Saltwater Aquarium vs Freshwater

May 2013

So you’re ready to take the plunge in to the exclusive club of luxury aquarium owners. The next step is deciding on whether to have a freshwater or saltwater aquarium! It is probably one of the most important decisions you’re going to have to make with regards to the fish tank. So which one is best for you?

Both types of aquarium have their rewards and challenges and both are incredibly stunning showpieces for your room. There are, however, a number of aspects that differentiate the two.

When it comes to choosing which ecosystem you want, it’s not all about aesthetics. Cost and maintenance are two major factors you need to consider as well.

Freshwater tropical aquariums are a great place to start in your fish keeping hobby. Colourful and natural, they provide an impressive visual whilst requiring a less demanding maintenance regime and lower operating costs.

However, if you were to go for a heavily planted freshwater aquarium for example, additional special lighting, fertilizers and carbon dioxide will be required and the costs can really add up fast.

The livestock in freshwater aquaria are inhabitants from rivers, lakes and streams. They aren’t always as vibrantly coloured as saltwater aquarium creatures, but can definitely come in an array of amazing patterns and uniquely fascinating shapes. The combination of the earthy colours and sleek lines of freshwater fish and fauna can look particularly striking in a luxurious interior.

Freshwater inhabitants tend to be much hardier and generally less expensive than saltwater aquarium inhabitants. If any problems ever were to occur in the maintenance of the aquarium environment, freshwater creatures are more forgiving and less fragile than saltwater.

They can also have more attitude and aggression if that’s your thing, particularly if you were to choose meat eating fish like the piranha. Variations and combinations of rocks, woods, plants and sands can be sculpted to suit your preferences.

As you’re probably aware, a saltwater aquarium, particularly a reef aquarium, is a wonderful re-creation of the ocean. With that come the vibrant, colourful, delicate creatures, fascinating corals, reef fauna and live rock. Saltwater aquarium in particular can be more expensive. And they are a bit more precarious to maintain than their freshwater counterparts.

They generally require additional equipment, additional work during water changes and also require special lighting.

Size and materials obviously make a difference when it comes to price, maintenance and suitability as well. Aquarium Architecture’s saltwater aquarium has a minimum size of 300 litres, whereas the freshwater aquaria can be a minimum of 50 litres. Of course the sky’s the limit, so you can go as big as you want!

If you would prefer to go with acrylic over glass, you’ll have greater flexibility in the choice of shapes for your aquarium and acrylic will generally be more expensive.

Whether it is a beautiful, tropical aquarium bursting with colour and vibrancy that you’re after, or an intriguing and sleek work of art filled with unusual, unique, fascinating creatures and a wide variety of gorgeous freshwater fauna, no matter what you choose, you will always have an exceptional show piece everyone will love.

Both saltwater and freshwater aquaria created by Aquarium Architecture are a fabulous conversation piece and make an engaging focal point in any room.

Freshwater Aquarium:

– Tap water system

– 2-4 week maintenance

– Natural aesthetic

– Durable and colourful fish

– Cost effective visual impact

 

Saltwater Marine Aquarium

– Specialist salt and RO water production

– 1-2 week maintenance

– Live coral reef “wow” factor

– Colourful, exciting fish and corals

– Impressive visual impact

Click here to view more of our saltwater and freshwater aquarium