What is holding you back from starting a saltwater aquarium?

[Mike]

This is just for those of you wanting to start a saltwater aquarium, what is holding you back from setting one up?

You can pick multiple answers in the poll since there could be multiple reasons for not setting one up.

-Mike

#gettingreadytoeatsometurkeyupinhurr

 

[mimo91088]

Nothing! I have a 10 gallon nano reef. It's not nearly as hard as people think, and can done as cheaply or expensive as you choose to make it. Some guys can spend 10,000. Then you have a guy like me who's in for maybe like 300.
If you're a serious freshwater hobbyist, saltwater isn't any harder than you're used to, just different.
I still prefer fresh, but some of the saltwater stuff is cool as **** and I encourage everyone to give it a try!

 

[PascalKrypt]

No "I'm not interested" option? Seems like a bit of an open door that not everyone who keeps a freshwater tank doesn't do saltwater only because there is something actively holding them back
I guess it looks cool on photos and I love to visit the tanks in the zoo but even in the shop it looks off to me. Somehow it just doesn't draw me at all.

 

[lisa99]

We travel some and it’s easy to find feeding help among friends. Saltwater maintenance not so much.

 

[david1978]

Laziness.

 

[bizaliz3]

No "I'm not interested" option? Seems like a bit of an open door that not everyone who keeps a freshwater tank doesn't do saltwater only because there is something actively holding them back
I guess it looks cool on photos and I love to visit the tanks in the zoo but even in the shop it looks off to me. Somehow it just doesn't draw me at all.

The first post does specify that this poll is for those who WANT TO start a saltwater tank. Lol just sayin.

 

[jinjerJOSH22]

Cost, Space, water quality is part of my concern but honestly there are very few saltwater fish I have an interest in mostly inverts and a Snowflake Eels.

 

[PascalKrypt]

The first post does specify that this poll is for those who WANT TO start a saltwater tank. Lol just sayin.

Oh sorry! I just saw the poll and read the options and then went to answer the thread with my surprise of lack of that option. Didn't read the OP first because I always check out the poll in the main menu ;-) My bad!

 

[bizaliz3]

I voted for the first 4 reasons. Lol

But really....it all boils down to cost to be honest. But I suppose if I cut my freshwater tanks in half from 20 tanks to 10 tanks....maybe I could afford it.

Oh sorry! I just saw the poll and read the options and then went to answer the thread with my surprise of lack of that option. Didn't read the OP first because I always check out the poll in the main menu ;-) My bad!

I figured you didnt see it. I was just teasing you. No apology necessary!!

 

[Joshaeus]

I had saltwater tanks in the past and they were among my ugliest tanks, largely due to dense algae growth that appeared no matter how well nutrient levels were controlled...I have considered setting another one up, but the up front and operating costs, coupled with the considerable risk of repeat failure, has held me back.

EDIT: Almost forgot! I like to breed my fishes...not an easy task with most saltwater fishes.

 

[CaptainAquatics]

Cost, Space, water quality is part of my concern but honestly there are very few saltwater fish I have an interest in mostly inverts and a Snowflake Eels.

I agree for the most part. If I wanted to I could prob find room for a small saltwater tank but I don’t have the money and some of the fish just seem to colorful. Is that weird to say? Like their pretty and all but they just don’t seem very natural to me (obviously not all of them but some of them just don’t seem natural). Some seem like th painted hermit crabs pretty but not naturally seeming. Except in saltwater fish their color doesn’t hurt them. If I got saltwater I would want few things: lionfish, groupers, eels, crustations.

 

[RyanC14]

Lack of money is number one for sure. Also, my parents won't let me get another tank and I don't have a ton of time because of school.

 

[jinjerJOSH22]

I agree for the most part. If I wanted to I could prob find room for a small saltwater tank but I don’t have the money and some of the fish just seem to colorful. Is that weird to say? Like their pretty and all but they just don’t seem very natural to me (obviously not all of them but some of them just don’t seem natural). Some seem like th painted hermit crabs pretty but not naturally seeming. Except in saltwater fish their color doesn’t hurt them. If I got saltwater I would want few things: lionfish, groupers, eels, crustations.

No I agree about the color It was the same with freshwater tropical fish i'm just not a fan of those incredibly vivid colorations they just seem out of place in my aquariums. Don't get me wrong I think they look spectacular but I don't have that drive to keep them.

 

[PascalKrypt]

I figured you didnt see it. I was just teasing you. No apology necessary!!

No, that's how I took it Just felt a little dumb for not having bothered to read the first post. Anyhow I'll stop hijacking this thread now...

And what jinjerJOSH22 said. It's just .. it looks so. Not right, above ground. I don't have that with freshwater but somehow with saltwater it just feels so wrong, like it really doesn't belong.

 

[grantm91]

Nothing !

