Newbie needing help

[Muck992]

Ive read guides etc. My tank is small. Will this be a big enough tank?

16" x 8" x 8"

or should I get another one. I received this tank from someone. Hoping to have a small community tank with mollies etc.

EDIT How long is it before I can add tropical fish? Can I add one from the start then 2 weeks later add another or wait then add one?

Thanks

 

[daza]

Hi Muck992, welcome to the forum.

Your tank is:
Surface area: 128sq.inches
Tank volume: 16.78 litres 4.43 gal(US) 3.69 gal(imp/UK)

Which isn't much really. Not suitable for a community tank. You could keep a betta in there?

edit...

the second part of your question is about cycling. There are some pinned topics on it in the beginners section. Fishless cycling is best IMO, whereby you cycle the tank (establish bacteria in the filter media) before adding fish.

 

[Muck992]

Do you know where to get a good relatively cheap tank?

 

[daza]

Where abouts are you?

The only way to do it cheaply is by searching for used ones in the paper, or the for-sale section of this forum or ebay.

Having said that, tanks themselves are generally the cheaper part. The other kit adds it up. If you don't have much/any stuff then a complete kit such as the Juwel or Fluval tanks might be best.

 

[Muck992]

Im in Scotland, UK.

I have most other things

 

[Jamnog]

local paper clasified adds are a good place if you can pick the tank up sometimes second hand ones need some silicone sealer to patch them up but they are normally a bargain. work out what sort of fish you want and plan around that. the bigger the tank the better for any type of fish but i think for a comunity a 2 foot or 3 foot tank would be recomended.

 

[Muck992]

So 2 x ? x ?

In my local classifieds one is 2ft x 1ft x 1ft.

What sizes would be recommended?

 

[daza]

yeah, I agree that a 2 foot tank is the minimum you should go for really. I have a Juwel Rekord 70 (note: you can get them for around £115 inc. stand - a lot cheaper than that site). I have seen a lot of them on ebay before too.

If you can accomodate a larger tank then always go the biggest you can. My 70 litre is enough for a couple of small schools and a small variety of catfish, but I would love more.

If you have a heater, filter and hood/lights and they have a suitable output for the size of tank you choose then you could just buy the tank.

edit...
2x1x1 ft is :
Surface area: 288sq.inches
Tank volume: 56.64 litres 14.95 gal(US) 12.46 gal(imp/UK)

I think that is the same size as a Juwel Rekord 60 tank.

A general guideline is one-inch of small fish per US gallon.

 

[Muck992]

My budget is very low so what would you recommend for:
5 fish
8
10
15
20?

 

[jmkgreen]

The Rekord 70 appears to be the favourite tank for newbies with either budget or space constraints. I just bought one last week, it's currently cycling before fish.

Also, the online price for the tank / cabinet were actually more expensive than one of our local fish shops. I saved GBP10s and picked the whole lot up myself with other bits recommended by the store assistants. Just read up on cycling BEFORE adding fish.

As to fish numbers, one rule is 1cm of fish to 1 litre of water. Another is 1cm to every 2 litres. Don't count the tail, and do base length on fully-grown adults. It's pretty difficult to plan ahead, so I'm going by advice...

 

[Muck992]

Would a 2ft x 1ft x 1ft be big enough?

It would hold 15inches of fish?
or
56cm of fish