When to take on new tank challenges

Cribbinator

Cribbinator

Fish are Friends, Not Food
May 26, 2004
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0
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Alpharetta, GA
www.thecribbs.com
Hello,

I was curious, is there a recommendend time (tank age) and months/years of experience to have before you start introducing new items to your tank such as live plants, fish that require more care, and even moving to a saltwater setup. I really want to setup a saltwater tank but I just don't think I have enough experience to manage one due to the strict lighting requirements and water chemistry. My goal is to have both a salt and freshwater tank but I think I should experiment with live plants and make sure I can maintain a very healthly tank before I embark on the saltwater route. Also, I know with freshwater it is easier to maintain a larger tank (to a certain degree), but does the same apply for saltwater ?

Also, is there a thread or website somewhere that can explain the different types of lighting and thier uses for both freshwater and salt ?

Thanks,

James
 
It all depends on the person. I know somebody who got a 12 gallon saltwater thank as his first tank and has been sucessfull. If you are bored, and want more of a challenge, then get some plants or something. If you understand saltwater, and do it right, it isnt much tougher just more expensive. If you think you are ready, do some research, ask questions, and go for it.
 
Its like anything else. Age or time spent does not always equal maturity or level of understanding.

I think when what you have is doing well and you understand why, then you are ready to pick up the pace.
 
I agree with longtime, there is no time limit, just a knowledge limit (and maybe a finacial limit ;) ). Read. Read. and then read some more. Comp forums are great for instant answers to unexpected questions, but nothing can take the place of reading a well written book cover to cover. I'm sometimes shocked by the number of people who come to this forum asking questions that could easily be anwered by any number of "my first aquarium" books that you can get from your local library for free. One downside to the instant sharing of info that we are now blessed with is that we are developing an unwillingness to take the time to learn about a subject in depth.

PS If you're going saltwater and your library doesn't have a book written in the last five years, then spend the money on a new one. Marine fishkeeping has changed radically over the last decade.
 
mooman said:
I agree with longtime, there is no time limit, just a knowledge limit (and maybe a finacial limit ;) ). Read. Read. and then read some more. Comp forums are great for instant answers to unexpected questions, but nothing can take the place of reading a well written book cover to cover. I'm sometimes shocked by the number of people who come to this forum asking questions that could easily be anwered by any number of "my first aquarium" books that you can get from your local library for free. One downside to the instant sharing of info that we are now blessed with is that we are developing an unwillingness to take the time to learn about a subject in depth.
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Exactly, Mooman! In addition, it's too easy to just ask a question without looking for the answer elsewhere. I find the info sticks better when you have to do some work to learn it. It's good to come to a forum like this to help fill out that information. There are lots of good titles out there, many are carried at the library. :)

One more thing about newbie questions: I imagine it can be frustrating for a knowledgeable member to continually respond to the same questions, especially when someone is trying to glean a quick answer for something that can take time to properly learn.
 
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mishi8 said:
One more thing about newbie questions: I imagine it can be frustrating for a knowledgeable member to continually respond to the same questions, especially when someone is trying to glean a quick answer for something that can take time to properly learn.
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Even here there are search engines that will quickly locate the posts dealing with the issue. :look:

Then, people panic. When something is wrong they don't want to do research. They want to fix it! Folks can't be blamed for that!
 
First, research, as already pointed out. But--here are some specific things to think about! What SW animals do you want to keep? How much are you willing to invest in the tank and equipment? How much time will you set aside for maintenance (and the time you spend staring at all the neat critters doesn't count! ;) )

I think it's a mistake to decide that if you've successfully kept a FW tank, you're ready for a SW tank. Being able to drive my car to and from work does NOT prepare me to drive in the Indy 500, right? Same thing--the basics are similar, but the specifics are different. Much of what is dogma to FW is ridiculous and even harmful in SW (filters, for example--used in FW, run with a variety of biological and mechanical media, are seldom used in SW tanks, and are not needed if setup properly).

Having said that-SW tanks are not that hard. They are different, but it's not hard. I spend more time on my FW setups than on the SW setups. The bigger tanks are not more stable than the smaller tanks in terms of bioload, they're just harder to overstock. Bigger tanks can have just as much evaporation to deal with as a smaller setup. Lighting a big tank will cost more, but not if you look at it from a per gallon perspective.
 
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Thanks for all the great replies, I agree with all of you. I think I'll continue with my FW for now and then start doing some in depth reading on SW as well as saving up cause boy oh boy is it pricey :eek: I have a couple of books that I need to sit down and read (yes they are newer than 5 years old) so that I can be prepared at taking on the extra time and care needed for not only an additional tank but a SW one as well. Thank you again for the replies.

Cheers,

James
 
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