I live for the salty side

Edit: at first maybe the fear of failure put me off ? Like what if I did it failed and it put me off fish keeping. I just started with a standard tank, rock and clown fish pair. As you see 3 years on things escalated and now I'm an addict lol.

 

[Roger121]

Lol I'm 19, I can't pay an RO water system and salt for every time I want to change the water , two years ago I had a couple "Damisela bicolor"only ,in a 60L tank, Idk who is named the "Damisela bicolor" in English xD,I was using tap water and was horrible I sold those poor things and return to freshwater.

 

[jake37]

Prefer fresh water - enjoy playing with the plants.

 

[Rcslade124]

I just need the funds and space. I want to start with a 75 gallon saltwater tank. But I will be building my own refugium and sump. So money is main issue. Skimmer live rocks 2 tanks polycarbonate sheets for sump water pumps. It's a list that's pricey. Not to mention rodI system. One day. Although it's for the gf. I like freshwater I'm in love with my apistogramma I want a big tank to triple my apistogramma in.

 

[angelcraze]

Nothing ! View attachment 639535

I live for the salty side

Edit: at first maybe the fear of failure put me off ? Like what if I did it failed and it put me off fish keeping. I just started with a standard tank, rock and clown fish pair. As you see 3 years on things escalated and now I'm an addict lol.

Ok I didn't read the whole first post either, so went to say I'm not interested, but that is GORGEOUS! Never in my dreams could I achieve that.

I picked other because a big reason why I don't do saltwater is my water is soft and I don't want to adjust it. That's why I keep softwater SA fish. Plus I used to fish with my dad, so was always partial to freshwater, it's the only thing I know living in the middle of Canada.

 

[coralbandit]

I have salt [since the 1980s] and just don't find it at all as interesting as the fresh water side of fish keeping ..
Even good freshwater keepers may struggle with salt ..Sooo much depends on your source water ...After that it is easy ..
I still have a salt water tank and honestly do less for it then any other tank I have ..My fish are 4-5 years old and I have some simple corals ..
If you are 'good' with fresh then you can keep salt IMO.. Buy an RO/DI and just start out right !
But you will never breed fish in marine tanks like you can in fresh !
Fresh water rules !

 

[FinalFins]

Literally all of the choices listed except knowledge. Plus I'm biased.

 

[angelcraze]

I have salt [since the 1980s] and just don't find it at all as interesting as the fresh water side of fish keeping ..
Even good freshwater keepers may struggle with salt ..Sooo much depends on your source water ...After that it is easy ..
I still have a salt water tank and honestly do less for it then any other tank I have ..My fish are 4-5 years old and I have some simple corals ..
If you are 'good' with fresh then you can keep salt IMO.. Buy an RO/DI and just start out right !
But you will never breed fish in marine tanks like you can in fresh !
Fresh water rules !

Good point! I really like to see my fish breeding, plus I haven't had to buy a fish for a long time! Maybe the costs deter me a bit too. I guess i'm lazy, the fact is I enjoy Freshwater so much and don't want to stress myself out by messing with water parameters.

 

[Theosprey247]

No interest

 

[smee82]

Mike you forgot the biggest hurdle to get past wife/husband.

Isnt that what holds everyone back from everything they want to do.

 

[Mike]

Nothing ! View attachment 639535

I live for the salty side

Edit: at first maybe the fear of failure put me off ? Like what if I did it failed and it put me off fish keeping. I just started with a standard tank, rock and clown fish pair. As you see 3 years on things escalated and now I'm an addict lol.

Beautiful tank!

Mike you forgot the biggest hurdle to get past wife/husband.

Isnt that what holds everyone back from everything they want to do.

True. Spouse/partner aggro is a real thing! Just get in to growing corals and you can tell them that you are helping to save the dying reefs by propagating corals that may be needed to reseed the oceans eventually. That one works for me.

 

[chromedome52]

I once snorkeled on a reef off the island of Mauritius. I saw a school of Moorish Idols swimming across an open spot in the reef. The height of their fins was beyond anything short of a 10,000 gallon tank, and even that would probably be cramped. I do not believe justice can be done to a Saltwater environment in anything less than swimming pool size aquaria.

I suppose one could say it's a money/space thing, but we're talking several tax brackets higher than I've ever been, so it goes beyond just the cost.

 

[phnx314]

1. I’m broke cuz i’m 13
2. I can’t drive to go get those expensive things cuz i’m 13 (I was under the impression that saltwater requires more often trips to the lfs I might be wrong though)

 

[jake37]

Walk ?

