Saltwater or Freshwater

[emilbus]

i plan on getting another tank in the next couple of months but I'm not sure what i want to get. if i get a saltwater it will be a 75g corner tank, but if its a freshwater it will be a 75-100g.

my idea for the freshwater is kinda cool. at the bottom of the tank i will place about 2-3 inches of pebbles then place large rocks through out the tank that reaches to the middle of the tank making platforms outside of the water. then i will fill the tank only half way with water and add about 15 small fish, 10 mini turtles, and a few frogs along with live plants.

my idea for a saltwater isn't really anything too different or special but it will be a 75g corner tank with 4 inches of live sand and 150+ live rock. for my filtration ill buy a wet/dry and turn that into a fuge with an overflow connecting to a sump with a in sump skimmer. I'm not too sure what ill do about the lights yet but I'm sure they will be nice. I'm also not too sure what i will have as far as live stock.

either way i plan on putting my income tax check into one of these tanks i just have to figure out which one it will be.

[erikharrison]

biased. salt.

Octopus tank!

[copperband]

i like freshwater and saltwater they are hard to choose from right now i only have one saltwater reef tank but i have 3 freshwater tanks and a pond i think you should go with the freshwater it sounds awesome and you dont have to cycle for as long as you have to with saltwater

[txstateunivreefer]

i think it depends on the livestock that you have

[RayAllen]

It seems people either forget or just dont know about Brakish water. They are some of the most diverse and interesting water on the planet. Ive been in the Aquarium hobby now for about 10years not counting the aquariums I had as a child. Everytime I think I want a freshwater tank I set it up and it becaomes boring very quickly. What you are thinking about is very unique but so you know those mini turtles aka Red Ear sliders grow failry quickly and are messy. If I was to set up another tank that was non saltwater Id go brakish water (Places on the earth where saltwater and freshwater meet, usually swamps, mangroves and river mouths) and do a mangrove swamp tank with brakish puffers, archers, knife fish etc....... Makes for a very interesting tank and is more chanllenging than fresh water which would personally keep me interested.

[emilbus]

thanks Ray. i will check into the brakish water tanks as well as a few other options.

do yo uhave any pics of your freshwater tanks. Copperband?

[emilbus]

i found this site: http://badmanstropicalfish.com/brackish/brackish.html

i think im going to build towards the "Mangrove Swamp" tank. i must say, im kinda excited. its much different and does sound a little more tricky.

[RayAllen]

Some actually consider Brakish and planted aquarium to be just as difficult as keeping a saltwater reef.

[erikharrison]

planted tanks rock.
Look in the galleries on this site, they have some gorgeous F/W planted tanks that are just spectacular...
http://www.aquariumdesigngroup.com/

[emilbus]

man i cant make up my mind. i didnt realize how many different options there were. im really leaning towards a Paludarium tank, heres a link.

http://www.aquariumdesigngroup.com/

it looks like it might get a little exspenive though.