Beginner Advice

[rabbut]

After doing a bit of research I've decided on
A few Cardinal Tetra's
A few Harlequin Rasbora's
and a Flying Fox or shark of some sort?

These good choices? Will the Flying Fox be aggressive towards the tetra's and rasbora's?

Cardinals and harlequins are both excelent choices A single flying fox would be OK I'd have thought, but Ihaven't kept them before so don't know for shure. I don't know of any sharks small enough for a tank of that size. The smallest one that springs to mind would be the red tailed black shark or Ruby shark, both of which can reach over a foot in length (I'v seen both at just past a foot)

apparently tiny fish like tetras are very hard to keep they need a particular water balance of acidity etc,

LMAO Tetras are one of the most addaptive to "different to their natural" water conditions, when compaired with most other fish I have ever kept. I doubt highly that a high pH would upset them at all, so long as they were acclimetised correctly. Poorly bread fish may struggle to adapt, but you would't realy want weak fish like this, as they are IME more suseptable to disease. Good tetras will be perfecly happy and healthy up to pH7.5 IMHO, but I am sure they can adapt to higher.

Having danios as a starter is a good idea - they are good for starting the nitrogen cycle and aren't thay fussy when it comes to water. Thats what i started off with anyway.

I agree that keeping danios as your first fish is a good idea, being very hardy and forgiving of errors in maintanance. Please don't "start the nitrogen cycle" with them, as IMO this is cruelty to animals. This process intentionaly exposes them to ammonia and nitrite that will damage their long-tearm health at best kill them at worst A fishless cycle is far better for the fish

HTH
Rabbut

 

[muckluck]

After doing a bit of research I've decided on
A few Cardinal Tetra's
A few Harlequin Rasbora's
and a Flying Fox or shark of some sort?

These good choices? Will the Flying Fox be aggressive towards the tetra's and rasbora's?

Cardinals and harlequins are both excelent choices A single flying fox would be OK I'd have thought, but Ihaven't kept them before so don't know for shure. I don't know of any sharks small enough for a tank of that size. The smallest one that springs to mind would be the red tailed black shark or Ruby shark, both of which can reach over a foot in length (I'v seen both at just past a foot)

apparently tiny fish like tetras are very hard to keep they need a particular water balance of acidity etc,

LMAO Tetras are one of the most addaptive to "different to their natural" water conditions, when compaired with most other fish I have ever kept. I doubt highly that a high pH would upset them at all, so long as they were acclimetised correctly. Poorly bread fish may struggle to adapt, but you would't realy want weak fish like this, as they are IME more suseptable to disease. Good tetras will be perfecly happy and healthy up to pH7.5 IMHO, but I am sure they can adapt to higher.

Having danios as a starter is a good idea - they are good for starting the nitrogen cycle and aren't thay fussy when it comes to water. Thats what i started off with anyway.

I agree that keeping danios as your first fish is a good idea, being very hardy and forgiving of errors in maintanance. Please don't "start the nitrogen cycle" with them, as IMO this is cruelty to animals. This process intentionaly exposes them to ammonia and nitrite that will damage their long-tearm health at best kill them at worst A fishless cycle is far better for the fish

HTH
Rabbut

Well Rabbut, when i said that danios are good to start with, i meant once the cycle has finished! Because, once it has, having danios would be good to check that it's ok. And anyway - surely it can't be that bad for them as thats what i have done and mine are fine - before you go correcting people, make sure you know what you're talkin about! Plus, i was advised by a fish expert that tetras are not good to start off with - you should get them once the tank has established. Also - did you not notice the word - 'apparently'?

 

[rabbut]

Well Rabbut, when i said that danios are good to start with, i meant once the cycle has finished!

Sorry for the miss understanding

before you go correcting people, make sure you know what you're talkin about!

I appologise for my rather blunt and harsh reply, having just read it back I can see why you are upset. I ment no harm, and hope you accept my appology above. I guess what goes arround comes arround though

Also - did you not notice the word - 'apparently'?

No I didn't, and this is probibly why I responded in the way above.

All the best
Rabbut

 

[muckluck]

Thats ok, matter solved - all o.k thankyou

 

[vinylman]

before you go correcting people, make sure you know what you're talkin about!

Muckluck, I can't help but notice that you've brought a rather aggressive attitude to the board; take some time to read what various (long time) posters and members say here and hold fire before you lay into someone. On another thread, you've informed us that 'live plants are rubbish' before laying into someone who pointed out that they're beneficial to any tank. Anyone who disagrees with you and then gives a reason should probably be listened to. I hope you stay here - you'll like it a lot - but please take a breath before pulling the trigger.

 

[Matt_]

Okay, I'm going out to buy the aquarium tomorrow..no fish obviously. Any tips on things to look for? Looking for a 10gallon miniumum, hopefully all inclusive with the pump, heater etc.. any other things I need to look out for?