1. I’m broke cuz i’m 13
2. I can’t drive to go get those expensive things cuz i’m 13 (I was under the impression that saltwater requires more often trips to the lfs I might be wrong though)

 

[phnx314]

Walk ?

it’s probably 10 miles, so it’d take all day

 

[lilirose]

My "other reason" is that the closest shop that stocks saltwater items is a 2.5 hour drive away. The marine section of the shop is absolutely jawdropping but considering how often I've needed "just this one more thing" for my freshwater tanks, I'd need a closer LFS to be willing to consider it.

 

[MissPanda]

Money for me, freshwater is cheaper. One day when I'm rich, I will.

 

[akbvlb]

Lack of knowledge and time for me, I really want to set up a reef tank but I have too much to learn first. I also won't mess with that till I get my freshwater tank all done. And somehow I'm drawn to what seems to be nearly impossible and that would be trying to make a planted tank for oscars and jack dempseys lol.

 

[NavyChief20]

The fact that my ex wife bleached my last one while I was deployed. Kinda ruins the thought of salt water for me.

 

[NavyChief20]

Lack of knowledge and time for me, I really want to set up a reef tank but I have too much to learn first. I also won't mess with that till I get my freshwater tank all done. And somehow I'm drawn to what seems to be nearly impossible and that would be trying to make a planted tank for oscars and jack dempseys lol.

My tiger grew up with a Jack. They got along until they got over 8".

 

[Agua86]

I'm lacking in knowledge. The more I read on Saltwater aquarium care, the more I realize how unprepared for it I am.

 

[BlackOsprey]

Pretty much every reason except for "too difficult." I don't have the money, and even if I did, I certainly do NOT have any more space. I also have college which means I'm not home for half the year. All these reasons added up makes me think I won't be getting into that anytime soon even if I wanted to, so I've done no research on it either.

I'm sure it's perfectly doable, just not with my current place in life right now.

 

[GlennO]

Most saltwater fish are wild caught and I prefer to keep captive bred fish.

 

[angelcraze]

Most saltwater fish are wild caught and I prefer to keep captive bred fish.

Greatest point to me. I don't keep wild caught fish either.

 

[KribensisLover1]

I don’t know how to delete.

 

[KribensisLover1]

Mike you forgot the biggest hurdle to get past wife/husband.

Isnt that what holds everyone back from everything they want to do.

see that scares me! I’m 39 and I have a serious bf and we don’t live together. I am scared of marriage! I like to do what I want and when I want. I’ve heard people get more ‘selfish’ as they get older!?! The truth is people make marriage sound kind of not great. Eek! LoL

 

[KribensisLover1]

Greatest point to me. I don't keep wild caught fish either.

Heat hear angelcraze
I went to HawaiI in October and went snorkeling & decided then & there I’ll never do saltwater. Forget the money it’s because those fish seemed RIGHT where they needed to be. Don’t get me wrong I am SUPER new to this and I don’t judge anybody who has any type of tank but I know I can’t give wild caught fish the conditions they need at this time.

 

[Thunder_o_b]

Three reasons.

1. Money.

2. Money.

3. And last but not least, MONEY.

The 150 tall was bought to be built as a coral and invert aquarium for my photography.... Then I saw the cost of the lights

 

[Marijn Lange]

There are multiple reasons.

To begin with, money! The fish, corals, lighting and filtration is so expensive! For example a clownfish, they cost around €25/€30,- a fish. Don't get me started on corals, they easily cost €100,-! Money is one of the reasons why I chose freshwater of saltwater.

I did have a 25 gallon saltwater aquarium a couple of years back. It had live rocks, a couple of clownfish, a yellow tang, a couple of shrimps, an anemone and a kenya tree. I had so much trouble with it! I had like these small mushrooms popping up everywhere and a lot of red algae. One day it got super hot and I tried everything to keep the water cool but unfortunately everything died. That's the day I gave up on saltwater.

Just to add some information. I was 13 years old around that time. I didn't do any research regarding fish and corals. I just bought the things I liked. But because of this experience I remember saltwater to be extremely hard!

I'm nineteen now and I do research regarding fish. I think keeping a saltwater aquarium would be much easier now, but again, the money is the main reason.

 

[MomeWrath]

Other: Experience!
Been there, done it, LOVED it (the color, the movement of soft corals, the color...), and then after four years of stressed-out weekends I realized that there has to be more to my life than aquarium maintenance. Sorry guys but a half-decent freshwater tank is easier to keep than a reef. It just is. Because there is no half-decent reef. Anything less than absolute diligence or full-on automation leads to an ugly saltwater tank. I don't want to go there again until I can afford the full monty!

 

[Pythia]

This is just for those of you wanting to start a saltwater aquarium, what is holding you back from setting one up?

You can pick multiple answers in the poll since there could be multiple reasons for not setting one up.

-Mike

#gettingreadytoeatsometurkeyupinhurr

First of all, I don't have that much knowledge, second, I don't have enough space for another aquarium. But I really want to start a saltwater aquarium!