Advice For A Beginner

[WaterBallet]

Hello,

I am looking for some advice. I want to get one of these lovely fish. I have been given an 18" by 10" tank with a few bits to get started. However - the heater looks too big for the tank and I am nervous about the second hand pump. There is no filter plate for the bottom and no gravel. The tank doesn't have a light. So I seem to have two choices - new light, filter and/or air pump which could all add up to a fair bit (plus gravel/plants etc) or a basic 'complete kit'.

Are these kits any good? I've been looking at the elite 35 tropical set up which is £61.99 on Seapets.

any advice would be great!
Thanks!

 

[Katty]

My first fish tank was a kit, and I don't regret it (it was for my first betta, too). All of the basics and extras can really add up to a lot. But make sure you look at reviews not only for the kit, but the filters and extras that come with the kit. You won't be saving money if you have to replace the light fixture or the filter in a couple months because it breaks or it's total junk.

Make a list of what you need and their prices without the kit and make a total for that. Then make a list of what's in the kit and how much the whole thing costs. Also, find out what's NOT included in the kit that you'll need to buy and add that on too (like fish nets, gravel, decorations). Then compare to your liking. There's so many different kits and deals out there, there's no real right or wrong answer as to whether you should get a kit or not.

And you don't really need an air pump unless the filter runs on it or you really like the look of the bubbles. I've never seen the kind of filter that comes with that kit before so I don't know how well it runs, you might want to look into that and see if it's any good.

 

[WaterBallet]

Hi,

Thanks for the quick relpy! I guess I am a bit lost with knowing which filters etc. to look at. Everything I look at seems to have reviews telling me it's fabulous and that it's rubbish! The heaters seem fairly standard but don't know what sort of filter to consider. I would like something fairly quiet and have read that bettas don't like too much water movement...

 

[stang1]

Either the Interpet PF 1 filter or Fluval U1 filter would be suitable for that size tank, although I'd be more inclined to go with the Fluval.
They both have an adjustable flow on them which would be ideal for your Betta.

 

[silverrabbit]

The Elite 35 - I have used this tank for a betta and it was great with the filter, it's best to take out the kidney shaped cartridges (they do nothing useful really, you only need carbon to clear out meds, and the zeolite is pointless imo) and replace them with filter sponges - the Elite mini filter sponges fit well in there also turn the outflow of the filter to the wall of the tank as it is quite strong for a betta

You could also pick up a cheap second hand filter from somewhere like ebay, or make your own sponge filter with the air pump for the tank you were given. You can also buy heaters from ebay for cheap. Fish 'R Fun ones are good value

For decorations, bettas love coconut caves and lots of plants but it's better to stay away from plastic as it's possible they can rip a bettas delicate fins. Silk or live are good ways to go, as are moss balls and plants like anubias

 

[Canadian Ginger]

If there's one thing I regret about getting my first betta, it's not having the proper equipment ahead of time. I've owned my betta for almost 4 months now and I am only just getting him into a tank I feel is appropriate and fair to him.

I have a very hardy betta named Jojo Chinto who has survived in an incredibly small home for four months without any filters or proper heating. He survived, and he actually grew quite a bit. I recently found two brand new tanks at garage sales, and they actually ended up coming with all the proper equipment. The best thing about them is that they only cost me $7 Canadian.

Before you try the whole pet store thing, where you'll pay an arm and a leg, ask around. You'd be surprised whose selling or trying to get rid of their old tanks and fish equipment. Go to garage sales on the weekends, flea markets, thrift stores. There's no sense in spending hundreds of dollars when there is a good chance you can get it for cheap, or even free!

Owning a betta may seem like an easy job, but I've learned the hard way that there are many things you don't realize before getting one. While you're out buying your new equipment, pick up some aquarium salt and some bettafix, always good to be safe rather than sorry.

I agree with Katty about the kits, as well as making a list of prices. Sometimes you'll get good deals on the individual items that make it worthwhile to pick them up separately.

Good luck getting your tank setup! I hope to see some pictures when you bring your new betta home!

 

[Katty]

Oh yeah, what Canadian Ginger said reminds me. If you're brave, try checking a classified that's equivalent to craigslist(I don't think they have cl in Europe, but I'm sure there's something similar). There are tons of fish tanks and fish tank goodies on craigslist for super cheap or free. You could also try the classified section on here too. But I think with a general classified you might find better values, where people get kits then lose interest in fish and just want rid of them.

 

[WaterBallet]

Hi,

Think I am tending towards getting a filter and heater for the tank I have - which I should be able to swap for a slightly bigger one if I buy the right heater and filter if I find it's too small (which was my other concern).
I went to one of the local fish shops today which was a bit of an interesting experience. They had kits which seemed reasonable but the filters and heaters there seemed very over priced. I also seemed to get a mixture of very sensible and not so sensible advice... The guy pointed out that bigger tanks are better, that you can only keep one fighter and seemed concerned that fish be kept healthly... but he also showed me a small book which was supposed to have 'all the fish in the world in it' and when I asked about water testing etc he said it wasn't necessary because they'd send you out with a bag of fish poo on the day you got your fish and to start with some zebra danios which would be fine with a betta and that I could return them later anyway which didn't seem right to me!! Think I will stick to the advice on here!
All the rambling brings me to another point - the shop had wild neon tetras - is this usual for such a common fish? Surely it's not necessary for such an easily bred fish? (I might be missing something here?)

Thanks for all the advice!

 

[Katty]

Just a bag of fish poop? What is that supposed to be, a good luck charm? I don't know why they'd sell wild neons over the captive bred kind, since they're usually more expensive and the store wouldn't make as much a profit on them. I've heard green neons are usually wild caught but I don't think thats what you meant. Maybe you should ask them why they're selling wild ones. And I still recommend checking to see if any online classifieds have any of the stuff you want if you haven't done so already.

 

[WaterBallet]

Reading back I wasn't quite clear - they said they'd test your water for free then send you out with the poo I think they are trying to get the tank cycling with something hardy enough to withstand not doing it accurately (and not explaining what's supposed to be happening!).... I probably won't go back to that one - the guy was helpful and the fish looked fine but it was in a dingy location and smelt really bad (3 dogs in there).
Think I’m going to try and get heater etc from ebay. Feel like I shouldn’t go and buy new tank when there are so many unwanted ones kicking around which could be used. I’m sure the heater they sell for about £20 was about £9 on ebay… ( I like re-cycling and I like bargains )

Is it a 50w heater I should be looking for?

Thanks!

 

[BethK]

50W will be fine for a 25 - 40 ltr tank

 

[WaterBallet]

So, I've still been looking around, still undecided. It's looking like the expense of a lighting unit may make it better value to get a kit. I've now been looking as the aqua-el classic sets. Anyone got any experience of these?
Thanks!