Buying A Tank... Advice Needed!

[Welsh Fish]

Hello!

I am new to this forum,this is actually my first post

Iv'e been looking to get a pet recently as I love just having the company at times when im alone.
Fury pets are out of the question due to asthma
My only encounter with fish was when i was 10 and had 2 goldfish and a very old small tank,I woke up the next morning and one had died..... so ill be honest they were not my first choice as a pet this time round!

However im much older and wiser now,close to 20 8) I am looking to get a few fish for my tank,but unfortunatly its going to have to be the fish that fits the tank rather than the tank that fits the fish!

So to start with after that brief life story,I am looking to buy a tank which can house tropical fish,having no idea at all about fish and being a complete novice I need all the help I can get!

To give you some idea of what im looking for,im after something which is cheap as chips,glass of course,suitable for tropical fish and basically have everything a good basic fish tank needs.
Size wise doesn't matter either,as long as its a humane size.

I also wanted to ask,an old old friend once told me he had built his own fish tank,not from scratch just basically bought the main items seperate.Would this be cheaper?

Any help would be appreciated!

Many thanks and hope to hear from you guys

 

[Stacey13]

Probably cheaper to buy a kit......... the only problem with that is that the equiptment isn't always the best quality, as in your not likely to get the very best brands in a kit. However, you would still have a fully functional aquarium. Purchasing separately has it's advantages too, you get to choose exactly the equiptment you want, and can space out the shopping over a few paycheques as well. It may be easier to buy a kit, you don't have to search the forums for other peoples opinions on which is the best heater, filter, etc.
Do you have specific fish in mind, or are you thinking you'll make your choices based on what size tank you get?
If you're budget extends to it, I'd reccommend a 55 gallon as a starter size. You can have quite a community of small fishes, or a few of the bigger, more personable fishes in a 55. I've seen 55 gallon kits with everything you'd need except a stand for $250. Prices may be better or worse where you live.
Speaking of stands, these can be quite expensive, especially the fancy wooden cabinet ones, the wrought iron ones not so much, although some people don't trust them. I've had a 90 gallon on an iron stand for the last year..... no complaints.
If your going to get a small tank (under 30 gallons) a piece of sturdy furniture will do nicely as a stand.
You should also consider buying used, there are alot of aquarists out there with many tanks who are constantly upgrading or downsizing, or people who simply no longer have the time to maintain fish. Check your local listings.

Hope that helped!

Stacey

 

[BigC]

Buy a small kit such as a Juwel Rekord 70, it has all the hardware you need straighr out of the box. Good solid beginner tanks.
Then go to the newbie section for posting you initial start up questions.

 

[Welsh Fish]

Stacey 13 : Im not sure what type of fsh I want really.I just wanted something which woud fit the tank that are easy to keep and pretty to look at!

Ive just been looking at used tanks and I have seen a nice 130 liter tank and its a very decent price!

Do you get many problems with second hand tanks? Like if fish have died in it??

Many thanks!

 

[Stacey13]

2 of my tanks are second hand, I've had no problems. There is certainly the potential for problems, for example residue from copper based medications could harm salt water inhabitants. My advice would be not to buy a very dirty tank, buy one that looks clean, and in good condition. Then, when you get the tank home, clean it again. Some people have used bleach to clean a tank. (make sure you rinse extremely well) I've just used aquarium salt to scour out the insides. Also check the seems on the inside of the tank if buying used.
130L would be a decent starter size. I suggest you start going to a few local fish stores with a notepad and pen. Write down the names of fish that look interesting to you, then google them when you get home. You want to find out their adult size, and their aggressiveness. You should also find out weather thay are a schooling fish or would they do better in your aquarium alone. Then you'll want to know their feeding, tepmerature and pH requirements. Or you could just make a post on this forum saying "can the following fish live together?"
Does this tank you are thinking about buying come with any hardware? If not, that's another thing you will be pricing out at the aquarium store. You may want to resist buying anything at the first few stores you go to, just untill you get a good idea of which stores have the best prices. There is nothing like seeing the filter you just bought on sale for cheaper somewhere else!

 

[Ian H]

i was going to say look at second hand tanks. I've found that keeping 2 goldfish in a small tank is a million times harder than keeping 10 - 15 tropical fish in a decent size tank! Before you go buying a tank/fish ect do you know everything you need? do you know about cycling it?

Where abouts in wales you from mate? I'm in the south

you will have to clean the tank out first and let it cycle anyways so i can't see why it would be a problem.

 

[Welsh Fish]

Stacey 13 : It comes with a heater pump lighting ect.As well as tank items like slate and wood?

It looks pretty decent and with a cabinet so I wouldnt have to worry about finding somewhere to put it on.

Funny you should mention that I went into town yesterday to look at fish!Ive checked a few online and most of the ones im looking at are relativly small when fully grown.I would like to breed them too which I kno is a totally different kettle fo fish (bada boom tish!)


Ian h : A fellow Welshman! Im from the north matey,right on the coast so plenty of wildlife B)

I have no idea about cycling it,didnt know they had wheels(bada boom tish tish) ill stop it with the lame jokes now! But seriously im not sure what that is.My intention was to buy the tank then figure out how to properly use it,is that the best way?

