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I'm wondering if they're lower maintenance compared to regular tropical fish.

Actually, I'd say the opposite. While the fish themselves aren't too demanding, the tanks in general require more upkeep due to all the equipment you need to run them.

I wouldn't recommend it, to be honest. Saltwater tanks, like the one mossfrog mentioned, require more maintenance due to the equipment needed to run them, and a biorb might not be suitable for that.

deep_sea wrote: ↑Fri Jul 26, 2024 8:00 am I'm wondering if they're lower maintenance compared to regular tropical fish.

I've already answered your question in another thread, so I'll keep this brief. You can dive straight into saltwater without starting with tropicals, my sister did just that - with a lot of help from this community and a bit of guidance from me (and trust me, it was just a bit).

To succeed, you'll need to do your homework, and I mean a lot of reading. Then, ask plenty of questions, and be prepared for some honest answers that might not be what you want to hear, but will definitely help.

The prep work is all part of the fun, especially when it comes to saltwater tanks. So, head over to the nano section and start reading through the threads - you'll enjoy it.

Seffie x

deep_sea wrote: ↑Fri Jul 26, 2024 8:00 am I'm wondering if they're lower maintenance compared to regular tropical fish.

I think they're challenging at first, like anything new. But once you've got everything set up and running smoothly, it's roughly the same as a freshwater tank. You'll still need to scrape algae, do water changes, keep an eye on your fish, and replace media like rowaphos every so often. Plus, you'll need to feed them and perform other routine tasks.

As someone with years of experience keeping freshwater fish, I've found that saltwater fish aren't necessarily harder to care for. However, the saltwater environment is far more demanding and requires a much stricter routine. Neglecting this routine can have disastrous consequences, causing your tank to crash rapidly.

If you're not willing or able to dedicate a couple of hours each week to maintaining your tank, then it's best to reconsider joining the hobby. The financial commitment is also substantial, and you'll need a flexible budget to accommodate the constant temptation of new equipment and accessories.

ironclad9 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 26, 2024 6:01 pm As someone with years of experience keeping freshwater fish, I've found that saltwater fish aren't necessarily harder to care for. However, the saltwater environment is far more demanding and requires a much stricter routine. Neglecting this routine can have disastrous consequences, causing your tank to crash rapidly.

If you're not willing or able to dedicate a couple of hours each week to maintaining your tank, then it's best to reconsider joining the hobby. The financial commitment is also substantial, and you'll need a flexible budget to accommodate the constant temptation of new equipment and accessories.

IME, it seems like a huge overstatement. He's only talking about the basics of fish care - feeding, topping off with freshwater, occasional algae scraping, and water changes every other week. I just don't see how all of that could possibly take more than an hour.

Apologies, I sometimes forget not everyone's a seasoned reefkeeper like myself.

ironclad9 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 26, 2024 6:01 pm As someone with years of experience keeping freshwater fish, I've found that saltwater fish aren't necessarily harder to care for. However, the saltwater environment is far more demanding and requires a much stricter routine. Neglecting this routine can have disastrous consequences, causing your tank to crash rapidly.

If you're not willing or able to dedicate a couple of hours each week to maintaining your tank, then it's best to reconsider joining the hobby. The financial commitment is also substantial, and you'll need a flexible budget to accommodate the constant temptation of new equipment and accessories.

IME, ironclad9's estimate seems a bit off. We're only talking about fish here, not a full-blown reef setup. You'd feed them, top off with freshwater, scrape some algae with a magfloat, and do a water change every other week - that's not exactly a huge time commitment. I just don't see how that'd take more than an hour.

Different tanks have varying bio-loads and requirements, every other week is just fine for some.