape Mother Nature! As a result, we find veil tails in stores with the coloring of a warrior from the Comanche tribe... guppies crossed with neon tetras... Fish with modified DNA are doomed to a short life with very capricious care requirements.

Tiffany5069

I am absolutely not joking, I am completely serious. Discus are not that different from angelfish; they are just a bit more demanding and usually more expensive, although angelfish can vary as well. Keeping discus is a bit more complicated, but maybe it's worth starting with something not too simple; if you approach it seriously, everything will work out. There is a person on the forum named Svetlichny, who started with aquascaping and made it into the top hundred in a world competition... Regarding guppies, you are mistaken; at the last international guppy exhibition-competition in Italy, auction prices for a single fish reached 60-80 Euros (do you think that's for something primitive?), and Russian breeders took prize places.

John828

Rather than being unimportant, they don't like to chatter aimlessly to avoid causing harm; there are answers to almost all questions, you just need to take the time to read and search. I wasn't joking about discus fish; I'm basing this on my limited experience. It's not that difficult, although it's not entirely easy either. Are livebearers stupid? Well... Did you know that, for example, swordtails form schools only in very large volumes? I think their behavior is much more interesting there. However, not many people will keep just swordtails in 500 liters. Parrots with tetras probably feel great; there's always food... good conditions.

Alyssa1438

Are beautiful fish also livebearers like guppies?

Emily3506

No, I don't want guppies. They are not exactly primitive, but they are very resilient; no matter how many die, just as many are born. A friend of mine has a lot of them, and whether she forgets to feed them or overfeeds them, they still live and breed, and they even eat their own fry. I guess I just don't like them, which is why I have a biased attitude towards them, but I really don't want to offend you; it's just that everyone has different tastes.

Eric8832

The care is probably not that different, but sorry, one thing is 15 and 150, that's the minimum I've seen for Discus, and there are even 700, 800, and that's in an online store, where it should be cheaper! No, if my Discus were to die, I would probably go with it!!! Plus, they need a very large aquarium, around 300-500 liters, which I simply can't afford, but thanks for the offer) As for guppies, they are probably just for enthusiasts.

Charles4157

Did you start with guppies?

Sara4035

Dear [Name], I dare to speak on behalf of [Name] as I have known him for about 20 years. Before he set up his first marine aquarium, he spent around 30 years actively breeding African and American cichlids, and naturally, he also went through guppies, pike, catfish, etc.

John3165

What if I just don't like guppies? I'm okay with catfish; they're useful, smart, and cute fish. Can't we start with other fish? Do we have to have those specifically?

James1625

The cost is such that what is expensive for one person is cheap for another. I have often regretted getting a "cheap" simple fish, while there is no space for the "expensive" rarer one that I really like. It’s frustrating, especially since I feel sorry for the remaining guppies that have multiplied; they are like family. I just thought that if there are thoughts about the sea, then there is enough money for the aquarium, although it’s rarely ever enough... P.S. We have discus juveniles at 30, more or less at 50.

Cynthia

I didn't mean your laziness specifically, but rather described a general tendency of more or less experienced forum members to be unwilling to answer simple questions from newcomers. Usually, such questions are not answered correctly by other newcomers, like me... The reason is also simple - everything is summarized, in any form, on the forum, and often written by people who are not beginners at all. You can just read it, although it's a bit more labor-intensive than asking. And many people do respond - just ask.

Anthony4281

Start with the fish that you personally like, and there is a wide selection - from guppies to discus, for example.

Megan

Just joking, though: Is it okay that I'm into marine fish? I sometimes dream about the sea. Let's categorize everyone by their fish preferences: guppy enthusiasts are important; characins keep busy, breeding fish; cichlid keepers are so-so, since they’re close to the sea; but marine aquarium lovers are a cheerful bunch, suggesting large cichlids with small characins... But what about those who keep different fish, various aquariums, and other creatures? Regarding the school of swordtails – those aren't my words; there are just still many needed. I didn't have anyone, including the fish, in mind personally.

Michelle104

Yes, start with the fish that you like, there is a wide selection and it's not necessary to begin with guppies. When I started, in my first 120-liter aquarium, there were two pairs of angelfish (one pair of marble and one pair of three-striped), then 7 sumatran barbs and 7 regular danios. I first bred the danios, then the barbs, and after a few failures, I succeeded with the marble angelfish on about the third attempt. After that, it took off.

Rodney

"Guppies" is a generic term; you can take it or leave it, but just don't venture into the sea—if a storm hits, there will be no one to save you.

Wendy2244

I don't get seasick or affected by storms, tested and proven!) from a family of deep-sea sailors) Well, seriously, I wouldn't even attempt it, I wouldn't have the finances to raise it, but I have an acquaintance who raises the sea on her own without any preparation and everything is fine for her. However, I understand that this is probably more of an exception than a rule.

