New To Hobby And Need Some Advice...

[lee.barros]

Hello everyone!

I have just recently looked into this hobby and find it very interesting and relaxing to look at. I have still to buy any equipment (Tank, stand etc) and I have found a few online but not sure if they are good enough for beginners or if they are just "crap".

The first I have seen is this one on ebay (without stand) - 72 Litre Tank. And the other tank that I seen is from Seapets.co.uk (With stand) - 63 Litre Tank

I like the sound of the 1st tank but it doesn't come with a stand and im not sure what else I could use to support the tank.

If you could let me know what your opinions are on the above tanks then that would be great! After we have that sorted I can annoy yous some more about other equipment!

Cheers,

-Lee

 

[aussieant32]

welcome and im sure you will love this hobby.

It depends what you want to keep, the first one i prefer as it is larger and a better shape (also im assuming you wish to keep tropicals, it states you can keep marines in it but it is way too small for marines), you could sit it on a benchtop etc as long as it is supported evenly and could take the weight. I think that no tank should house tropical fish if it is less then 75L so your close enough!

I would go to your local fish shop 'lfs' and have a look at their tanks as they may beat the prices and you will save on postage. They are also good to get some ideas from display tanks on what you want to house and how you want it to look!

Do you have any ideas about what you wish to keep?

 

[arobinson1984]

Go for the biggest tank you can afford and have room for.

The bigger the tank, the more stocking options and the easier it is to maintain.

If space isnt an issue then have a look on ebay at some second hand tanks, you can get some great bargains on there for good sized tanks at decent prices, quite often with all the equipment thrown in as well.

Andy

 

[Blown 346]

I agree, the bigger the better, Both tanks seem to have there own filtration which is a large benefit.

 

[K-Holed]

I think that no tank should house tropical fish if it is less then 75L so your close enough!

I'd have to disagree here. 75 litres is 20 US gallons (near as makes any difference) and there are a wealth of fish that can be kept in aquariums smaller than this (including marines). Having said that, it is certainly best to go for the biggest tank you can afford/manage/fit. The bigger the tank, the more stable the water paramaters and the more scope for mistakes to be forgiven (although I'm sure you won't be making any )

Kind regards

Jimi

 

[alan3513]

Tropiquarium 68 is a good tank. I bought two second hand ones on ebay, £26 and £31 with everything including the stands, and can't fault them (although i got rid of the big cumbersome filters)

 

[lee.barros]

Thank you for all your replies so far...it seems as if the best one to go for is the one on ebay although there is no stand. I have had a look around and seen on a website that the best stand for this tank is the Hagen Tropiquarium 68 stand but I can only find the hagen 55 stand.

Im going up to ikea today with the missus so I will take a look and see if there are any suitable stands or cabinets up there.

Back onto the fish! - I will be looking into keeping tropical fish. My older brother has had aquariums for a few years now and has said that guppies would be a good start? Ive ordered a book all about freshwater aquariums that I intend to read over to get a better understanding of the hobby.

Once I have chosen the tank it will be easier but right now im just deciding what I will place the tank ontop of...

Cheers,

 

[waterdrop]

Its excellent that you are taking your time, reading and discussing and thinking about all the aspects before going out and committing yourself. A lot of beginners don't do that and you have a golden opportunity to discover some fairly arcane things that you might not have really thought about. Nearly all the reading in our beginners resource center is worthwhile and I recommend it. I also recommend you read as many threads and do searches using the search tool as you have time for - there's just a lot of great material built up over the years here. You've stumbled across a really unusual forum of experienced hobbyists who are pretty low key and helpful in my experience.

Getting started in the hobby and having a first tank is a balancing act between anticipation and "wanting to get on with it" versus having this huge learning curve causing you to face all sorts of decisions you aren't really informed enough yet about to be ready to make. You've already seen that tank size (and tanks are really one of the simplest pieces of equipment in the hobby when you get down to it) is a topic in itself. Personally I think its great that you are at least up around the 20 US gallon range, as its quite true, the bit about how more water volume is more forgiving of beginner mistakes. I think of maybe 20 to 30g being a bit of a sweet spot for beginning on a budget. 15g and below tends to carry more disappointment with how little you can stock and the water chemistry is also more volatile and less forgiving.

