Clear Lines Aquarium As A Gift?

[RouIris]

Hello all, firstly I am very glad to be here and in need of some knowledge, please! Having kept tropical fish as a tweenager, my father also kept a pretty huge (it must have been a meter and a half long) tank filled with tropical fish, I loved visiting the goldfish bowl (Oxford) at weekends to pick out new plants and fish, anyway I now live with my partner in Manchester and he has been talking for a while about setting up a tank. I want to start him off this christmas! I don't want to be spending more than £100 on equipment so I know I'd be looking at a relatively small tank etc but was hoping you could help me out? I was looking at this tank : http/www.amazon.co.uk/Aquarium-Fish-Colour-Spectrum-Filter/dp/B00TSBNIBK/ref=sr_1_1704?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1445876089&sr=1-1704&keywords=tropical+fish+tank   
So I know I would need a heater as well. Other than that I am not really sure what else I'd need (apart from the obvious fish, plants, gravel etc) Would the filter it comes with be sufficient? How powerful a heater would I need? Thanks in advance for your help, looking forward to getting to know y'all
Rou

 

[fluttermoth]

Welcome to the forum, Rou

First of all, I would very strongly recommend you look at larger tanks. 27l is going to be very limiting as to what fish you'll be able to have, as it's so small.

For example, the AquaNano 40 is 55l (and comes with a heater) and I got mine for less than £100.

I would also recommend you have a look at our 'Cycle your Tank' forum here; http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/forum/291-cycle-your-tank/as you (and your partner, later!) should understand the nitrogen cycle and fishless cycling, as it's the best way to get your new tank properly ready for fish. You'll need a source of ammonia for that, and also test kits, which all fishkeepers should have as a matter of course anyway

 

[nic1]

You can also get some larger good quality tanks online like Gumtree, most people throw all that they have in with the price also.

I got my 275L from Gumtree Manchester, it came with the external filter, heater, light hood, Fish food inc frozen foods, substrate, two live plants and colour changing LED lights all for £150!

 

[HawkinsFamily]

Hi,
 
As others have already stated, the tank you're looking at is quite small and you'll likely wish you had purchased something bigger.  Aquariums are like greenhouses, you can never have too larger one.
 
Aquael have a nice range called the "Leddy".  They come with tank, hood, light, filter and heater.  The Leddy 60 is well under your budget (£59) but if you can stretch a little higher for your budget (£100-130), then I think the Leddy 80 would be a great starter tank.
 
See here and here for more information.
 
Hope that helps

 

[Gruntle]

Basically as far as I see it, the more water you have, the more time you have to "rescue" your tank and fish if something goes wrong. It may seem odd to start with a big tank rather than a small one, but it ends up being a lot easier for you in the long run.
 
I'm with nic1 on this, see what's available locally second-hand. You might find a deal from someone who bought their tank, immediately loaded fish into it and they all died (not having cycled your tank will do that). Then the heartbreak sets in and people get rid of the tank. Make sure to cycle the tank before getting fish, it's a process that will take a month, give or take a week.
 
A friend of mine bought a second-hand tank that's identical to one of mine. I paid $450 on a clearance deal, he paid $150 second hand and in very good condition. I've seen the same tank advertised new recentlywith a bit of gravel and a plastic ornament for $899!