corals/reefs/livesand

[brian_anth]

Ive heard from people different things, but im sure that these can only be in a saltwater aquarium...is there a way to achieve this look also in a fresh water aqaurium or not?...Im gonna have 2 seperate aquariums one freh and one salt, and was wondering if its not possible...maybe I should just do saltwater then....also where are some good sites to find the balc sane at? Thanks to all who help. I appreciate it

 

[gen1dustin]

I've seen saltwater alternatives where freshwater tanks look like saltwater. Your best bet is to go with African Rift Lake cichlids. Full of color & like hard alkaline water. So you can put things like crushed coral as a substrate & dead corals. That'll help buffer the hardness & ph up. Not really my liking, but I've seen some tanks that are cool like that. Really you need to find a freshwater forum for more on that because its mostly just salties around here, besides the few like me who have both. Go to fishforums.com & they have a sticky somehweres on saltwater alternative fish.
IMO - it is way more rewarding to do a freshwater planted than a look a like saltwater. I see your other thread you were talking about getting one fresh & one salt. That'd be cool, so if doing that I would definatley the a freshwater planted.

 

[petieaztec]

after you get the hang of it salt water is not that hard. but they do have dead sand and fake corals that look pretty real as for fish you got me.

 

[scsinet]

The only way to acheive this look is with fake corals and such. No live coral, sand, or saltwater creature will survive in freshwater, it'll be dead in minutes.
Don't bother with live sand or rock either. Live rock survives better in air than in fresh water... same for sand.
Ummm though... in my opinion... doing it with fake corals would look... interesting. Anyone who has seen an aquarium before will know right away... of course, it's up to you what you want it to look like.

 

[scsinet]

Originally Posted by Gen1Dustin
IMO - it is way more rewarding to do a freshwater planted than a look a like saltwater. I see your other thread you were talking about getting one fresh & one salt. That'd be cool, so if doing that I would definatley the a freshwater planted.
Agreed. One of my tanks is a planted FW system. As long as you invest in good lights and possibly a CO2 system, a planted tank can look pretty amazing.
If you want ideas... I think the site is ratemyfishtank.com.

 

[brian_anth]

Definetly some good ideas...and maybe I should do the live plants in the fresh water and do all the corals in the saltwater one to have 2 types of tanks, but to be able to show the contrast between them

 

[gen1dustin]

Originally Posted by Brian_Anth
Definetly some good ideas...and maybe I should do the live plants in the fresh water and do all the corals in the saltwater one to have 2 types of tanks, but to be able to show the contrast between them
If you get two tanks that'd be the way to go. Especially if you get two Aquapods like mentioned in a another thread. Have them close to each other.