 

[ImperfectFaerie]

Wee bit of advice- go for a 20g. Honestly you will set up your 10, get really into it, realize your overstocked or can't fit what you want and you will end up upgrading anyhow haha. Great work doing your research first!

 

[vinylman]

Okay, I'm going out to buy the aquarium tomorrow..no fish obviously. Any tips on things to look for? Looking for a 10gallon miniumum, hopefully all inclusive with the pump, heater etc.. any other things I need to look out for?

Get the very biggest tank you can afford and have room for. Bear in mind things like needing access to power sockets, how easy it will be to do water changes and other maintenance work, etc. Larger tanks are much easier to look after than small ones - things can go very wrong very quickly in a smaller tank. Don't be in a neck-breaking rush when you get everything home, take the time to read the pinned threads here. Also, make sure you have something that will support a larger tank - something made for the purpose. A pause for breath before you start can avoid SO many problems later on.

 

[backtotropical]

surely it can't be that bad for them as thats what i have done and mine are fine

Actually it can Muckluck. Even very small amounts of ammonia or nitrite can be detrimental to the long-term health of fish, any fish. Fish in cycling exposes the fish to levels of ammonia and nitrite which will, as Rabbut says, affect the long-term health and immune system of the fish at best, and kill them at worst. Because your fish didn't die as a result of the fish-in cycle doesn't mean they haven't been affected, they have. Think of fish like people, just because you're not dead doesn't mean you are fine.

before you go correcting people, make sure you know what you're talkin about!

Rabbut generally gives very sound advice and is one of the most consistent posters on the boards IMO. You would do well to listen to him instead of jumping down his throat.

Plus, i was advised by a fish expert that tetras are not good to start off with - you should get them once the tank has established.

This is probably true of most tetras, so thats a good piece of general advice. Cardinals are particularly sensitive.

Cheers

BTT

 

[Matt_]

Ok anything else? Obviously I'll need water test kits and stuff yeah?

 

[Mystil]

Yeap you will need test kits...It is usally a good idea to by a master test kit..
This has the basic test that you will need to start up your tank...

I made the big mistake of getting strip tests which are like £10 for 25 strips (or something like that) and they are inaccurate.

The master test kits I have seen for £19.99 at miadenhead aquatics.

Good luck.

 

[Scotty001]

Ok anything else? Obviously I'll need water test kits and stuff yeah?

Matt i can honestly say that the tetra 60L is a good tank, well built sturdy hood and lighting unit. and filter is good too !!! its what i started with but as others have said may be better going for a 20g .... Why? you may have found you have wasted £80 as youll be buying a bigger tank in a matter of months !!!! a 60l is IMO small and restrictive to what you can keep and if your like most on here you will want to get more fish and lager specimens which a majority wont go in the tetra tank. also the bigger the tank the easier it is to cycle and maintain, the more water there is the more stable it is. (in short smaller tanks are harder to keep balanced than larger.)

you mentioned water test kits and yeah they are worth they're weight in gold, i would stay clear of the plastic test strips not worth the plastic they're printed on) if you can go for a liquid test kit such as API IMO the API is a good easy to use and understand testing kit.

you may also want to look into what substrate you want some use gravel some use sand myself i prefer the sand for its looks and can be good to watch the fish scavenge in the sand also it can be cheaper !!! (£2.49 for 15 kilo of Argos play sand) thats is more than enough for a 10 gal and just about right for a 20g i use about 15Kg in my 36g.

 

[pastabake]

Get your water tested at your lfs, then all you really need to buy is the ammonia and nitrite liquid tests. Unless you are wanting to change your water chemistry the other tests are a complete waste of money as you will only ever really need to do the pH and GH KH tests once.

I'd also get a tank off ebay - you'll get more for your money - in the UK you can get a 125ltr for under £40 - often with all the equipment and a stand.

 

[Matt_]

Okay, took all your advice and ended up getting the Fluval Roma 90litre. So thats just under 20 gallons..looks well built and the LFS said the filters were better than the Tetras. Overall it just looks really nice and is a good dimension. They only had test strips, but that should be okay, LFS said if there was any confusion they'd test it for free.

 

[rabbut]

Test kits, while Cycling you need;

Ammonia,
Nitrite
Nitrate
pH

Once fish are in, the first three are "esential" IMO, and the pH is the next thing I look at when there is a problem and the other three come up fine. The pH can crash astonishingly quickly and without warning in a soft water area (like mine) but after the first test, will usualy stay consistant in harder water areas, from what other members tell me.

I agree that in most cases GH and KH aren't realy needed.

A fishing net and thermomitor are also commonly forgotten items. The Temp. indicated on heater stats isn't always the tank temp once the heating is done, so it is useful to check the temp. is set right

A common "newby" error once you get your fish is to keep placing your hands into the tank. This can be stressful to to fish, so try to avoid going into the tank untill rutine maintanance at the end of the week. This reduces stress on the fish, and thus their chances of getting sick also decrease.

All the best
Rabbut