Freshwater Aquariums Archives - Page 5 of 5

Aquariums are great creative outlets for you. You can design one small enough to fit into the corner of a room, or large enough to create a room’s focal point. The big decision comes when selecting the type of fish and invertebrates you want. Which means – either saltwater or freshwater.

Let’s look at freshwater tanks.

Easy to maintain
Less expensive to stock
Easier to take care of as freshwater fish are more tolerant of tank or environment deviations
Tank size can be smaller, so your initial output is more reasonable

Now to saltwater tanks.

Better looking – saltwater fish tend to be more colorful with more interesting behaviors
More costly because you cannot ‘breed’ saltwater fish – they still need to be ‘captured’ to meet the supply-and-demand needs
Saltwater is more time-consuming because you need to make sure their environment is stable
Saltwater fish need large tanks, so your initial output will be more than with freshwater tanks

Even though ‘beginners’ are told to stay away from saltwater tanks and go with freshwater tanks, it is really up to you and how much time and energy you want to invest into your tank. No matter which tank you decide on, you should be aware of a few tips.

1. Fish size

All fish start out small, but each one grows at a different rate. So you need to consider which will be better based on your budget as well as the size tank you decide on. It will be more costly if you have to get a larger tank each time your fish develops as well as making sure they have plenty of room to swim in.

2. Food

As everyone knows, goldfish require a container of food that you can just ‘tap’ into the tank, and then off you go. Whereas with saltwater fish, you will need to mimic what they would normally eat in the wild. This means extra types of food and some of those foods need to be refrigerated. If you have children, that is a major consideration in order to avoid them getting ‘into something’ that they should not be into and then get sick.

3. Compatibility

It won’t do your budget any good to buy fish and then come home to find one is dead or half-eaten!! You need to make sure your tank dwellers will be on good terms with each other as well as other fish dwellers in your tank.

4. Breeding

Some people have tanks in order to breed fish and make some extra cash. So when buying your fish, you need to make sure that they can be bred in ‘captivity’ (i.e. your tank), or that they are not shy around other fish.
One last thing to remember – some fish can live for up to ten years in a tank. That means a long-term commitment on your part and has to be something that you are willing to spend time on. So be careful on what fish to want, because it will almost be like a marriage contract!

Some of my favorite freshwater fish are Guppies (easy to take care of and feed), Betta (even though they need to be kept away from other fish, they have lovely colors and finnage), and the Oscar (after a while it is said that it will come to know its feeder). Looking at saltwater fish, I like Blue Devils, Clown Fish (like Nemo), and the Forceps Butterfly (its bright yellow color is stunning).

Want more information and help deciding on which fish tank is the best? Call Seatech Aquariums. Jimmie and Mike have many years of aquarium experience, and will help you decide on the size, where to put it, and what to put inside of it. Seatech offers a money-back guarantee on its livestock, and will also be there to set up your tank and get you going with regular, first-class maintenance.

Visit our website at http://seatechaquariums.com/ or give us a call at 602.628.7270. And if you are interested in getting a Nano Cube Tank, then Seatech is the ultimate expert!! We have several models to select from and again – we will help you get everything you need.
Don’t wait – get started today!

Here a Tank, There a Tank – So Which Is Right For Me?

You have decided that you want to invest in an aquarium either for your own pleasure or for another family member. Let’s see – Saltwater? Freshwater? Let me see if I can give you some ideas to help you out.

Fish Only Tank

You may decide to have a ‘fish only’ saltwater tank. Fish only tanks are the easiest to care for because that is all there is. You can now decide on either tropical or coldwater fish to put into your tank. Tropical fish, like the Angel or Clownfish, have vivid colors and tend to be more appealing to a tank lover. Coldwater fish, like Bloodfin Tetras, Guppies, or goldfish, are easy to care for, hardy and can tolerate lower water temps.

Invertebrate Only Tank

You may also think about starting an ‘invertebrate only’ tank. This means your tank would be made up of shrimp, hermit crabs, gobies, and maybe starfish. Most of these are ‘tank cleaners’ so they will ‘naturally’ help clean your tank. Yes, you still need to worry about filters, food, and water quality, but they are not as delicate as other types of fish. If you do select any type of crab, you need to provide them with some sort of resting place that is ‘above’ water. They are not fully aquatic, and do need to come out of the water from time to time. Just remember to keep the tank lid in place, as they are quick to play the ‘escape artist’ in favor of running wild on your floors.

Fish and Invertebrate Tank

You can combine tanks to create a ‘fish and invertebrate’ saltwater tank. If you go with this type of aquarium, you will need to be very careful when you begin mixing species. Some fish use invertebrates for food, and some invertebrates like fish for dinner! You will also need to step up your tank maintenance plans because diseases are easily spread, and are harder to prevent and cure when there is co-existence in a tank.

Saltwater Coral Reef Tank

If you have the room and space, you may decide on a saltwater ‘coral reef’ tank. Once again, reef tanks need a stepped up care plan, and you must research your dwellers very carefully. If you remember my blog on corals, certain corals thrive in saltwater, so make sure you ask before you buy or transplant.

Single Dweller Tank

There is another type of tank that I call a ‘single dweller’ tank. By that I mean, if you are really fond of one certain fish or sea creature, you can make that the focal point of your tank. Take Sea Apples for example. Sea Apples have a defense system that emits toxic chemicals when threatened. They really prefer to be left alone, but would be ok in a tank where the other dwellers were more interested in each other than the Sea Apple. Another single dweller would be the Lionfish. They have been known to eat prey half their size, as well as devouring devour marine fish and invertebrates. They are aggressive, predatory, and really should be by themselves.

Brackish Tank

Lastly, there is a ‘brackish’ tank which is a mixture of both waters – salt and fresh. Salt levels are key to both your brackish tank and its dwellers. This type of tank recreates an aquatic network similar to that of coastal streams and saltwater swamps. Like tropical freshwater tanks, they need filters, a heater and proper lighting. What makes them different is the dark substrate-like sand, live plants, driftwood, and of course – levels of salt. Dwellers for this type of tank would be mollies and gobies, with plants like the Carolina Fanwort. Brackish tanks are a challenge, but well worth the effort.

Seatech Aquariums Makes ‘Deciding’ Easy!

There are many options to select from and when you need a great place to start, Seatech Aquariums has everything you need. With over 50 years of aquarium experience, the Seatech Team will be able to help you go from start to finish, with results that are stunning and impressive to your guests, as well as provide you with a tank that you will always love and care for.

So if you are ready to start – pick up the phone and call Seatech today! Don’t just dream about that special aquatic tank – begin to make that ‘dream’ happen with the Seatech Aquarium Dream Team!

Category Archives: Freshwater Aquariums

Freshwater Or Saltwater Tanks? I Like Them Both