Will a saltwater tank give you happiness?

[aquamist666]

If you’re bored with freshwater aquariums, will converting over to saltwater give you complete and utter happiness?

 

[Azedenkae]

Probably not, tbh.

 

[Littlebudda]

If you’re bored with freshwater aquariums, will converting over to saltwater give you complete and utter happiness?

Probably not but it will definitely take some weight off, unfortunately that weight only comes out of your wallet

 

[Mudminnow]

Complete and utter happiness? ...not a chance. That doesn't mean it's not worth doing though.

 

[MasterPython]

If spending more money makes you happier yes

 

[Redshark1]

Since both freshwater and saltwater are both aquariums if you are not interested in one you will not be interested in the other.

However if the world's abundance of freshwater fish and other vertebrates, invertebrates and plant life do interest you I can only think that the greater diversity of life in saltwater could only be of similar interest with money and practicalities becoming additional considerations.

 

[MasterPython]

the greater diversity of life in saltwater could only be of similar interest with money and practicalities becoming additional considerations.

There are a lot more species of plants and animals available for freshwater tanks. Each African rift lake has more fish species than all the coral reefs and then there is the Amazon river.

 

[Edsland]

Only if you enjoy more maintenance and as said less money in your pocket.

 

[A201]

What's the expression? "Been there, done that". If you like:
Dealing with salt creep / Very fragile fish & invertebrates / Continually battling ugly multi colored algae / Nearly impossible to successfully medicate / Mixing & storing sea salt & water in a Rubbermaid trash can / Unbelievably expensive / Can't dump the used salt water in the grass or garden. I'm sure there are more reasons that I've forgoten why I gave up the marine side of the hobby.
After a few years of moderate success, keeping quite a variety of marine fish, I joyfully donated the surviving fish to my local zoo.
Decided to try keeping something easy, Discus Lol.

 

[ruud]

What's the expression? "Been there, done that". If you like:
Dealing with salt creep / Very fragile fish & invertebrates / Continually battling ugly multi colored algae / Nearly impossible to successfully medicate / Mixing & storing sea salt & water in a Rubbermaid trash can / Unbelievably expensive / Can't dump the used salt water in the grass or garden. I'm sure there are more reasons that I've forgoten why I gave up the marine side of the hobby.
After a few years of moderate success, keeping quite a variety of marine fish, I joyfully donated the surviving fish to my local zoo.
Decided to try keeping something easy, Discus Lol.

OK, I'm cured.

 

[Coradee]

What's the expression? "Been there, done that". If you like:
Dealing with salt creep / Very fragile fish & invertebrates / Continually battling ugly multi colored algae / Nearly impossible to successfully medicate / Mixing & storing sea salt & water in a Rubbermaid trash can / Unbelievably expensive / Can't dump the used salt water in the grass or garden. I'm sure there are more reasons that I've forgoten why I gave up the marine side of the hobby.
After a few years of moderate success, keeping quite a variety of marine fish, I joyfully donated the surviving fish to my local zoo.
Decided to try keeping something easy, Discus Lol.

You describe my reason for giving up the marine side of the hobby and I only had a nano tank!

To answer the op ‘does a saltwater tank give you happiness?’ When it’s first set up looking beautiful and pristine then yes, but that feeling doesn’t last long.
I’m sure our successful saltwater keepers would disagree, but I can only answer for me.

 

[SparkyJones]

My advice for anyone doing saltwater is to spare no expense and hire a caretaker to clean and maintain it so you have someone else to blame for the headaches that will happen, then it can be happy times!

If you are bored with freshwater, make a list of likes and dislikes of it, and dial in on what you like and then head to something that's more difficult, or even easier, yet interests you to learn and follow that specific path.
Like aquascaping, or breeding, or growing algae even, keeping bivavles or pea puffers or something different from the norm maybe. Maybe go hard water or soft, or brackish, maybe annual or semi annual killifish. Maybe go river and fast flow or still water and very slow.

Only you know what interest you, and of you end up with no positives at all and only negatives on your list, then maybe you know it's time to find something else instead of getting more expensive and still not liking it.

 

[Redshark1]

There are a lot more species of plants and animals available for freshwater tanks. Each African rift lake has more fish species than all the coral reefs and then there is the Amazon river.

I believe there are more saltwater fish species vs freshwater fish species. This can be easily checked online. But I am willing to listen if we are at cross purposes.

 

[SparkyJones]

freshwater has more species of fish than saltwater, saltwater has clearly more fish overall than freshwater because there's 10,000x more saltwater on the planet than there is freshwater. 51% of all fish species are freshwater, 49% are saltwater/anadromous/brackish ect.
Saltwater fish have the better colors though also a bit more shape variety.

 

[86 ssinit]

What's the expression? "Been there, done that". If you like:
Dealing with salt creep / Very fragile fish & invertebrates / Continually battling ugly multi colored algae / Nearly impossible to successfully medicate / Mixing & storing sea salt & water in a Rubbermaid trash can / Unbelievably expensive / Can't dump the used salt water in the grass or garden. I'm sure there are more reasons that I've forgoten why I gave up the marine side of the hobby.
After a few years of moderate success, keeping quite a variety of marine fish, I joyfully donated the surviving fish to my local zoo.
Decided to try keeping something easy, Discus Lol.

Lol many a reef keeper has quit keeping discus!! Thing with salt is the cost. Next the space. You need mixing tanks,pumps, chillers wave makers….. But luckily you can set this whole system up and make it fully automatic. Plus have alerts sent to your phone if your system has a problem. Through your phone most problems can be fixed. Yes you’ll be selling your house but if your into electronics this is for you!! Worked with a guy who could do I’d say almost anything to his reef tank on his phone. His system maintained everything. He had to have 50 different readings (numbers) about his tank and equipment. 10k spent on this. I opened up my camera app and showed him one of my discus tanks. Shut him right up . All this equipment and he never thought of putting a camera on the tank .

