New Fish Enthusiast With An Old Tank And A Ton Of Questions

[wackostu]

Hello all,
 
20 years ago I had a beta, and recently wanted to get into fish again.
 
I purchased at a rummage sale, still in its sealed box a 10 G starter kit. It is an Aqua Culture tank kit.I will not be using any of the food or starter conditioners as the tank was made in 2004 and I assume everything else was too.Is the filter material still ok? It did not come with a heater. Are there some fish options if I do not heat the tank?
 
I am worried about a 10 year old never used tank.I filled it last night and let it sit in the garage. It did not leak.However, I am still concerned that due to its age the seals wont last and I will have a mess.
 
I would like to cycle this tonight, and would also be looking for some stocking ideas for a tank this size. I am drawn to the Dalmatian Mollys but don't know if these would work.
 
I thank you all in advance for your wisdom and advice.
 

 

[Mamashack]

to TFF, wackostu!
I think 10 G is way too small for the mollies as ideally they should be in around 20-30 G and they should be kept between 20-26°C so a heater would be necessary over the winter months at the very least not to mention cooler nights. 

 

[wackostu]

to TFF, wackostu!
I think 10 G is way too small for the mollies as ideally they should be in around 20-30 G and they should be kept between 20-26°C so a heater would be necessary over the winter months at the very least not to mention cooler nights. 

Thank you for that advice. What would you recommend for my size tank?
 
Also, are my concerns about the age of the tank valid?

 

[Mamashack]

I think if it is holding water overnight and there are no obvious signs of deterioration in the seals then it should be ok.
I've only kept temperate and tropical fish so can't advise on what would be suitable for a cold-water tank.  A good site to check would be Seriously Fish - you'll need the Latin name for any fish you want to check, but if you do a Google search for what you think you might fancy they nearly always give the Latin name.
 
EDIT: for up-to-date cycling information check out the TFF article on fishless cycling: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/421488-cycling-your-new-fresh-water-tank-read-this-first/
If you follow it to the letter you can't go far wrong.
Good luck and let us know what stock you think you might like - there will always be someone to help with that.

 

[wackostu]

Thank you.
 
Can pure spring water be used to fill the tank?
 
Looks like lots have changed since I had fish years ago. No one did a 30+ days cycle set up.