Are planted aquariums as popular as reefing or marines in the UK?

[Tim Harrison]

I was wondering how popular reefing, or keeping marines is in the UK. And how it compares to the popularity of planted tanks.
I know we have some reefers here on UKAPS and it'd be good to get some sort of insight in to that side of the hobby as a comparison.

 

[LondonDragon]

After Roots and Shoots event and seeing how "simple" it is to set up a macro algae tank I am now tempted to join the marine world!
Judging by my local shop ADC their marine section is just as big, if not bigger than the freshwater section, so that would be curious to know too! In terms of number of people, freshwater might win it, but in terms of monetary value you might find marine takes it!

This was the macro algae tank, with just live rock, heater, and circulation pump!

 

[foxfish]

I dont know the answer but I can tell you that where I live (catchment 75k people) 20 years ago there were 4 or 5 shops selling tropical marine fish and equipment and now there are none!

 

[castle]

It feels like there are less and less fish shops in general. I’d say it’s probably 1 marine for every 20 freshwater 😅 (judging by gumtree adds for aquariums)

 

[Andy Taylor]

I think its the expense and lack of marine fish shops that put people off

 

[Myrtle]

My local MA has scrapped its marine section altogether. The space now houses a selection of temperate fish (not just danios either ) and a bigger hardscape/planted tank section.

 

[MichaelJ]

After Roots and Shoots event and seeing how "simple" it is to set up a macro algae tank I am now tempted to join the marine world!
Judging by my local shop ADC their marine section is just as big, if not bigger than the freshwater section, so that would be curious to know too! In terms of number of people, freshwater might win it,

Here in the United States marine/reef keeping is a big deal - estimated 800.000 households keeps reef tanks. This is of course dwarfed by the +7 million that keeps aquariums overall, but guesstimated, only about 10% of those 7 million household aquariums contain live plants... so that makes Marine tanks just as (if not more) prevalent as planted aquariums.

but in terms of monetary value you might find marine takes it!

Definitely!

Cheers,
Michael

 

[Nick potts]

I was wondering how popular reefing, or keeping marines is in the UK. And how it compares to the popularity of planted tanks.
I know we have some reefers here on UKAPS and it'd be good to get some sort of insight in to that side of the hobby as a comparison.

I would think the numbers are probably about on par with each other, if not slightly in favor of reefs. I do think reefs/marine have a higher turn over with most only keeping the setups a short while before leaving the hobby, but lots of incoming newbies as well.

Costs are definitely the biggest hurdle for most and shops in general are disappearing.

 

[dino21]

After Roots and Shoots event and seeing how "simple" it is to set up a macro algae tank I am now tempted to join the marine world!
J
udging by my local shop ADC their marine section is just as big, if not bigger than the freshwater section, so that would be curious to know too! In terms of number of people, freshwater might win it, but in terms of monetary value you might find marine takes it!

This was the macro algae tank, with just live rock, heater, and circulation pump!

View attachment 206727

We have kept marines for many years, as well as freshwater planted tanks and would love to see that tank and how its run as though it may be "simple" for a very clever and experienced aquarist, think you will find its far from a typical easy setup, though we would like to be proved wrong as it does look great.
We also wonder how long that tanks has been established as from our experience of macro algae its very hard to find the exact water parameters for just one type to thrive let alone six or so like that tank ?

You also need to consider that lots of live rock, corals and fish are no longer imported due to all the regulations and the few that are available demand very high prices. certainly not for those with a light wallet!

 

[Nick potts]

We have kept marines for many years, as well as freshwater planted tanks and would love to see that tank and how its run as though it may be "simple" for a very clever and experienced aquarist, think you will find its far from a typical easy setup, though we would like to be proved wrong as it does look great.
We also wonder how long that tanks has been established as from our experience of macro algae its very hard to find the exact water parameters for just one type to thrive let alone six or so like that tank ?

You also need to consider that lots of live rock, corals and fish are no longer imported due to all the regulations and the few that are available demand very high prices. certainly not for those with a light wallet!

There are a couple of pretty successful macroalgae tanks on this forum, @Courtneybst and @shangman both run them and they are just more popular these days.

In general, I would say a simple marine setup isn't any more difficult than a planted tank, there are differences of course but nothing major, I find a lot of the complications and need for fancy equipment is down to the owners more than anything.

Price is definitely a big factor in shops, but most corals can be had from other hobbyists for a lot less, even the rarer stuff. LR is the exception, it can be gotten in the UK from TMC but only in whole boxes and is very expensive, it's cheaper and better quality imported from Europe.

