What do I need to start a tank?

[molliesma]

I inherited a 100 litre tank from the guy that used to own my house (he left it behind). I have been slowly buying bits for it as and when I can afford them. So far I have bought a hood, a stand a power-head pump and under gravel filter and gravel, I have yet to but a test kit, a thermometer, a gravel vac, a light, a heater some plants and some ammonia . Have I missed anything? I so want to get this right is there anything else I need before adding some plants and starting my fishless cycle? One site mentioned that my under-bed filter means I cant plant any real plants is this right?

TIA
Tam

 

[flyhockey1037]

if i were you i would ditch the idea of an undergravel filter and get a hang on back variety, it works just as good, if not better.

 

[molliesma]

Sorry, I am really new to this, could you elaborate? Why can't I use mine if it is "just as good" ??? I can't really afford to just 'drop one' and buy another when I still have other stuff I need to save for, unless there is a really good reason that I bought the wrong one, (the girl in the lfs seemed really knowledgeable when she sold it to me).

Tam

 

[Alien Anna]

Tam,
under-gravel filters have problems
1. They aren't so good at clearing particulate matter
2. If you have lots of bogwood and rocks they can stop working
3. They aren't so good for plants.
4. Powerheads are quite expensive when you compare them to the more convenient internal canister filters (and hang-on-the-back filters you can buy outside UK).

Which is why a lot of people who use them for their first tank don't use them for any subsequent tanks, and a lot of people who still use them end up doubling up with a canister filter as well as the UGF.

I'm thrilled that you are going so carefully into this hobby but you haven't learned rule no.1 : Never trust the guy in the LFS

Nevertheless, it isn't a disaster if you already have the stuff and lots of people use them. There are ways round the plant problem (have plants in their own little pots of aquatic compost) for instance and you can always attach a little sponge filter to the powerhead as well, to help clear debris out of the tank.

 

[spanky_pp_]

do you have any idea whattype of fish you want to get? Because, i dont and never have had a heater, and all my livebearers have been fine for the last two years plus!

 

[Ron]

You can use a under-gravle filter and a hang on teh side. Thats what I do with most of my fish tanks. You can buy filter real cheap, the cheap ones here in USA are $14, and those are good too. Why not get both?
Ron

 

[Alien Anna]

You can use a under-gravle filter and a hang on teh side. Thats what I do with most of my fish tanks. You can buy filter real cheap, the cheap ones here in USA are $14, and those are good too. Why not get both?
Ron

You can get them in UK too, but only online from a Dutch aquarium supply shop (SeaMe.com). They're the Eheim Liberty hang on the tank filters and the smaller one is only £10.48.

They do contain carbon which isn't so good for plants, but you could simply leave it to wear out and then just rinse it in used tank water periodically, rather than replacing it.