Newb Saying Hi...input Needed!

[pimp4cheddar]

Hi all,

I've looked around this forum long enough...its time to finally say hi.

I actually received a Starter Tank for my birthday and I'm super happy about starting my own tank.

It's a 29gallon tank and includes: Lights, top, filter, food, etc...

I wanted to go with a Salt Water tank and make it agressive: Eels, Lion fish and maybe a Shark...but it's WAY to expensive to startup and keep going...


So after reading for days...I've decided to go Tropical. I love the fact that I could have Eels and Puffer fish without having to break the bank with a Salt Water Tank. Is there anything I should know about these fish in a Fresh Water tank?

You guys are great and I love the feedback on the forum as compared to other forums (mostly rude and assholeish remarks).

 

[waterdrop]

Hi there and Welcome to TFF!

That sounds like a great starter tank, good size for getting used to things.

You've done a very smart thing, looking around at the forums and being careful about your choice for a learning source. Its very effective to have a "home place" to interact and discuss things in, even though the whole internet can still be out there for various bits of information you may need. I've found this particular forum to be really good in this way.

Knowledge, information and interaction are much more important than almost anything else when you're learning something new. The skills involved in the hobby are much more arcane than any normal person would dream when they are thinking about getting into it. But once they get in there and get enough explanations from other hobbyists, it begins to fall into place and begins to feel pretty easy and fun.

I'm not experienced with eels or puffers myself but I'm sure there'll be members here who can advise about which species might work out in a 29 gallon setting and what other species might go along with them in a community tank. People here are great at working out stuff like that I'd say.

Meanwhile, all of us who "hang out" in "New to the Hobby" will be waiting and hoping to hear that you've decided to do a fishless cycle and use that time to learn the basics of running your tank. Its a really great opportunity to get the skills down, learn some fascinating sciency stuff and have plenty of time to work out the more complicated aspects of choosing the fish stocking you want over a period of time and with plenty of discussion. By the time you actually stock the tank you'll be so glad you researched your fish and your fish will be so happy to find themselves in the best water that knowledgeable fishkeeping can provide for them!

Good Luck and hope to see you around,
~~waterdrop~~

 

[rabbut]

Both are "odd ball" fish, so not realy my speciallity, but puffers aren't usualy considered communal fish. They need prefect water quality, and idealy shelled food, so that their teeth don't overgrow. Like rodents, their teeth (more like beaks) keep gowing continuously, and without a hard food they will overgrow and will need trimming. I have never tried it, but I can't see trimming puffer teeth as being easy, safe or fun....

Eels I realy can't help with.

The only puffers I know that are suited to a 29g are pygmy or figure 8 puffers. I couldn't tell you if they are brackish or freshwater though. Both will view small fish as food, and most will have the fins off any fish you put them in with, that isn't big enough to eat them. Puffers are all indiduals though, and not all are badly behaved to other fish, where others are just downright nasty.... The only way to find out what they are like with other fish is to try them with them..... not advisable.

I think if you want puffers, you may be advised to go species only, or specimin only....

All the best
Rabbut

 

[PRW1988]

Depending on the size of the puffer or eel you could keep them in your tank. Something you must keep in mind though is that any puffer (except dwarf puffers) are brackish water fish. Also, the only species of spiny eel I know that wouldn't outgrow your 29gallon tank is a peacock eel. They grow to about a foot max. Possibly Senegal Bichirs (not quiet an eel, but eel like is apperiance.)

Good luck with the tank and let us know if you need help

 

[pimp4cheddar]

What are brackish water fish?

Aren't Fresh Water and Tropical Water fish alike? I know there is a diff in water temperture...but I thought that was it?

I've read that Puffers are pretty mean so I'm thinking of keeping my tank open and having a few fish...no more than 5-6...


I was confused after reading the sticky of tank cycles...do I use regular water (like faucet water) to fill my tank...

 

[rabbut]

There are loosly 6 types of fish in the hobby, and technically 12.

Freshwater Tropical
Freshwater Temerate
Freshwater Native
freshwater coldwater
Brakish Tropical
Brakish Temperate
Brakish Native
Brakish coldwater
Marine Tropical
Marine Temperate
Marine native
Marine coldwater

Freshwater is as the name surgests; freshwater. Marine is salted water. Brakish is halfway between the two, salted, but not as much so as marine. Tropical are 24+ centigrade fish. Temperate is 18-24c, so covers goldfish, some danios e.t.c. Native is fish adapted to the temperature on your local country. Coldwater are fish addapted to a temperature of >18c. Native will cross another sections, which though will depend on your location.

Normal tap water would be recomended in most cases, after adding a good water conditioner, such as API Water Conditioner (the one I use) or Seachem's Prime, which is widely regarded as the best...

HTH
Rabbut

 

[mark.w.jones]

Follow the fishless cycling guide in my sig. before adding any fish. The add & wait method is the one to go for. If you can get hold of some sponge and ceramic media from a mature tank the fishless cycle can be completed very quickly ie. less than 2 weeks and you can then fully stock your tank. In the oddballs forum you will find lots of pinned articles on keeping puffers. They are a fairly big commitment, moreso than regular tropicals, as the water conditions must be kept perfect + feeding can be problematic. If you are happy to deal with that then fine but I wouldn't advise you go for them if you are completely new to fish keeping. Have a good read through all the pinned articles in this forum and the tropical chat one over the next few weeks as they are a great basis of good sound knowledge. Also, be prepared to ask lots of questions on here as the advice you'll get will come from many experienced keepers.