Total Beginner Advice On What Equipment To Buy!

[Toon49]

I'm wanting to buy my dad a fish tank for tropical fish for xmas. I have had a bit of a look around and understand the bigger the better but is make also important? I have a budget of around £100 and have seen a few which I could buy such as:
http/www.petsathome.com/shop/marina-s ... store-only)-78659
http/www.swelluk.com/aquarium/fish-ta ... 03070.html
http/www.swelluk.com/aquarium/fish-ta ... 52533.html
http/www.petsathome.com/shop/fish-box ... store-only)-36859

Obviously they are all within my budget but all different sizes, is it best just to go for the largest or is one a more reputable company (e.g. has a better filter or something).

Also what else would I need to purchase, I know I would need a background, gravel/sand (is there anything which is particularly better?), ornaments, plants, is there anything else I need for cleaning and maintaining the aquarium?

Also with the size of tank I'm looking at how many fish would I be looking to put in eventually?

Thanks in advance for any advice

 

[Aquascaper]

None of the links work for me so can't really comment. Could you list the names of the tanks?

 

[Toon49]

Thanks for letting me know they don't work for me either haha!
The aquariums are:
Marina style 60 tropical aquarium
Fishbox 40cm tank by interpet
AquaEl Econoline 70
Juwell Korall 60 tropical aquarium

If there are any others you can recommend that would also be great, I've just had a quick look and these are the ones which seem to be within my price range

 

[LucyB]

I have the 48 litre fishbox, absolutely love it! It came with an amazing heater and filter, both lights, some dechlorinator and some other bits. I got it for £99 WITH the stand!!

I have some very happy goldfish in there at the moment!

 

[fluttermoth]

Personally, I'd recommend the AquaNano 40.

It's got a much bigger filter system than the ones most tanks of that sort of size come with, and it's built into the back of the tank. You can also hide the heater in there, so you get a much 'cleaner' look in the tank, as all the equipment is hidden.

Oh, and don't forget to read up on 'cycling', as it's very important if your first fish are not to end up sick, or even dead. You should be able to get it cycled between now and Christmas, so your dad won't have to wait too long for fish

 

[toshapetriji]

I would look at buying secondhand, some real bargains out there that will come with everything you need.

 

[Toon49]

I have the 48 litre fishbox, absolutely love it! It came with an amazing heater and filter, both lights, some dechlorinator and some other bits. I got it for £99 WITH the stand!!

I have some very happy goldfish in there at the moment!

Thats a bargain where did you get that from?

 

[Toon49]

Personally, I'd recommend the AquaNano 40.

It's got a much bigger filter system than the ones most tanks of that sort of size come with, and it's built into the back of the tank. You can also hide the heater in there, so you get a much 'cleaner' look in the tank, as all the equipment is hidden.

Oh, and don't forget to read up on 'cycling', as it's very important if your first fish are not to end up sick, or even dead. You should be able to get it cycled between now and Christmas, so your dad won't have to wait too long for fish

Thanks I've tried to have a look at that one but it seems not many places sell it haha. It looks very nice though so I might have a search around!

 

[sebn]

It might be worth looking on eBay for the fishbox 48l. People tend to buy them and want to upgrade pretty quickly, I managed to get a 6 month old one with filter and heater for £35 to use as a quarantine tank. Some definite bargains out there!

 

[Aquascaper]

We got a FishXBox 64l for the kids and apart from replacement bulbs for the lights being hard to get hold of I'm pretty impressed.

 

[LucyB]

Personally, I'd recommend the AquaNano 40.

It's got a much bigger filter system than the ones most tanks of that sort of size come with, and it's built into the back of the tank. You can also hide the heater in there, so you get a much 'cleaner' look in the tank, as all the equipment is hidden.

Oh, and don't forget to read up on 'cycling', as it's very important if your first fish are not to end up sick, or even dead. You should be able to get it cycled between now and Christmas, so your dad won't have to wait too long for fish

Thanks I've tried to have a look at that one but it seems not many places sell it haha. It looks very nice though so I might have a search around!