 

[Tim Harrison]

We have kept marines for many years, as well as freshwater planted tanks and would love to see that tank and how its run as though it may be "simple" for a very clever and experienced aquarist, think you will find its far from a typical easy setup, though we would like to be proved wrong as it does look great.
We also wonder how long that tanks has been established as from our experience of macro algae its very hard to find the exact water parameters for just one type to thrive let alone six or so like that tank ?

You also need to consider that lots of live rock, corals and fish are no longer imported due to all the regulations and the few that are available demand very high prices. certainly not for those with a light wallet!

Like @Nick potts mentioned above it can be done without expensive equipment. The macro algae setups in the marine forum are testament to this. I’ve done it myself in the past, before the use of expensive equipment became standard. And I don’t think it’s any more complicated than keeping a freshwater planted tank, it’s just a slightly different skill set.

But I guess folk automatically assume they need a second mortgage to afford a marine tank. Maybe UKAPS members can help to change that perception, by popularising the macro algae tank as a less expensive alternative.

 

[Riverman]

From what I see to get stuff in the high street Reefing is almost niche in my county.

I'm just starting out and the rig (waterbox 10) setup is looking like £325 all in. To avoid high running costs I'm going to try to avoid shop bought reef water and make my own from filtered tap. Shop keeper skeptical and appalled. Soft corals only, no fish.

 

[Tim Harrison]

It's the way I did it back in the day, without the benefit of modern reefing equipment, and the inhabitants thrived. I kept a selection of soft corals, macro algae, molluscs, tubeworms, anemones, sea cucumbers, shrimp and fish etc. I understand it's not necessarily a good idea with some species available today, but do your research and find the right ones and I'm sure it could work.

 

[Nick potts]

From what I see to get stuff in the high street Reefing is almost niche in my county.

I'm just starting out and the rig (waterbox 10) setup is looking like £325 all in. To avoid high running costs I'm going to try to avoid shop bought reef water and make my own from filtered tap. Shop keeper skeptical and appalled. Soft corals only, no fish.

How are you going to be filtering the tap water?

As Tim mentions, there are plenty of marine animals that can be kept fine in plain old dechlorinated tap water (with salt of course ), most fish won't care and many soft corals, it's only really LPS and SPS that need more specialist care.

Shinyitis can be hard to resist, and costs can soon skyrocket, I don't even have corals and won't for the foreseeable and already have the doser and am eyeing up a KH monitor, that's £1000 to monitor a mostly empty box of water and 100% unnecessary

 

[seedoubleyou]

From what I see to get stuff in the high street Reefing is almost niche in my county.

I'm just starting out and the rig (waterbox 10) setup is looking like £325 all in. To avoid high running costs I'm going to try to avoid shop bought reef water and make my own from filtered tap. Shop keeper skeptical and appalled. Soft corals only, no fish.

Yeah I wouldn’t advise tap water, it’s probably doable, but I’d hate to try personally, especially when you could buy a half decent RO filter on eBay for £50.

 

[seedoubleyou]

I think its the expense and lack of marine fish shops that put people off

I would disagree on the lack of shops. We have plenty of great reefing LFS in the UK.

 

[seedoubleyou]

Brings about another question. Are Terrariums/vivariums on the rise?

Having started out keeping freshwater fish, transitioning to brackish water so I could keep pufferfish that inevitably lead to a reef tank.

I’ve now sat with an a empty tank for months watching people across the forum set up various systems from aqua scapes to the earlier mentioned Macro tanks and recently @Deano3 and his nano reef.

It’s had me contemplating using my tank for one of the above. But in honesty, I’m tired of fish and algae and rising costs both in store and hobbyist to hobbyist.

So the next best thing (or is it the best?) is a vivarium. I love the simplicity of a viv. You’re limitless in what you can achieve and the plant selections available are great. They can be simple or complex, they look after themselves, and can be done relatively cheap.

 

[LondonDragon]

Brings about another question. Are Terrariums/vivariums on the rise?

I would say so, most plant/flower shops tend to have them these days at very reasonable prices, one I visit often sells decent size, completed with hardscape and plants for £30.

 

[seedoubleyou]

I would say so, most plant/flower shops tend to have them these days at very reasonable prices, one I visit often sells decent size, completed with hardscape and plants for £30.

I think their simplicity can become addictive. Simple terraria is easy to achieve in just about any container.
I’m looking more toward vivaria for the purpose of housing Dart frogs or small lizards like the Day gecko.
I know keeping Dart frogs is a bigger in the states. But I’d be intrigued to know how big it is here in the UK.

 

[LondonDragon]

I know keeping Dart frogs is a bigger in the states. But I’d be intrigued to know how big it is here in the UK.

Gotcha, was only looking at it from the simplest terms, those seemed popular at one stage and then died off, have not seen many keep those of late, I guess it comes down to options too and pricing.