Cheers!

 

[xxBarneyxx]

What kind of budget are you on?

You can get some bargin 2nd hand tanks, make sure you check the seals to make sure they look in good condition. If possible when you go to look at the tank ahve it filled with water so you know it doesnt leak. Most LFS have good deals on kits as well. In general bigger tanks are more stable and easier to look after.

In general you need:
Tank
Lights
Filter (external filters are generally better)
Heater
Stand that is sturdy enough to hold the tank full of water. Tanks can be VERY heavy so make sure it is up to the task.
Water Dechlorinator
substrate and decor
1 clean bucket
syphon
Python (hose for filling and removing water from the tank, optional but makes life easier. There are DIY versions here too, look in the DIY section).
Fish Food - Most fish will take flake food. Getting some frozen food like bloodworms are also good to feed on occassion.

Some topics you should read:
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=113861
Fishless cycling. Before you put fish in you need to build up the benifical bactria that will transform the toxic waste products from the fish and turn it into less toxic substances which you remove with regular water changes or are used by plants.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=88643
Lots of useful info to get you started and to keep your fish healthy.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=171045
Weekly maintenance information.

 

[Ian H]

they were pretty lame but you can be forgiven!

the cycle is probably the most important part of owning a fish tank! basically you have good and bad bacteria in the tank, the cycle will ensure that theres enough good bacteria. This can be instant (with biospira, never used it though personally) or you can do it the slower way (can take from weeks to months)

if your breeding its actually alot easier with some than you may think! fish like mollies, platties and guppies will forever be giving birth to live young. As long as you got some hiding places in your tank im sure a few will grow up (i've had quite a few platties grow up )

 

[Welsh Fish]

Barney : My budget is varying at the moment,id say £70 tops for everything I need. Its not alot but I have seen a nice small moby dick tropical fish tank for £50 brand new delivered which im keeping in mind.(I think its 30L)

The 2nd hand tank which im looking at is off ebay....which im guessing is sorta risky?

Thanks for the list and links too! Im writing the list don as we speak,will come in very handy!


Ian h : Nice! I really want to have fish babies! Theres something in me thats always wanted to be able to breed pets but iv'e never really had the skills to! How much would say starting a fish tank be,minus the tank heater ect,just all the extra bits like biospira and so on?

Thanks agian!

 

[Ian H]

well i've never seen biospira in pet shops so not even sure if its available in the uk Just read about it!

well lets assume you have the basics; a tank, heater, filter, light.

you'll need some sort of gravel/sand. I currently have gravel but im changing to sand, i think its MUCH better than gravel especially for some of the fish! you can use playsand (i got mine in £-strechers £2.29 a bag! bargain ) obviously you'll need to wash whatever you use first though.

you will need some chlorene remover, thats usually around the £3 mark. plants are usually quite cheap say around £5 for a group. Some fish are cheap others are quite expensive. Luckily for you mollies/platties/guppies are among the cheapest!

food is around £3 a tub but thats just basic flakes, if you have meat eaters or plecs/catfish you will want to get some bloodworm or other frozen foods and catfish pellets.

then if your fish get whitespot/finrot or any other disease you will need to get medicine for that usually around £3 a bottle for each disease. Not forgetting orniments such as bogwood or the like this depends on size as do other orniments.

 

[Welsh Fish]

Ian H : Good old £stretcher! I remember getting glass frames for my now retired film cells buisiness Cheap as chips!

So I guess say if im getting a tank for £50,so im looking at about another £30 outlay for all basic items and a few fishies?

How much would up keep be a month,for say a 30L tank? and a few fish (just saying that £30 included a tub of fish food,a few medicines and an extra bag of sand)


sorry for all the newbie questions!

 

[Ian H]

as long as you've completed the cycle and your doing the required water changes then it should cost you nothing. When your adding fish you can't add to many at a time.

just because your on a budget doesnt mean you can't have a nice tank fish like neon tetras are cheap usually 99p each but they are shoaling fish so need to be kept in groups of 5+ only tiny but they make a tank look beautiful. However i think they need a mature tank.

I wouldnt mind sending you some bits of java fern (very easy to care for plant that you can root to almost anything!) when your setting up. My tank is starting to get over grown with it if you were closer i would be able to give you some babies too. But first things first you need to actually get the tank cycled

dont worry about the newbie questions! i'm still a newbie really! have a good read on here theres so much info available

 

[Welsh Fish]

Ian H : Ive saw some neon tetras yesterday,very pretty fish!

With the tank im now looking at(well 2)?? it should be a nice size!

A 55 litre tank with lighting heater filter ect for £65 delivered new
or
A 60 litre tank ect ect for £75 delivered which includes thememtor and some bits like food and how to dvd oh and something that turns tap water into water fit for fish!


And thanks ill keep that in mind when im sturggling to even fill my tank with water because ill be skint

 

[Ian H]

i would be looking at second hand tanks to be honest mate i've seen 3ft tanks with filter, heater, air pump, lid, light everything go for £50 that stuff that "turns tap water into water fit for fish" will be chlorine remover