Mike

It turns out to be an interesting thing: there are people on the forum who in one thread say that the sea is simple and cheap, and the maintenance costs are minimal, while in another thread they say that it is very complicated and expensive. Maybe it's time to make up our minds?

Adrienne

Well, something needs to be written... We loaded the person. The main thing is to start and read less before that, especially from "experienced" advisors. There's nothing complicated in the process. Just start and move forward slowly, reading books and forums. Good luck.

Michael3221

Everyone is so kind, they completely scared the girl. A bit of specifics - setting up a small marine aquarium (40-80 liters) is not expensive! An aquarium for keeping hard corals is expensive! To start a mini aquarium, you need - an aquarium, for example, a Resson 1200. 5 kg of sand 150, live rocks a couple of kg 350, dry rock 5 kg 200, salt 100, order a couple of 19-liter bottles of water 40. Total: 2040. After about three weeks, add a couple of clownfish 300. A month later, add an anemone 350. Total: approximately 2700. Monthly maintenance includes 20-40 liters of water and 1 kg of salt.

Justin

and here we are back to the sea. we forget about the discus and remember Achilles

Angela

It's clear that it's not about the price, not entirely about the price, and I don't want guppies also because they are very prolific) and I think it's pointless to start with them and then deal with others that I also like, considering that later there will be nowhere to put them.

Robert800

So I'm asking, it's just that what is written on the forum is written by professionals for professionals, and it's just completely unclear. Thank you.

Russell8484

Could you please tell me if the 7 barbs were after the angelfish or together with them? And you probably don't quite understand me; I just like angelfish, I don't intend to breed them! I want them to just LIVE, and breeding is not necessary, although I have already seen a detailed guide on how to do it here in the angelfish lovers community.

Zoe7451

Thank you. To be honest, what scares me the most are not the fish, but the plants; that is really frightening. That's why I've started thinking about the sea. As far as I understand, in marine aquariums, plants don't play as significant a role as they do in freshwater ones?

Nicole263

No, thank you, I don't need such happiness (but from their sizes, I already understood that they are too big for me, and yes, I read that they are pack animals).

Joseph8842

this is exactly what I needed! thank you so much! are these expenses for 80 or 40 liters? I don't need a 500-liter aquarium! I don't even have a place to put it! but a mini-Nemo is already great, but I'm worried about salting the water, is it very difficult to do that? but that's just for the distant future if I don't end up wanting to do this at all after freshwater.

Jenny

Salting is the simplest.

Darrell7542

Is it simple? Do I need to salt the water separately every week and change half of the aquarium?

Curtis

not every and not half. 10-20% two or three times a month. Saltwater requires less attention, but as has been written many times before, the initial investment is much higher than in freshwater. Saltwater and freshwater are two different sciences; if you learn to care for freshwater, that experience will not help much in saltwater.

Keith7534

Well, why not, it will definitely help! Even purely psychologically, I will be confident that if I managed a freshwater aquarium, I can handle a marine one too; right now, I don't have that confidence. By the way, the expenses for the marine aquarium that I was told about, I was planning to invest only in the purchase of a freshwater aquarium; something is not right with what I'm doing((((

Laura3615

Exactly. (By the way, the costs for the marine setup that I was told about, I was planning to invest only in the purchase of a freshwater aquarium, something is not right with what I'm doing(((( ) Trust me, freshwater experience won't help you. I'm not a super aquarist, but I have about 30 years of aquarium experience. Go for marine, you won't regret it, it's completely different. The estimate was for 40 liters, for 80 it won't differ significantly. It would be easier if you mentioned your approximate budget, it's easier to give advice )))

Yolanda

I already realized that for a small sea I fit into my budget, but I'm afraid (maybe after the freshwater the jitters will pass).

Ryan2281

Could you please tell me if it's necessary to install an Osmos system for a marine aquarium? A friend of mine who has a 130-liter marine tank says it is. Is it difficult to maintain the required temperature in the aquarium?

Sharon

Girl, you live in Kyiv, not in a village; the city is big, there are many sailors, and you need to meet and discuss everything over a cup or two of coffee with one of the sailors, see and touch everything yourself, and all doubts and questions of why and for what will disappear; this is what suits you best. P.S. Just reach out to those people who maintain a RIF at home themselves.

Gary6376

Well, nerves and anxiety are not the best helpers in a bland situation. Look at it from another perspective. If you can manage a small financial burden, then why not start with that? After all, you don't live on a deserted island; you can always ask questions and get advice. There is plenty of information on forums. P.S. Something tells me that our ranks will soon be replenished...

Kendra2262

In principle, osmosis is desirable (and it's useful for home and family), but for a small volume, you can just buy water. The water that is delivered in large bottles is usually osmosis. The price per liter.

Katie4842

Pay attention to this topic.

