Hi - Only Had My Tank 1.5 Weeks But A Lot Has Happened...

[cambojnr]

this is the tank I have (http/www.petsathome.com/shop/marina-style-60-tropical-aquarium-set-(available-in-store-only)-78659) you can get it with the stand for £115 if you get them to price match jollyes good tank and good filter as it handled 4 messy shubunkins and cycled in a month 4 me granted you put some extra filter wool in the back so there is more surface area for bacteria to grow on. its a pricy hobby but an enjoyable one once you have everything setup right. the link dont work so just look for marina style 60

 

[RossC]

It's just the shelving unit the tank is on. I don't want to test if it can hold 40L of water to be honest (plus gravel etc).

Actually, you've just made me think....I have a 'coffee table' for want of a better term, that is very long and sturdy. I have invested quite a bit into the 20L, but I'm now thinking I could maybe have a 20L on the unit and 40L/60L on the table....it's kind of down to costs though, unfortunately.

Haha well that didn't take long. You've caught the "Maybe I've got room for one tank" bug. You'll make a fine aquarist

 

[Rich_77]

It's just the shelving unit the tank is on. I don't want to test if it can hold 40L of water to be honest (plus gravel etc).

Actually, you've just made me think....I have a 'coffee table' for want of a better term, that is very long and sturdy. I have invested quite a bit into the 20L, but I'm now thinking I could maybe have a 20L on the unit and 40L/60L on the table....it's kind of down to costs though, unfortunately.

Haha well that didn't take long. You've caught the "Maybe I've got room for one tank" bug. You'll make a fine aquarist

LOL, thanks v much.

I've just got out my steel tape measure and it looks like I could fit a tank of 109cms length to 52cms wide on the coffee table (I was going to move it into the bedroom, hence not considering it the other week).

So cambojnr's 60L tank looks a possibility ! (I'll obviously cycle it first before thinking of putting any fish in it.)

 

[RossC]

(I'll obviously cycle it first before thinking of putting any fish in it.)

Good to hear

 

[Rich_77]

(I'll obviously cycle it first before thinking of putting any fish in it.)

Good to hear

It was horrible on Wednesday having to net my dead fish. Don't want that to happen again !

 

[sadguppy]

You could take the platies back and do a fishless cycle, its much quicker because you can let the toxins rise to deadly levels without harm. It's far less stressful obviously for the fish but also for you! Or if you get a bigger tank, take them back and fishless cycle the new one and keep the small tank as a hospital or quarantine tank. Or a shrimp tank which is my next project!

 

[BlueDragon]

Can I just chip in and suggest that maybe a coffee table won't be strong enough for a Fish tank. I'm not sure how big the new bigger tank will be, but I don't think coffee tables are designed to hold much weight.

I would take your Platies back or find them a temporary home while you cycle your tank. If I could have done it, I would definatly have found my Fish a temp home while I re-cycle my tank.

 

[HM Dragon Devil]

Hi. I hate reading horror stories like this, RIP little fishies. Well anyhow considering you lost all the fish, you could have completely started over with a fishless cycle using ammonia. I would avoid buying anymore fish from that store if i were you.

EDIT: I forgot to ask, are you using a tap water conditioner?

Just my 2 cents,
Dean.

 

[Llegmore]

and so it begins - the constant desire for a bigger tank. I started out with a 20 litre 3 years ago. Just bought a 180 litre. But the hobby really is worth it.

Sorry about your fishies. Unfortunately, most people have a bad start in fish keeping. There's so much bad advice about. Hopefully, these forums will help.

 

[Rich_77]

and so it begins - the constant desire for a bigger tank. I started out with a 20 litre 3 years ago. Just bought a 180 litre. But the hobby really is worth it.

Sorry about your fishies. Unfortunately, most people have a bad start in fish keeping. There's so much bad advice about. Hopefully, these forums will help.

I was gutted for the fish. I'm equally annoyed that the store didn't give me good advice too, and possibly - as another poster put earlier on stated - sold me sick fish.

After reading a lot of the comments on this thread, and a few others on the forum, I bought a 64L tank on Sunday

I'm letting it run through - the girl in Pets @ Home said let it cycle for 3 days, but I'm going to leave it for at least a week, changing the water regularly and using the API stress zyme and coat I used in the 20L.

Any other thoughts for my new tank would be great.

Thank you all again for your advice thus far

 

[HM Dragon Devil]

Hi. A new aquarium filter doesn't cycle in just 3 days let alone a week for that matter (no matter who tells you any different), unless ofcourse you can seed the new filter with mature media from an established filter, or you are lucky with one of the bacteria in a bottle products.

Tip: Buy a Freshwater API Master Test Kit and test for ammonia daily, and change water with dechlorinated water as necessary.

Dean.

 

[Rich_77]

Hi. A new aquarium filter doesn't cycle in just 3 days let alone a week for that matter (no matter who tells you any different), unless ofcourse you can seed the new filter with mature media from an established filter, or you are lucky with one of the bacteria in a bottle products.

Tip: Buy a Freshwater API Master Test Kit and test for ammonia daily, and change water with dechlorinated water as necessary.

Dean.

Cheers for the advice. I've ordered the API kit - I checked the water today using the 6 in 1 one I got on Sunday.