Advice For Starting Aquarium In Scottish Highlands

[sanderson]

My dad has had fish for years and has kindly given me a tank so that I can get started too. The only issue I have - before I make any decisions about plants and fish - is that I live in the Scottish Highlands, with water from a stream that is untreated and unchlorinated. I realise that a thorough pre set up process would make this a non-issue but we also have incredibly peaty water, running a bath looks like tea!

I use a britta filter for my drinking water, but even then the water is still stained. I know that peat softens the water but I would like some advice on,

should I do this at all, is bottled water an option or is it just a no go area?
What kinds of plants and fish would be suitable for this kind of water.

If the honest answer is not to go ahead, then I can live with that and get goldfish.... although my heart is set on tropical.

thank you in advance for your help

 

[fluttermoth]

You'll be fine. Very many of our commonly kept tropical fish come from very soft water that is stained with, not peat, but decomposing leaves and branches.

Many fishkeepers replicate those conditions by adding peat to their filters, so as long as you choose your species carefully then you won't have any problems

If you can get your water tested (you'll need a test kit yourself once you get going, so you might want to think about getting one now) for pH and hardness that'll help you pick the right fish

 

[minnnt]

Lucky you I say!!

 

[hensonc4098]

A biotope would be great to do in your water!
If you let us know the size of tank you have and as fluttermoth said, the pH and hardness (I'm guessing soft!) of your water, we can suggest some good choices fish-wise. A lot of fish really like blackwater type conditions. Have a look at this for an example of an Amazon biotope done by George Farmer.

 

[minnnt]

Really enjoyed reading that link Henson, thanks for sharing.

 

[hensonc4098]

No probs, he also did a Cambodia blackwater scape using the beloved espei rasbora here

 

[Peter C]

What actually is a biotope?

A re inactment of a real life place / river / lake etc?

 

[fluttermoth]

^ yes, exactly that

Some people go really specific, to a particular river or lake (so you might do a 'Rio Negro' or 'Yangtzee river') or more loosely ('Amazonian' or 'Asian').