Hello! This is my first post! :3
I've been into keeping freshwater fish for a while now, and am looking to branch out a bit, perhaps to saltwater.
See, I have a nice 56g tall aquarium (more cube than rectangle), that used to house a beautiful oscar whom I affectionately called 'Bruce'. I moved across the city, and Bruce was to be joining me and moving to a huge 130 gallon tank, all for him! However, a fight broke out between me and the now ex, and I had to have foot surgery. As a result, Bruce's big tank was not set up quickly. I had a family member feeding him for me, and I'd go over to clean on my days off, but sadly the family member tried to help clean, and used a chemical to clean the INSIDE of the tank, which ended up poisoning Bruce and his dither fish. I couldn't save him, and so lost my Brucey.
Now I'm moving back to the original location, to an empty 56g tank with no Bruce. I'd like to redecorate it and set it up again (reborn like a Phoenix!), but I'm not sure what I want to put in it. Money is not a major issue while setting it up, so long as the maintenance costs are reasonable. The biggest thing for me will be low maintenance. My foot surgery requires a few more in the next year, so I won't be able to stand every week and do frequent water changes or cleanings. I was looking into an aquaripure filter to help cut down on the water changes, and I was also considering a FOWLR saltwater tank.
I've never done saltwater, so this is all new to me. I heard it was easier to maintain as you are simply refilling it to keep salinity in balance and the nitrate filter (aquaripure) will reduce need for water changes, to about once per month. Is it true that, with live rock and sand and a few power heads, you don't really need a powerful filter? Just perhaps an HOB? Or should I just stick with freshwater and get a few simple barbs?
Thanks, and sorry for the long post!
I've been into keeping freshwater fish for a while now, and am looking to branch out a bit, perhaps to saltwater.
See, I have a nice 56g tall aquarium (more cube than rectangle), that used to house a beautiful oscar whom I affectionately called 'Bruce'. I moved across the city, and Bruce was to be joining me and moving to a huge 130 gallon tank, all for him! However, a fight broke out between me and the now ex, and I had to have foot surgery. As a result, Bruce's big tank was not set up quickly. I had a family member feeding him for me, and I'd go over to clean on my days off, but sadly the family member tried to help clean, and used a chemical to clean the INSIDE of the tank, which ended up poisoning Bruce and his dither fish. I couldn't save him, and so lost my Brucey.
Now I'm moving back to the original location, to an empty 56g tank with no Bruce. I'd like to redecorate it and set it up again (reborn like a Phoenix!), but I'm not sure what I want to put in it. Money is not a major issue while setting it up, so long as the maintenance costs are reasonable. The biggest thing for me will be low maintenance. My foot surgery requires a few more in the next year, so I won't be able to stand every week and do frequent water changes or cleanings. I was looking into an aquaripure filter to help cut down on the water changes, and I was also considering a FOWLR saltwater tank.
I've never done saltwater, so this is all new to me. I heard it was easier to maintain as you are simply refilling it to keep salinity in balance and the nitrate filter (aquaripure) will reduce need for water changes, to about once per month. Is it true that, with live rock and sand and a few power heads, you don't really need a powerful filter? Just perhaps an HOB? Or should I just stick with freshwater and get a few simple barbs?
Thanks, and sorry for the long post!