Feeling A Bit Overwhelmed

[L_ouise]

Hello,

I've always wanted to get a fish tank and now I've finally got the room for one and the money to do it properly, I'm feeling a bit flustered when it comes to making any decisions.

I've been looking at getting a Jewel Trigon 190 but is it a decent tank and come with decent equipment? I don't want to have to start buying loads of extra parts to keep my tank running well.

This is the spec: Aquarium High-Lite light unit including tubes 70cm, 2 x 28 watt Bio Compact filter including pump set 600 and filter media Heater 200w

I would like to have a couple of big fish, then a few smaller fish and then a lot of small synchronised fish. What is the maximum adult size fish I should be looking at? What small fish are synchronised?

By synchronised I mean that they all move as one fish, one turns and the all turn kind of thing. I saw a huge cylindrical tank once full of fish all moving in the same direction like a tornado and it looked amazing

I'd really like a discus or two but don't know if they are too big for a 190 litre community tank... Are there any smaller fish that look similar in shape?

I would like lots of plants too.

Sorry if my questions are a bit random, I just want to make sure that I'm not going to be disappointed by the final product xx

 

[Aqua Tom]

Hi L_ouise & welcome to our fishy family.

Juwel Aquariums come with all the neccassery equipment to get you started so are a good choice for the beginner. Before you even start to think what to put into your tank you need to decide how you are going to Cycle your tank, I am afraid it is not as easy as filling it with water & waiting a week.

There is a link in my signature to the beginers rescource centre. Please take the time to have a good read up on the nitrogen cycle & how to cycle a tank.


Tom

 

[FishFanatic04]

Your starting out the right way which is great! You'll be happier then a lot of us were in our beginnings. As stated above, read up on cycling. You'll have a nice long month or so to plan out your stocking and plants while you cycle.



edit: Welcome!!! lol almost forgot that part.

 

[Xraymark]

I'm not a fan of the juwel internal filter. Takes up too much room in the tank and I've found them underpowered.
I've 2 juwel tanks and have bought external filters for them.

 

[Curiosity101]

I'd also suggest a rectangular tank rather than a corner/triangular tank. It IS down to personal preference. But rectangular are easier to mess around in for planting... general maintenance etc. And personally I don't like the distorted viewing angles of corner tanks.

Other than that your plan sounds great. A 180-200l tank is a fab starter tank as it gives you lots of options. But like people have said, you'll probably want to read up on cycling before considering buying fish.

Some notes, if you want tall fish, particularly angel fish, then you'll need a tall tank 18"+ from gravel to the waterline. I know you said discus but just incase they were on your list of possible fish I thought it was worth mentioning.

I'd also vote for an external on anything over 150l... I just don't feel that most internals can really get the water moving at the other side of the tank... that can be overcome with a powerhead though or a second internal filter. Depending on whether you're buying brand new or second hand then the tank may come with an external filter.

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Yeah I prefer rectangle but I did nearly get a corner myself because it allows you more volume with less space! I also agree that the internal filter could be better on the Juwels but it is perfectly acceptable to get going with and if you decide at some point down the road to get something with a bit more oomph you can remove it and get an external. I did it with mine and it was easy peasy.

 

[Curiosity101]

Yeah I prefer rectangle but I did nearly get a corner myself because it allows you more volume with less space!

I know exactly what you mean here but that made me giggle

 

[L_ouise]

Thanks for all the replies

I've already checked out the fishless cycling thread I think I'm sorted on how to cycle. I'm a very forward thinker.

I don't like the rectangular ones They look good square from the front and the image might be sharper but I find the vertical lines created by the corners make it look like a cage. I can hide the edge at the back.

If I could find one that was a corner unit but not curved glass at the front I'd probably go for that but not seen one. In the corner I think they look good no matter which angle you are looking from.

So I could manage discus then?

 

[Curiosity101]

Don't quote me, but I think you're looking at 250-300l to keep discus, although that would be for a small group of say 4-6. I think alot of it is to do with how demanding they are in terms of water quality. Plus they're pretty big and are cichlids so I can see why that would be the recommendation. I have heard of people keeping mated pairs in much smaller tanks though, around the size you're planning on getting. Maybe even a bit smaller. So I'd guess that a mated pair might be a good idea if you can't go bigger. Perhaps ask in the new world cichlids section of the forum? Lots of keepers there who'll be able to help with more specialist knowledge.

I know what you mean about the straight edges of rectangular tanks. I've just always preferred them cause viewing the fish through curved glass can sometimes be annoying, and tbh I'm too short to really maintain a corner tank how I'd like unless it was tiny.

 

[Saltcod]

I've currently got a corner tank and the negatives are as mentioned - the viewing is distorted and I can't reach anything in the back corner which makes planting tricky. Having said that, it gives me a far larger tank as I was only able to squeeze a 2.5 foot rectangular tank in the gap (125 L) whereas this gives me 190L

 

[The Duke]

I have a juwel trigon 190 and can't speak highly enough about it. They are a stunning tank and although rectangular might offer more in terms of functionality, the trigon looks fantastic. The filter is just fine and works perfectly well, I have never had any problems with mine and I am a year down the line with it. I also think the curved glass is better than flat, it just adds an extra dimension. So whilst a rectangular tank may be most people's choice, stick with the trigon if you want a solid, stunning looking aquarium!!

 

[Aqua Tom]

I'm not a fan of the juwel internal filter. Takes up too much room in the tank and I've found them underpowered.
I've 2 juwel tanks and have bought external filters for them.

I also remove the internal filter & go external, but that wasnt the question. The question was, as a beginner, does the op need to but any more kit? The answer is no as the juwel has it all.


Tom

 

[Xraymark]

I'm not a fan of the juwel internal filter. Takes up too much room in the tank and I've found them underpowered.
I've 2 juwel tanks and have bought external filters for them.

I also remove the internal filter & go external, but that wasnt the question. The question was, as a beginner, does the op need to but any more kit? The answer is no as the juwel has it all.


Tom

Ahh I was a beginner when I bought the juwel and 5 months later changed the filter at cost.
"I've been looking at getting a Jewel Trigon 190 but is it a decent tank and come with decent equipment? I don't want to have to start buying loads of extra parts to keep my tank running well."[font="Verdana][color="#222222"]
[/color][/font][font="Verdana][color="#222222"]From my experience the OP may feel that the internal does not keep the tank running well.
[/color][/font]

 

[OldMan47]

L_ouise, the best schooling fish are the rummy nose tetras, or as one member called them runny nosed tetras. A group of 8 or 10 will move very much like you see in fish on the TV.

 

[FishFanatic04]

Oh I missed that part of the original post. If I may add, Espei Rasboras are giving me a lot of joy these days and I only have 9 so far...I'm dying to up the numbers to 25. They stick together nicely, there's only a rare moment in the day that I see them apart. I guess they can't perform for me all day