Unfortunately, the "other stuff" in these kits can be a problem too sometimes. Its more or less functional and sometimes perfectly ok but other times it turns out to be a disappointment and you find yourself some months down the road wishing you had taken the time to just research out each one individually. Part of the fun of the hobby is slowing down and enjoying each bit. Filters in particular are a major thing to learn about and choose among. But hoods and lighting can have some interesting things to learn about too. There's a lot of good advice to be had here on these different pieces and still more sometimes over in the hardware section!

Anyway, think about it. I'm not putting down the kit idea particularly, as its a way to get busy and get on with having a tank. I'm just reminding you that you have a choice also of this slower, more deliberate approach if you can discipline yourself to it.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[lee.barros]

waterdrop - I understand completely about taking a slower approach to the hobby and reading/ learning about the hobby before jumping in at the deep end (no pun intended).

For me, buying a "starter kit" is a good way to be able to start straight away as soon as it arrives in the mail or when you get it home from the local pet shop but I agree that taking your time and buying the tank on its own after some research will be beneficial. Then the next month I can buy the filter after some research etc... I think you may have changed my plans.

If you research each piece of kit, you will be able to buy ones that you need as opposed to buying a kit with equipment that will do the job, but not as good as buying equipment that is best for your type of tank? Am I correct or just talking BS? lol

I will be sure to read over the beginners section as well as the book that I have ordered when it arrives!

Cheers,

 

[waterdrop]

Well, it sometimes has the pitfall of diminishing returns. Even when you research and get lots of opinions you still end up just deciding to get a particular thing and sometimes later you realize there was "still more" that might have yet again changed your mind.

Filters are the main thing I was thinking of. They are core to the hobby and a good one can make all the difference to your crucial first year in the hobby, the year you want to have success. Not only is the type, capacity and design of the filter itself an important set of topics but it usually comes a quite a surprise to beginners, often much later, that most experienced hobbyists don't particularly use the filtration media that the manufacturers initially include with the new filters. Instead it can be a fairly custom thing, what they like to put in their filter boxes.

Filters have three functions: Mechanical filtration, chemical filtration and biological filtration. That's a starting point for your homework. Let me know what you find out about these. Filters also have a "flow rate" and manufacturers report that in a couple of different ways. Let me know what you find out about that too!

~~waterdrop~~

 

[lee.barros]

I have been looking more towards the Juwel Rekford 600 Aquarium (with stand). I have read reviews on it and people say they have had good experiences with them. Even though it comes with its own Internal filter I can always replace it at a later date with an external and more powerful filter when the demand is required. If I plan on getting a smaller tank for quarantine then I can use the older filter...

I have read up some information about the 3 types of filtration that you mentioned. Here is what I have learned:

Mechanical Filtration - This method removes larger debris from water by means of a sponge or other media.

Chemical Filtration - This type of filtration uses media such as active carbon in the form of sheets, balls, crystals etc. Used to remove medications and metals from water.

Biological Filtration - This is where the "good" filter bacteria breaks down the harmfull ammonia in the water produced by the fish waste into nitrites which arent as harmfull (but still dangerous). A second bacteria is then used to break down these nitrites into less harmfull nitrates.


Hope thats right lol

 

[arobinson1984]

A better option would be the Juwel Rio 125, have a look on ebay, you can normally pick up a bargain.

Also search ebay for spelling mistakes, try searching for 'jewel' and 'jewul' as sellers often misspell the word juwel which means their items less views and inevitably less bids so you can often pick up a bargain.

Heres a few I quickly found for you:

First One - Bargain if you can get it close to this current price and this one includes an eheim external filter.

Second One - Currently at a low price with only a day left.

It obviously depends on how far you are willing to travel to pick up a bargain.

