Freshwater Tanks Can Look Just as Good a SW Tanks!

[Abemas]

Hello all! I was posting in these forums quite a few months ago as I began planning for a saltwater tank. However, I decided I wanted to wait until I moved into a house so I would have room for the 125+ tank I would like. Well that time is very near (couple of weeks!) and I'm back on the prowl for good info...but the incredible cost of a [acronym:c4cd2cf9fa="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:c4cd2cf9fa] tank is really getting me down. I simply don't think I'll have the funds for it in the near future and even when I do I think I'll have a hard time investing all that money in it with the chance of a livestock loss occurring at some point. That all said......I've heard people say that you can make a freshwater tank look just as nice as saltwater tank...how much truth is there to this? I know there are quite a few brightly colored african cichlids out there (I used to keep them as a teenager) but I'm having trouble finding any pics of [acronym:c4cd2cf9fa="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:c4cd2cf9fa] tanks which rival the beauty of a typical reef tank. I'm starting to wonder if I'm just going to disappoint myself if I go [acronym:c4cd2cf9fa="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:c4cd2cf9fa] instead of [acronym:c4cd2cf9fa="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:c4cd2cf9fa].

So...can anybody post some pictures which show some vibrant [acronym:c4cd2cf9fa="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:c4cd2cf9fa] or Brackish setups which can go toe to toe with a [acronym:c4cd2cf9fa="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:c4cd2cf9fa] setup?


Thanks!

[aquakev]

look here.

http://www.aquariumdesigngroup.com/

[Devilishturtles]

Planted tanks can be amazing, and [acronym:7825d50cc4="In my opinion"]IMO[/acronym:7825d50cc4] almost better looking than a reef. It will take quite a bit of time to get your sw tank set up and stablished, with corals if you wanted. If you are still interested in [acronym:7825d50cc4="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:7825d50cc4], there are ways to get around a lot of the costs if you are a [acronym:7825d50cc4="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:7825d50cc4] person (which I am not). You can make a lot of your own filters. Go to a local aquarium auction and you can find things for very cheap.

Just a thought. I thought the same as you about a sw tank, that it'd be too much for me. The diversity of life is amazing. However, likewise, there can be a lot of diversity in a planted angel or discus tank as well.

[fishfreek]

Travis Simpson has some of the best photos I have seen of planted [acronym:e621bd500a="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:e621bd500a] tanks. Here is his gallery.

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/photop...00&ppuser=8062

A nice planted tank will rival any [acronym:e621bd500a="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:e621bd500a] tank anyday.

[Tiffi]

Travis Simonson .

You really have to look at his tank - it's gorgeous! And [acronym:87e2cd1b2f="By the way"]BTW[/acronym:87e2cd1b2f] if you're not really good in arranging a tank a saltwater won't look good neither. I have seen [acronym:87e2cd1b2f="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:87e2cd1b2f] tanks before, that were more or less just grey stone with some other pale colors, etc.I would always go [acronym:87e2cd1b2f="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:87e2cd1b2f], even if I had unlimited funds!

[manoosie]

lots of plants can take just as much work and money as sw, though. I think sw wins this debate simply becuase of the fish...

[Feeding_Frenzy]

Planted tanks have more style theres a wide array of designs and options available

[Tiffi]

[acronym:65acd5defa="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:65acd5defa] Fishes can be just as colorful. View my galery for pictures of my tanks and pictures of my fishes. Dwarf cichlids are really beautyful and [acronym:65acd5defa="By the way"]BTW[/acronym:65acd5defa] planted tanks don't have to cost a fortune. You don't have to go with 4wpg and can still have all kinds of plants and a breathtaking aquascape if you arrange it right!

[Todd2]

Over at plantedtank.net they have some great photo diaries and pictures of beautiful tanks in general in the forums.

[Zezmo]

That Aquarium Design Group link had some pretty nice tanks. Though I had to laugh when I saw one of this tanks that had 20 Angelfish and about 100 Neons in the same tank.

Freshwater [acronym:82e59e458c="In my opinion"]IMO[/acronym:82e59e458c] can and frequently does look much nicer than [acronym:82e59e458c="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:82e59e458c]. If you are looking for lower cost and still very attractive fish and tank. Then you your best bet would be African Cichlids and a Rock/Driftwood decorated tank. Planted tanks can be spectacular as teh images above show. But you are not saving money or effort once you go down that route.