Natasha

Unfortunately, I only read a little about saltwater and only keep freshwater aquariums, so I can't give you advice on saltwater. However, I can give you a great tip. For temperature control in freshwater tanks, you use a heater with a thermostat (there are external ones and those with built-in thermometers, integrated into the filter). You set them according to the thermometers, taking into account the heating from the lighting, and that's it, plus a thermometer for monitoring just in case. For saltwater, as far as I've heard, cooling is more relevant, which is more complicated and expensive.

Jason5071

If it's not a secret, which brands of aquariums do you have? Right now, the most relevant topic for me is buying an aquarium, because I've already decided on saltwater or freshwater; saltwater will definitely come later... but I still want a freshwater one, preferably a Juwel with a filter. We'll see how it goes. I just don't have anyone to help me carry the aquarium from the birdhouse, install the filters, lids, etc. Plus, I don't have the time to deal with all that, so I'd rather have everything together, even if it costs double.

Cindy

Hmm... if it weren't for your profile saying Zaporizhzhia, I would have definitely asked!))

Hannah

will definitely be replenished, in about six months I just want everything now!

Bridget

Thank you, that's the thing, I read and get confused, some advise one thing, others something completely different.

Leslie

Well, everyone praises their own swamp; there are as many opinions as there are people. If you have the finances and are not hesitant to spend them on the company, go for Juvel. I recommend the one with lights on the beams and an external filter rather than an internal one. You can also look at alternatives, like Ferplast, for example; they have very well-designed lids. If you want to take finances seriously, order from manufacturers. I have only dealt with "Akvatiка" (they have good aquariums, but in my opinion, the stands could be better) and "Priroda" (I do not recommend).

Kevin

I don't see any significant differences between the Ювель and Акватика cabinets. Especially since the cabinets in Ювель are domestic. I have had both. The lid is better in Ювель, although the principle is the same. For myself, I chose the combination of Акватика + an external filter of my choice.

Mark9853

As I understand, there are no filters in the aquarium, and I need to buy and install one myself. Is it difficult to do this, and how much does a good filter cost and which brand? Also, do you know how long it takes to make and deliver if I order one?

Susan9583

Filters are not attached (usually in freshwater), they are installed. Just install and turn on, they are selected based on the volume, and the price depends on the brand. Aquatica usually takes two weeks plus delivery from Kharkiv (which costs extra), you can check with them.

Cheryl

Isn't the delivery to Kyiv free? Well, I paid for the delivery to Odesa. Maybe in the end, you'll end up with the same amount of money as Yuvel, but you'll have an external filter (which doesn't take up space in the aquarium) that is significantly larger in volume, so it's better, plus the option to connect a sterilizer to the external filter, and the lighting will be improved if necessary.

William

take the Hagen EDGE. it looks stylish and expensive. and no hassle at all

Christina9947

Do you have it? There's really no way to look it up online, except on their official website.

Meghan

Thank you, I will clarify with them tomorrow.

Stacey4437

Currently, they are asking for 3 weeks for production. But in addition to the glass, a cover, frame, decorations, and cabinet are also needed... In the end, we arrive at almost a jewelry price but not quite with jewelry quality. The edges of AKVATIKA are not polished—they are sanded by themselves. And their finishing materials are simpler. Although the choice of manufacturer largely depends on the buyer's budget. You can also get an Italian one for 15-20 thousand in aluminum...

Joyce

In the end, I calculated that it actually comes out to the same as the Juwel, but it says 140 liters, and I understand that they measure it not from the lid, but from the aquarium itself. Juwel says that even though it states 125 liters, the actual usable volume is 110 liters. I calculated that I will buy a filter rated for 1300 l/h, which is a bit more expensive, so it will probably be better than Juwel.

Andrew7823

Yes, the price comes out the same, but they say that the filter needs to be thrown away in the Jeweler's.

Cynthia6578

Nonsense! If you don't set yourself the super task of ultra-purifying the water, the filter does just fine! Besides mechanical filtration, you can add bags with charcoal, etc. The likelihood of flooding is zero! I don't think the Germans are that foolish to install this filter... it all depends on the load and the fish... it's clear that for oscars, this filter is not enough.

Brent5588

In filters, the main thing is not "style" and a "luxurious" appearance. Most canisters are usually hidden away in a cabinet out of sight, rather than displayed. The most important factors are the volume of the canister, the number of sections for media, and the power of the pump for circulation. After that, it can be black and white or adorned with Swarovski crystals; it makes no difference for your aquarium.

Richard

No, I definitely don't need oscars, I just want two pairs of angelfish and three small catfish, no more than 15 cm, or even 10, and that's probably it, there won't be room for more in my 125-liter Jewel tank.

Jeffery7866

I thought the main thing was that the higher its price and l in ch, the better the filter is) But right now I'm reading a great article for beginners on the forum, maybe I'll get smarter from it)

Bryan1851

Could you send me the link to the article?