Hmmm. I got mine from pets at home... But i don't know if you are in America, they don't have P@H there...

 

[Toon49]

Personally, I'd recommend the AquaNano 40.

It's got a much bigger filter system than the ones most tanks of that sort of size come with, and it's built into the back of the tank. You can also hide the heater in there, so you get a much 'cleaner' look in the tank, as all the equipment is hidden.

Oh, and don't forget to read up on 'cycling', as it's very important if your first fish are not to end up sick, or even dead. You should be able to get it cycled between now and Christmas, so your dad won't have to wait too long for fish

Thanks I've tried to have a look at that one but it seems not many places sell it haha. It looks very nice though so I might have a search around!

Hmmm. I got mine from pets at home... But i don't know if you are in America, they don't have P@H there...

Maybe they've sold out I was in there the other day and it's not on their website. I'll keep looking thanks for the advice on cycling too!

 

[LucyB]

Personally, I'd recommend the AquaNano 40.

It's got a much bigger filter system than the ones most tanks of that sort of size come with, and it's built into the back of the tank. You can also hide the heater in there, so you get a much 'cleaner' look in the tank, as all the equipment is hidden.

Oh, and don't forget to read up on 'cycling', as it's very important if your first fish are not to end up sick, or even dead. You should be able to get it cycled between now and Christmas, so your dad won't have to wait too long for fish

Thanks I've tried to have a look at that one but it seems not many places sell it haha. It looks very nice though so I might have a search around!

Hmmm. I got mine from pets at home... But i don't know if you are in America, they don't have P@H there...

Maybe they've sold out I was in there the other day and it's not on their website. I'll keep looking thanks for the advice on cycling too!

Grrr the link to the tank won't work!!!

http/www.petsathome.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Browse?rpp=43&RPPButton.x=13&RPPButton.y=11&RPPButton=Go&DisplayProductList=true&langId=-1&storeId=10551&catalogId=10601&categoryId=15575&results=com.salmon.ec.searchandbrowse.mercado.databeans.SearchResultsBean%4062b82847&viewTaskName=CategoryDisplayMercadoView


Look at that link ^^^

The tank is in that list, on my screen it is on the 2nd tank in the 6th line down

 

[Toon49]

Personally, I'd recommend the AquaNano 40.

It's got a much bigger filter system than the ones most tanks of that sort of size come with, and it's built into the back of the tank. You can also hide the heater in there, so you get a much 'cleaner' look in the tank, as all the equipment is hidden.

Oh, and don't forget to read up on 'cycling', as it's very important if your first fish are not to end up sick, or even dead. You should be able to get it cycled between now and Christmas, so your dad won't have to wait too long for fish

Thanks I've tried to have a look at that one but it seems not many places sell it haha. It looks very nice though so I might have a search around!

Hmmm. I got mine from pets at home... But i don't know if you are in America, they don't have P@H there...

Maybe they've sold out I was in there the other day and it's not on their website. I'll keep looking thanks for the advice on cycling too!

Grrr the link to the tank won't work!!!

http/www.petsathome.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Browse?rpp=43&RPPButton.x=13&RPPButton.y=11&RPPButton=Go&DisplayProductList=true&langId=-1&storeId=10551&catalogId=10601&categoryId=15575&results=com.salmon.ec.searchandbrowse.mercado.databeans.SearchResultsBean%4062b82847&viewTaskName=CategoryDisplayMercadoView


Look at that link ^^^

The tank is in that list, on my screen it is on the 2nd tank in the 6th line down

Ah yes found it I was looking for the wrong one that someone else mentioned the aquanano haha. This is the one I saw in the shop and definately looks the best so far value for money wise!
Thanks

 

[Aquascaper]

We looked at that one and tbh it was very cheap and plasticky looking, lighting was rubbish and the filter was pretty average. We ended up getting the FishXBox instead.

I would definitely advise against buying a stand as they are cheap chipboard and not worth the money. Either put the tank on a sideboard, etc. or build your own