Just Reserved My First Aquarium - Is It A Good Choice?

[jenni8888]

Hi all, from the replies from my previous post I realised I needed to rethink my first set up. I have been looking into it more and I have just gone to an aquatic specialist shop and reserved an Elite stingray 54 litre aquarium, which includes filter, heating, lighting, care pack and set up & care guide - with a cabinet. Its on sale as its the last one and comes at £99.99 for all of that (incl. cabinet). Do you think its a good choice for a first tank??

The main fish I want to get are guppies, but I would also like to get some bottom dwellers - preferably some shrimp
(yes I did want a plec but on looking at the newbie no nos on this forum and then researching the adult size I realised that that would be a very bad idea lol)

Also I want live plants - are there any that I should stay clear of?

I want to start with a fishless cycle, but a bit confused - is it ok to do it with live plants in? or leave them out like with the fish? Also should I quarantine the plants if I dont have any fish yet?

Sorry for all the questions

 

[Welshweeks]

I recently completed my fishless cycle and didn't put any plants in until the last week. I think it's ok to put plants in but personally I would wait until your in the later stages of the cycle but that's just my opinion and I myself am a newbie to the hobby!

 

[Blubble37]

welshweeks is correct

 

[JL94x4]

If you have a bigger budget, go for a bigger tank, the bigger the better.

 

[Applecart]

I too think it's plants out until the end or nearly end of the fishless cycle as plants will eat up some of the ammonia giving less to feed the colony of bacteria you're trying to establish, so it would take longer to cycle overall with plants in.

P.S have you considered a USED tank and stand plus equipment?

I purchased a good used Juwel Rio 180 tank last week, complete with heater, external undertank filter, an extra fluval intank filter for turbulence, and ALL the tanks current occupants! ... for £100 !!! ( photo's later )

I missed another Juwel Rio 180 the same day it sold for £63 and came on a stand! then last week I missed a Juwel Vision 180 ( the one with the curved glass front ) on it's stand, complete with heater, original filter etc for £62 !!! ( I was gutted, but not as gutted as the seller I guess )

 

[minnnt]

Have a look on Aquarist-classifieds.co.uk then select your local area... You will be able to get a much bigger setup for your money.

Also try ebay and Gumtree.

 

[sadguppy]

I would agree with the above... We started with a nice little 65l set up but within a few weeks realised the more interesting fish - gourami, cats, Leonard - would need a bigger tank, so we now have a fluval roma 200l AND the 65l, as well as a fry tank and a spare... This will happen to you I almost guarantee it, so you might as well go bigger to start with!

 

[Applecart]

I would agree with the above... We started with a nice little 65l set up but within a few weeks realised the more interesting fish - gourami, cats, Leonard - would need a bigger tank, so we now have a fluval roma 200l AND the 65l, as well as a fry tank and a spare... This will happen to you I almost guarantee it, so you might as well go bigger to start with!

That's kind of what happened to me too.. I got a Fluval Chi given by a neighbor, complete with his pet minnows ( he'd named them so I felt obligated to keep them alive ) but very soon after, realized a bigger tank would make more sense and that's where the glass hunting began!

 

[sadguppy]

Haha and apparently the predictive text on my phone says I meant Leonard when I wrote kribs! That will my new krib's name. Shame it's a lady!