Oh the reason the reef keeper bail is because of the time spent taking care of discus . Op if looking for a challenge and colorful fish try discus. Still cheaper than salt and definitely a challenge

 

[A201]

86 ssinit you forgot one piece of essential equipment: Back up generator. $$$.

 

[86 ssinit]

86 ssinit you forgot one piece of essential equipment: Back up generator. $$$.

Lol back up generator is a must for any fish keeping!

 

[TClare]

I wouldn't even consider the expense and complications of keeping marine species as there are so many interesting freshwater fish species that I would love to keep if I only had the time money and space. Not that there is anything wrong with keeping a marine setup if that's what interests you most, but I can't help feeling that if someone is fed up with freshwater species and all their incredible diversity, keeping saltwater fish is unlikely to be more fulfilling.

 

[BPSabelhaus]

What's the expression? "Been there, done that". If you like:
Dealing with salt creep / Very fragile fish & invertebrates / Continually battling ugly multi colored algae / Nearly impossible to successfully medicate / Mixing & storing sea salt & water in a Rubbermaid trash can / Unbelievably expensive / Can't dump the used salt water in the grass or garden. I'm sure there are more reasons that I've forgoten why I gave up the marine side of the hobby.
After a few years of moderate success, keeping quite a variety of marine fish, I joyfully donated the surviving fish to my local zoo.
Decided to try keeping something easy, Discus Lol.

That. I think I’m taking the crab tank down. It’s just not the same without Kirby the pileworm. The crabs are cool, but it’s time.

 

[Frank the Fish guy]

No. If anything it adds stress and expense since folks chose too small of a tank.

It is much harder to keep a salt water tank stable.

If you do go salt, my number one recommendation is to go big!

 

[BPSabelhaus]

One suggestion I will make. Our stock tank pond with goldfish and loaches makes me happiest. The sounds of the water, the fish just calmly swimming below. The loaches are silly and explore parts of the pond the goldfish can’t. It’s the “tank” I’m consistently happy with. I walk out the back porch, sit down and sip my coffee while the fish start to wake up.

 

[Jesterrace]

A lot of it depends on what bores you about Freshwater Tanks. If you are looking for more color and diversity (ie corals, inverts, individual fish personalities, etc.) then a Saltwater Tank could make you passionate about the hobby again. That said, there is definitely more cost and more work generally involved with them. So if you got tired of tank maintenance, saltwater isn't going to fix it.

 

[RayClem]

I kept several saltwater tanks for about 15 years with fish, live rock, corals, clams, snails, and shrimp. It was a wonderful time. After 40 years of keeping freshwater aquariums, it was a great change of pace. However, ultimately, keeping the saltwater tanks was too expensive and too time consuming.

 

[Frank the Fish guy]

I find the most rewarding bodies of water are the ones in balance that are stable and go without much maintenance. Sort of like a healthy person can just go along without too much assistance, just some routine maintenance.

Salt water does not balance in an aquarium. You have to actively monitor and intervene to keep it going to keep it stable. so your job as fish keeper is more like a life support system in the ICU.

But now our oceans are dying. Having a salt water tank gets you connected to how fragile the oceans are and how and why they are dying, but also how resilient life can be if given a chance.

 

[86 ssinit]

So true Frank! The state of decline of our oceans. But as to the maintenance of a salt water tank. Well that’s got 2 sides. There is the older way of doing it all yourself. Lots of maintenance! But the modern way of salt water is fully automated! Part of keeping salt water has become tech. They have systems that monitor everything! Yes everything! All operated from your iPhone. Had a guy at work who was showing me everything his system did. Just amazing it added salt,water all minerals and regulated all equipment. Price of 5-10k. So I asked to see the fish and as he showed me pictures of the tank I pulled up my $30 casa camera showing live views of my tank! Had to see the look of disappointment on his face . All that tech and he had no camera. Tech has become a very big part of salt water. His tank wasn’t a reef!

 

[Frank the Fish guy]

Reminds me of an ICU. The patient must be monitored by electronics all the time. Not exactly peaceful or relaxing place to be. But it is exciting! And the gadget factor is really fun.

 

[RayClem]

So true Frank! The state of decline of our oceans. But as to the maintenance of a salt water tank. Well that’s got 2 sides. There is the older way of doing it all yourself. Lots of maintenance! But the modern way of salt water is fully automated! Part of keeping salt water has become tech. They have systems that monitor everything! Yes everything! All operated from your iPhone. Had a guy at work who was showing me everything his system did. Just amazing it added salt,water all minerals and regulated all equipment. Price of 5-10k. So I asked to see the fish and as he showed me pictures of the tank I pulled up my $30 casa camera showing live views of my tank! Had to see the look of disappointment on his face . All that tech and he had no camera. Tech has become a very big part of salt water. His tank wasn’t a reef!

A FOWLER system is not too bad to maintain, but a reef if a different matter: more lighting, more careful control of salinity and calcium content, a wider variety of foods and vitamin supplements. Then there is the cost of the livestock. I cannot count the number of times I paid $100 or more for a fish only to have it die within the week.

 

[Marlene327]

Only if someone would set it up for me, then come back often to clean and maintain it for me. I'm semi-retired and don't have the funds for that. The available fish are amazingly beautiful, for sure, but that would be champagne on my beer budget. My freshwater tanks make me happy most of the time, especially the day after a good cleaning and WC. Much simpler and that works for me!

 

[Frank the Fish guy]

The other nasty thing about salt water is the horrendous methods used to collect fish from reefs. There are some videos on Fishlore. Divers squrting poison onto reefs and most of the fish dying during transport.