Andy

 

[lee.barros]

A better option would be the Juwel Rio 125, have a look on ebay, you can normally pick up a bargain.

Also search ebay for spelling mistakes, try searching for 'jewel' and 'jewul' as sellers often misspell the word juwel which means their items less views and inevitably less bids so you can often pick up a bargain.

Heres a few I quickly found for you:

First One - Bargain if you can get it close to this current price and this one includes an eheim external filter.

Second One - Currently at a low price with only a day left.

It obviously depends on how far you are willing to travel to pick up a bargain.

Andy

Just looked at the auctions you sent me, both are excellent bargains...only problem is the distance. Just googled the locations and the 1st in is in Derby - about 300+ miles from where I am which is a bit far. The 2nd auction is in dundee which is around 120~ miles from where I stay. I did have a car but the MOT was gona cost too much so had to scrap it. My girlfriend drives but I dont think she would be comfortable driving such a long distance...

Im not fussed when I get the tank and equipment, preferably once I know more about the hobby and have an idea of what to expect... but that tank you sent me looks like a bargain!

Cheers,

 

[waterdrop]

I have been looking more towards the Juwel Rekford 600 Aquarium (with stand). I have read reviews on it and people say they have had good experiences with them. Even though it comes with its own Internal filter I can always replace it at a later date with an external and more powerful filter when the demand is required. If I plan on getting a smaller tank for quarantine then I can use the older filter...

I have read up some information about the 3 types of filtration that you mentioned. Here is what I have learned:

Mechanical Filtration - This method removes larger debris from water by means of a sponge or other media.

Chemical Filtration - This type of filtration uses media such as active carbon in the form of sheets, balls, crystals etc. Used to remove medications and metals from water.

Biological Filtration - This is where the "good" filter bacteria breaks down the harmfull ammonia in the water produced by the fish waste into nitrites which arent as harmfull (but still dangerous). A second bacteria is then used to break down these nitrites into less harmfull nitrates.


Hope thats right lol

Pretty good for a first shot.. Mechanical is really even more general than the description you found. It simply refers to the catching of debris.. of all sizes: large, medium and fine. Coarse sponges and larger ceramics will stop larger debris, fine sponges and gravel layers will catch medium to fine debris, polyfloss or floss sheets will trap very fine debris, which is sometimes referred to as "polishing" the water. All these are examples of mechanical filtration. Flow rates can also be important in mechanical filtration: higher rates make it harder to trap particles - thus its important in filter box design to have ways to "slow down" the water during the period it passes through the media. Higher flow rates, however, have the advantage of filtering the water more times per hour to begin with.

Another thing to note about chemical filtration is that it is almost always optional and used for special purposes.

Your next homework is to delve more deeply into "biological filtration" -- read our articles on the nitrogen cycle. Nitrite(NO2) is actually even more harmful to fish than ammonia, but it makes little difference as you really want to achieve zero ppm of both (as measured by liquid tests) in any environment your fish are exposed to. Nitrate(NO3) is indeed far less harmful to fish and is normally diluted and partially removed by the habit of the weekly gravel-clean-water-change.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[lee.barros]

Ok, had a closer look into biological filtration and found out some more interesting facts.

As I said before, biological filtration uses 2 types of bacteria to filter out the nasties. The ammonia within the tank is removed by the bacteria called "Nitrosomonas". It does this by converting the ammonia into nitrite. Ammonia is also used as food by plants in the aquarium.

The nitrites are removed by the bacteria called "Nitrospira". This converts the nitrite into nitrate. Nitrates are controllable by carrying out frequent partial water changes and cleaning the gravel. Nitrates are also used as food by plants in the aquarium.

I know this sounds just like the beginners section but its the best way to describe it I suppose.

-----

Ive just read some posts about how to do a fishless cycle (which is what I will be doing). It says you have to use ammonia and a test kit... but in some other palces or videos on youtube ive heard them say that you add some live bacteria (Stuff in a yellow bottle by Tetra?). What is the difference and what is the best way?

Cheers,