Vivienne
Fish Fanatic
Well, after visiting my Uncle last week and admiring his terrific tropical tank, I got hooked. Not just me but my son too, who decided a tropical tank was exactly what he wanted for his 12th birthday today. My birthday (much older than 12 !) is just comming up so we are now joint owners of a Jewel Rekord 120. All shiny and just out of the box. 
Having spent a week or so surfing the net and reading tremendous forums like this we plan to make a homemade polystyrene/cement coated rock background and let that cure between now and when we get back from holiday at the beginning of next month. Then I'll put a few plants in - I've got some malachite stuff to put at the bottom and a fine, rounded gravel to go on top of it.
Then we'll do a fishless cycle. Found pure Ammonia solution in local hardware store - Jeyes Kleen Off. (Just says: Contains Ammonia - clear liquid that doesn't foam). Should be able to get a scoop of gravel from the LFS to help get things going. Have ordered a reasonably comprehensive test kit over the internet. Then, and my guess is that this'll be a couple of months time, we'll start adding fish.
My vote is for Harlequin Rasboros and a beautiful Elephant Nose. I saw one at the LFS and was enchanted. My son really would like a male beta and a red tailed shark. He was also very taken with some black angelfish he saw, but everything I've read suggests that angelfish are not compatible with bettas. He also likes the upside down catfish and zebra plecos.
Thankfully he's happy to be patient - and me, I've got brain overload! Any help and advice gratefully received !
Having spent a week or so surfing the net and reading tremendous forums like this we plan to make a homemade polystyrene/cement coated rock background and let that cure between now and when we get back from holiday at the beginning of next month. Then I'll put a few plants in - I've got some malachite stuff to put at the bottom and a fine, rounded gravel to go on top of it.
Then we'll do a fishless cycle. Found pure Ammonia solution in local hardware store - Jeyes Kleen Off. (Just says: Contains Ammonia - clear liquid that doesn't foam). Should be able to get a scoop of gravel from the LFS to help get things going. Have ordered a reasonably comprehensive test kit over the internet. Then, and my guess is that this'll be a couple of months time, we'll start adding fish.
My vote is for Harlequin Rasboros and a beautiful Elephant Nose. I saw one at the LFS and was enchanted. My son really would like a male beta and a red tailed shark. He was also very taken with some black angelfish he saw, but everything I've read suggests that angelfish are not compatible with bettas. He also likes the upside down catfish and zebra plecos.
Thankfully he's happy to be patient - and me, I've got brain overload! Any help and advice gratefully received !
Welcome to TFF. Glad to have you join us. It seems like you have really researched and done your homework. The only advice I could really give you is not to plan on putting a betta in your tank unless you have a backup tank for him. Bettas are very territorial and many of them will not live with other fish. They will either attack and kill them, or if the other fish is more aggressive, they will either be killed or die from the stress. If your son wants a betta they are very happy in smaller tanks - 1 gallon being the absolute minimum. They do not have to have a filter or have their tanks cycled if you do regular water changes. If you are still interested in a betta you can post any questions about them in the betta forum. Your other questions will best be answered in the beginner section. Good luck and hope you enjoy your fish experience as much as I do! 
