10 Gallon Set up

[gale]

For a thermometer I like the ones that suction to the inside of the tank. They seem to be more accurate and are easier to read than the floaty kind which is always at the furthest corner with it's back to me.

My big heater is a visi-therm and I'm not sure what the smaller one is. When I bought them, I just bought the cheapest submersible that allowed me to set the temp. (rather than a hi-lo temp or just turning it up and/or down until the tank is the correct temp).

btw the aquasafe and the easybalance are not the same product. Aquasafe only conditions, it doesn't alter your parameters like easybalance claims to, other than neutralizing some ammonia I think. The thing I would worry about with easybalance is if it messes with the ph, making it fluctuate from time to time.

 

[slimecoat]

Oh yeah, how long was it before that heater stopped working for you, keeper?

Edit again: No one answered me about the thermometer either, can someone recommend one to me? I don't think the ones that just stick on the tank are going to work right for some reason.. lol

I have had some bad experiences with heaters sticking on and cooking fish so do not skimp on this item. Buy a good brand.

As for a thermometer, I have a floating specific gravity meter that includes a thermometer - I just use that. You can buy simple alcohol in glass tube thermomters that go in the tank if you want one in there all the time.

 

[ThxForNothing]

Hmm.. Okay, get a good brand.. no problem, but what kind would that be? LoL. Is the one that I have in there right now a bad one to use? Also, i'm not sure how to do tests and stuff.. I've heard there are kits out there for such things, about how much do they usually cost and is there anything else you all can tell me about this? There isn't a petsmart around here, only a Petco which I prefer not to shop at when possible. There are a couple of pet stores around here, but they all suck basically except for this one that I got my fish from. It's called Shasta Pets.. Actually i'm thinking about getting a job there when I get my license.

Anyways, anyone else have any suggestions or tips? I'd love to hear them and get some more ideas..thx

 

[slimecoat]

Hmm.. Okay, get a good brand.. no problem, but what kind would that be? LoL. Is the one that I have in there right now a bad one to use? Also, i'm not sure how to do tests and stuff.. I've heard there are kits out there for such things, about how much do they usually cost and is there anything else you all can tell me about this? There isn't a petsmart around here, only a Petco which I prefer not to shop at when possible. There are a couple of pet stores around here, but they all suck basically except for this one that I got my fish from. It's called Shasta Pets.. Actually i'm thinking about getting a job there when I get my license.

Anyways, anyone else have any suggestions or tips? I'd love to hear them and get some more ideas..thx

I avoided naming any specific brand because it may not be available where you live, or else it may be sold under a different local name. I would ask a pet store where you live, and certainly not buy the cheapest they sell.

I have had test kits for pH, hardness, nitrite, nitrate. The pH kits usually involve adding drops to a water sample, and seeing what colour it turns (compared to a test scale they supply). Others involve adding drops until the colour changes, and counting the drops to get the result. They all come with instructions.

The hardness kit, which also does KH, retails for around $20 here. One for pH, costs $8. You can get kits for nearly all parameters individually, and even multi-kits that do a bunch of things. Keep in mind that you need to buy kits for the type of tank you own. The pH range for freshwater, is very different from saltwater for example.

 

[ThxForNothing]

Thanks for the information, I was wondering what they were like.. I'd rather not take advice from the pet shops around here as they all suck in my opinion, well- besdies Shasta which is the one I go to most the time.. I might ask them just to see what they say, i'll probably post something about what one they recommend here before I get it though.

I think i'll be going out this weekend and getting more fish stuff. Fun times.


Edit: Well, because of a recent thread I will no longer be posting on this forum. (http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=73712&st=0&) I thought that the way the mod handled that problem wasn't the ebst way to go about it. All I did was post my opinion and views and yet that post was also removed.

Well, I liked it here for awhile.. lol. Thanks for the help that I did get. I guess the mods can just deleted this thread altogether too. Have fun with that.