Freshwater Tanks

• Most beginning hobbyists will make some mistakes along the way, and a freshwater aquarium is generally more forgiving than a saltwater environment. If this is your first tank, it is probably better to stick with freshwater.
  
  

Saltwater Fish Expense

• While many freshwater fish can be purchased for as little as a dollar, many species of saltwater fish can cost hundreds of dollars. If you are unsure of your budget, it is a good idea to and price the fish you plan to purchase.
  
  

Filtration

• Proper biological, chemical and physical filtration is an essential part of any aquarium setup, whether fresh or saltwater. Proper filtration is even more important for a saltwater tank.
  
  

Protein Skimmer

• In addition to the standard types of filtration, saltwater tanks will need a protein skimmer to remove solid waste the other filters might miss. The cost of these protein skimmers has come down quite a bit in recent years, but it is important for hobbyists to price these pieces of equipment when planning their installations.
  
  

Freshwater Fish

• While there are some very hardy saltwater fish such as like tangs, damsels and clowns, on the whole, freshwater fish tend to be more forgiving of beginner mistakes. For this reason, you might want to set up a freshwater tank first and move on to saltwater after you have gained some experience.