SW versus FW

[Torrean]

I think it's to keep newbies out of saltwater so they don't kill the fish. It may also be because of the capture cost of SW fish. I personally hate the thought of FW being more expensive but maybe it would be for the best. Little kids wouldn't get fish and a new tank (uncycled) for there Bday anymore. People would also look into it a bit more before they started. It'd probably just kill the whole fishkeeping hobby though. Just wanted to get some more opinions on this.

 

[One_Trick_Pony]

i belive that freshwater fish are mostly tnak bred and thus cheaper, saltwater are more live caught and thus mroe expensive. also there was an article in praticle fishkeeper, arguing that the way thigns are pirced is the worng way round. ie fish shop make very little on fish and sale tem inorder to sell tanks which is where they make there money.

OTp

 

[Mr Miagi]

Its not exclusively the availability of the fish that drives the difference betweem SW and FW. It does to an extent but i wouldnt say its the main dif.

There is alot more equipment and its alot more expensive. FW equipment is relatively stait forward, but with marines it slowly gets more complicated and expensive!

 

[Bloo]

There is alot more equipment and its alot more expensive. FW equipment is relatively stait forward, but with marines it slowly gets more complicated and expensive!

Exactly just for starters, there's a shed load more equipment - pumps, sumps, lighting, etc. etc. ad infinitum. Not to mention the need for a fairly large tank to start off with

 

[chkltcow]

Mostly equipment, I would think. With a FW tank, you're fine with tapwater and a basic sponge filter. With SW, you need RO water so you don't get massive algae blooms.... then it has to be mixed with synthetic salt. For filtration, you need live rock or a deep sand bed for anoxic bacteria to get rid of nitrates in the water.... if you're running a reef..... or usually a sump or wet/dry filter for fish only. With either one, a skimmer is high on the list of priorities too.

Remember, saltwater fish aren't like freshwater fish in terms of waste and ammonia. FW fish poo, and there's your ammonia source. SW fish produce ammonia just by passing water through their gills.... and by flushing their cells through osmosis.... and of course poo The skimmer is there to remove as much protein and dissolved organic compounds from the water as it can before they have a chance to turn to ammonia. There's a lot more to filtering a SW tank than a sponge and some carbon

 

[wrs]

actually not all SW fish are caught wild. Clown fish and some types of gobies have been breed in captivity. That will likely make the prices of the fish go down in the next few years when other types of fish will be succesfully breed in home tanks. That is the reason that FW fish are usually less expensive, as many of the types that you purchase are tank breed, though of course many are still wild caught as well.

 

[Ed4567]

As said most saltwater fish are wild caught which obviously adds to the cost, and even those that are tank bred are more expensive because of the increased care of the larvae and difficuilty compared to freshwater fry. Shops also have higher running costs for saltwater- salt for water changes, protein skimmers, and lighting for corals.

When actually keeping saltwater fish more equipment is typically needed. Equipment normally needs to be higher quality adding to material costs, and there is also a smaller market than for freshwater so the cost of development per user is higher.

Then there is live rock- transporting rock halfway around the world still damp, quickly, isn't cheap.

 

[wrs]

oh yeah, live rock is expensive! my lfs sells it for $10 a lbs.

 

[andywg]

I don't think there is really a great deal more equipment needed in a sw tank. Quality is more of an important feature and most people research SW more than FW before jumping in.

Alright, for most you need Live Rock (which isn't cheap)

But, with LR you don't need another filter (such as cannister or HOB).

Once you are above 20 gallons you need a skimmer and for a reef you will need better lights.

But then for a planted FW tank you will need CO2, fertiliser, better lighting. It's all swings and roundabouts.

Sumps are used in both FW and SW (I have sumps on two of my FW) they are merely to stabilise the tank and give somewhere to hide heaters, filtration etc.

However most fish are still wild caught and - more than just this - they travel far worse than FW and IIRC have a much greater death rate when arriving after being imported (think of the lengthy acclimitisation period necessary).

 

[Bloo]

Once you are above 20 gallons you need a skimmer and for a reef you will need better lights.

Exactly - and anything under 20 Gallons should not be attemted by a beginner or someone who knows exactly what they are doing.
In general, most FW fish keepers will start off with a smallish tank and then gradually upgrade as they have space and money.
Very few people will be able to outlay space and money in combination with inexperience.