preview

Types Of Freshwater And Saltwater

Decent Essays

Fishkeeping. Often portrayed in the media as one of two extremes: incredible, aquarium-worthy tanks with intricate setups and many species, or a lone goldfish in a bowl. While neither are particularly accurate, it shows what the general, uninformed public sees as fishkeeping. In reality, there are two types-freshwater and saltwater, with each requiring commitment and care. There are, however, major differences. Freshwater tanks require far less maintenance, and are nowhere near as delicate as a saltwater tank. While both hobbies have similar aspects, keeping saltwater fish is ultimately more time-consuming and expensive, and more fit for an experienced aquarist. With both hobbies, tanks can be just about any size, from tiny to huge. For …show more content…

In actuality, fish are more work and require so much more time than the average cat or dog. That being said, there are plenty of “beginner” freshwater species that are relatively low-maintenance and hardy and are great to start out with, and by the same token, extremely complex and delicate fish best reserved for experts. Saltwater fish are also best kept for the experienced, who understand the needs of the fish they are keeping. Overall, anyone, beginner or pro, needs to understand amount of time, effort, and money that has to go into this hobby in order to be successful. Fishkeeping tends to be a particularly expensive hobby, with a ten gallon freshwater setup running $100-$150, and saltwater even more. The bigger it gets, the more the initial cost. Equipment alone can take up half that amount, with a tank, hood, light, filter, and possibly a heater and aerator depending on the fish. One major difference is the monitoring of water parameters. Parameters include nitrate, nitrite, and pH levels. In a saltwater tank in which you must also monitor salinity levels, one of these being even slightly off could be detrimental to the survival of the organisms inside. Common ways to measure these things are testing strips, which are dipped into the water and use colored sections as an indicator of levels, or a kit with reactive liquids that are added to a water sample. The kit is more expensive, but essential

Get Access