I like the ability to occasionally move fish - as when I planted an existing tank. Besides that, I have simply fallen in love with my fancy goldfish (and cold water aquaria can be quite challenging). And it's so cool to be able to try and replicate a little piece of nature I would otherwise not ever see - anyone been to SA lately to see some tetras?
I've had a
SW FOWLR (it departed recently with the husband, but that's another thread in another forum). Anyway, we had what
IMO is a "starter"
SW tank - a 55 gallon, and in addition to more restrictive stocking requirements, we had to be very careful about what species of fish was added. Some of the coolest
SW fish get pretty large (tangs and fox faces, to name a couple) and in a 55, you're pretty much limited to maybe one of those, if your aquascape is sufficient to provide separate territories, hiding and burrowing places.
I'd do
SW again - differently this time though. It would have to be about a 150, and that barbaric practice of cycling a tank with damsels would not be part of the picture. (Sorry to affend any who cycle tanks with fish - with no water changes - but I think it is harmful to the fish.)
After all, we have to remember that
FW or
SW, we don't need to pat ourselves on the back that the fish, plants and invertebrates survive - we need to applaud them for surviving despite the fishkeepers. . .
