Tropical fish.

[puss_boots]

This is a serious Q. For some time now I have been thinking about getting an aquarium. I have been completely niave and after reading loads of stuff I am not sure whether a fresh water aquarium of a Marine aquarium is for me. I like the idea of a Marine but the up keep seems very intensive, can anyone recommed any books/websites that I can view for more information, also has anyone got any good advice about the pros and cons between fresh water/salt water options.

[dardyhardy]

My advice, search for a well visited forum about aquarium fishes. Websites can only explain so much and experts in anything (fishes included) tend to forget or skip over things when they write things down (as they do on a website), in a forum however you can ask specific questions and get advice from experienced people as you need it, great thing if you need clarification on specific details.

Here are two forums I found with a quick google search, try these or find some of your own, good luck.

http://www.fishforum.com/
http://www.fishforums.com/forum/

[dundurn]

I had a similar wish some years ago and visited one of our local garden centres which has a particularly good reputation for aquaria, both freshwater and marine. I looked at suberb examples of both types. I then had an extremely forthright conversation with one of their experts who described in unforgiving detail the time, effort and cost required to set up and maintain an aquarium of either type. End result - I don't have an aquarium! To paraphrase the well-known saying "an aquarium is for every day for life, not just for weekends". If you still want one, go for it, they can be extremely rewarding - I just decided I needed a life as well!

[B00]

Unless you've got lots of time, patience and more importantly money, I'd go for a tropical tank.

Though neither are as stress free as you'd like to imagine, I'm sure I went grey within weeks of installing my tropical tank.

[Yorky Lass]

If you have never kept fish before then I would go for tropical. We kept them years ago, Starting with tropical and gaining experience with those before we attempted to keep marine.

Marine aquariums are a little more complicated and time consuming than tropical and certainly more expensive. You could loose a lot of money with just one slight error in their upkeep/maintenance

You'd have to start a marine tank with Clown fish (Finding Nemo) that's what we had to do and they aren't cheap. I bet you'd get 3 or 4 tropical fish for the price of one Clown.

It is a time consuming hobby but gives a lot of pleasure.

Good luck

[hammerman]

My advice wouls be to get at least 2 years experience with freshwater tropicals first.

I kept marine aquariums for 20 years and they are stunning. But there are many problems associated with them and the cost of equipemt and livestock can run into thousands.

So that leaves trops. There are some amaizing results achieved with a tropical tank. If you're looking for a lovely underwater garden, go for a nice planted tank with shoals of tetras etc swimming against the lush plants.

As for maintenance, well, a 10% water change once a week, clean the filters once a month, and a daily feed. Of course you may want to trim the plants back a bit and stuff like that but that's all part of the fun. A tank can easily be left for a week whilst you're away and what's better than a drive round some fish shops on a sunday with the kids to buy some fish.

Cons....can be expensive...can also be addictive. If you go for a proper planted tank, you will need good lighting (3 watts of light per gallon of tank water), a nutrient rich substrate and CO2 injection....but believe me it's worth it.

Here's a good forum for you, very beginner friendly with lots of knowledgable members (i'm andy_j on there) http://www.uk-aquarist.com/index.php and also have a look at the uk aquatic plant society forum...lots of nce pics in the gallery there http://ukaps.org/forum/

Any questions, please ask.

[puss_boots]

Thanks folk for your advice, I have saved all the links to my favourites.

[dietfan]

you cruel cruel person. limiting such a free creature like a fish to the jail of an aquarium.
Let me gues you are an animal lover yes?

I know where you are going and its going to be warm!

[hammerman]

And being a "dietfan", i'd say you were a fat pig but never mind. Get out a bit

[dietfan]

oh lol hammer. If you are saying that our usernames represent us in real life then I would say you truelly are a boring freak

[SazzyC0]

I have kept tropical freshwater fish for about 6 years now and that has been hard work. My BF has just set up a tank and done it all by the book, but unfortunately many have died for unknown reasons (new tank syndrome).

I too would like a marine tank but I would not even attempt that after keeping freshwater for 6 years! There are so many aspects to it and it does take a lot of time and work but definitely worth it as the marine fish you can get are stunning. I would recommend trying freshwater first just to understand the basic needs tropical fish have in order to survive.

[puss_boots]

Well I've seen everything now on answerbank you can't even ask a civil question without some halfwit insulting people, I'll bet dietfan is a lonely, mean, twisted and completely brainless idiot.