Are saltwater tanks that much harder to keep the freshwater?

The answer is YES! and NO!  A fish only with live rock (FOWLR) tank isn't that much more difficult than keeping an intermediate freshwater system. You have your daily, weekly and monthly routines that you will need to stick to to maintain a happy and healthy fresh or marine system. With saltwater you have the added task of measuring and mixing fresh saltwater for water changes. The biggest difference is that saltwater is much less forgiving if you don't stick to your maintenance routines. If you take the plunge into a full reef with live coral, then the learning curve will go up drastically. Water quality is more important and water chemistry comes into play with managing proper PH, alkalinity, magnesium and other important levels for your tank along with proper lighting. The good news is that there are so many options for filtration and lighting that anyone with the right commitment can grow into an experienced reef keeper!