Best Sized Tank For A Begginer?

[cane76]

decide what fish you wanna keep first then you will know what size tank you need

 

[Callum]

i started with a 20 gal and would reccomend that as a tank size although im upgrading at the moment to a 48 gal (us)

 

[dthoffsett]

Bigger tanks aren't really that much more maintenance that a small on. Especially if you use a python system, http/www.pythonproducts.com/nospill.htm. There's also one you can make yourself in the diy section for pretty cheap.

I can clean all 4 of my tanks (75gal, 28gal, & 2 10gal) in less than 40 minutes. And I stagger cleaning my filters, so those don't take long either.

I really love my 75 and am looking into getting a 180gal when I buy a house.

 

[proton]

Well I would suggest a smll tank first, incase you don't fancy the hobby,
Then if you do, you go bigger.

I got a 54L tank and have now upgraded to 240L (the biggest if could afford and with space in house).

My tips,

Don't overstock the tank. But if you have already, make sure you get an airstone and more plants to help with oxegen levels. This is a quote for my 60x30x30(CM) tank "We would recommend keeping up to 11"/28cm of small to medium-sized fish in your system. However, depending on the type of fish, your filtration and your maintenance level you may be able to exceed this to a suggested maximum of 22"/56cm of fish. " (from practical fishkeeping website)
But I would stick to less is more approach...
Buy Protozin from Waterlife (incase you get spot disease) I got that and only managed to sort out my fish a little too late, two neons died .
Change water every week, between 10-30%. I prefer real plants. Ask you LFS (local fish shop) for hardy plants.
Don't worry too much about snails, only if they become too much. But I have found that the snail population gets to a certain amount and stays like that. But it depends on water quality.
If you have any questions ask everyone and ask your LFS, I found going to three different Fish shops and asking the same questions sometimes, you can get more info.
Try to read up on aquascaping, that can give you ideas about seting up a fish tank. I prefer real plants to fake, but it all depends.

Good luck and hope you enjoy it...

 

[xd2-david]

I think I agree with everyone. I bought my tank about a month and half ago 58 litre (13 uk gallon) and just ot hooked, now in te process of buying a 735litre (162 uk gallon) tank for my spare room. Can't wait

Should take me a while to get bored of that.

 

[Fish4eva]

hi everyone! Thankyou all so much for your comments, they are really apprectiated and i found all of you replys really inteesting and helpful I have decided to go for a 30 gallon (or maybe a 55 it depends) and i am probabaly going to get the fish from a place called pets direct in bridport ( anyone bought fish from this place?) as their fish look beautifully healthy etc. I have been doing loads of reading and have these two really good books which take you on a step to step guid on how to set up etc. I am still pondering on the fish though as there are so many different types!! I really like zebra danios, neon tetras and platys. I also like discuds although i am advised that they are not the best for begginers so i will wait till im a bit more experienced for them!!
Anyway thankyou very much!
Itty x

 

[xostrawberryox]

Im suprised all those varied comments didnt confuse you more! Can i just advise, in my experience, neon tetras dont like new tanks! I introduced a schol of 5 after approx 4 weeks of tank set up and lost 3 in the first couple of days, all my water stats were fine, they are just fussy! I have 2 remaining which are now really hardy! Neons prefer tanks of 12-14 weeks minimum.

 

[Araxen]

I started out with a 15 Gallon Tank that was basically handed down from my parents and then handed down to me from my sister. I spent the money on new filter/sand/heater, etc...and got hooked. Petco had a sale on tanks $1/Gallon and I ended up nabbing a 55 Gallon tank for about $62 with tax about 5 months later. My sister is setting the 15 Gallon back up because of me heh!

I would say if you think you'll stick it out and love fish keeping go for the biggest size you can afford. Bigger tanks are easier to keep imo.

If you just want to try it out at first get a small 10 Gallon tank. Smaller tanks are alot more work imo as you will need to watch it alot more carefully so you'll know if you're cut out for keeping fish or not.

As I reflect on it myself I think the smaller tank and then upgrading to the bigger tank was the best route to me. When I first started out I almost quit because if just seemed I couldn't do anything right(fish would die, had a filter die, got Ich) on the 15 Gallon. Eventually the bad luck worked itself out and I'm very happy I got into fish keeping now!