Complete Newbie

[thelostprophet]

Basically i bought a Fluval Duo Deep 600 Tank and Stand on ebay for £60.

It came with everything and more that i need to keep fish. Although no heater but i already had one.

Here are some pics of it setup without water as it currently is.

My question is what would be ideal to keep in this tank?

Its a 84L/19Gallons tank.

Ive got the tetra safe start and bacteria stuff to make tap water safe already.

I would like to have coral at some point but can you have coral with tropical fish?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[Magoo1984]

So you just started it and the water is safe? I started out with danios. They are kinda hard to kill and you can get the hang of it. They do not get too big and they are fun to watch. Mollys and swordtails are good too. Start out with peaceful fish. Get something that is a bottom feeder so it will help you out with cleaning up your tank. Thats what I think.

 

[thelostprophet]

I havnt added water yet im going to do that tomorrow.

Is the gravel ive got ok for tropical fish? And can i use Coral etc with tropical?

 

[Heather.]

Nice tank, the gravel is fine for tropical fish...

 

[thelostprophet]

Cool thanks!

Do you think i could add coral and rocks at a later stage as im short on cash this time of year so i was going to keep the stuff that came with the one i got.

 

[fish-aholic]

By coral, do you mean like salt water corals (stuff like hammers and zoas)?

 

[altselgreen]

Coral, as in marine, coral reefs, coral? No. Rocks, yes. Heres a link for the best rocks to use, and the ones you shouldn't use:

http/www.fishforums.net/content/Tropical...n-The-Aquarium/

As for stocking, Danios are a nice hardy fish, as said above. But if you're into breeding, then go for livebearers, guppies, platys, mollies. If you want colour then go for some tetras, although they aren;t the hardiest of fish, so some aren't great starter fish. Research and ask any questions you may have.

Good Luck

 

[thelostprophet]

Yeah this is where im confused. I like the look of marine coral but im told marine fish are hard to keep.

Is my tank to small for a marine setup?

Would you recommend marine fish for a beginner or should i stick with tropical?

 

[Heather.]

I think you should start of with tropical fish as a beginner.. Marine tanks are lovely though .. Think there is a bit more work involved with them.. maybe one day I will have one..

 

[fish-aholic]

marine setups are harder to maintain then freshwater. I would suggest you stick with fresh as you already have all the equipment.

 

[Luketendo]

Yeah this is where im confused. I like the look of marine coral but im told marine fish are hard to keep.

Is my tank to small for a marine setup?

Would you recommend marine fish for a beginner or should i stick with tropical?

Marine tanks also cost a bomb.

You're better off having a freshwater tank with rocks and plants! It's much easier and can be just as good.
It's like having your own aquatic garden with fish as wildlife.

 

[thelostprophet]

Yeah this is where im confused. I like the look of marine coral but im told marine fish are hard to keep.

Is my tank to small for a marine setup?

Would you recommend marine fish for a beginner or should i stick with tropical?

Marine tanks also cost a bomb.

You're better off having a freshwater tank with rocks and plants! It's much easier and can be just as good.
It's like having your own aquatic garden with fish as wildlife.

So is Freshwater the same as tropical??

Would i need real plants or can i use plastic?

Also what kind of fish?

Thanks again and sorry for all the newbie questions!

 

[altselgreen]

So is Freshwater the same as tropical??

Would i need real plants or can i use plastic?

Also what kind of fish?

Thanks again and sorry for all the newbie questions!

Yes, freshwater is the same as tropical.

I have a mixture of both real and plastic plants. As you can guess plastic are easier to maintain, and you can get some nice plastic ones. But live plants do look a lot better, giving the tank a more natural look, if thats what you want.

As for stocking, Danios are a nice hardy fish, as said above. But if you're into breeding, then go for livebearers, guppies, platys, mollies. If you want colour then go for some tetras, although they aren't the hardiest of fish, so some aren't great starter fish. Research and ask any questions you may have.

Good Luck

 

[thelostprophet]

Thanks for all the advice!

Filled up the tank today and added the Safe Start and Bacteria. Looking at putting the fish in just after christmas around the 27th.

Im going to start with about 2 or 3 platys and then add guppies a few mollies and tetras later on.

Ideally 3 platys, 4 guppies 2 mollies 6 tetra and maybe a swordtail.

Would that be too many for a 19gallon tank?

Also can you have any other things like snails hermits shrimp etc with tropical?

 

[Luketendo]

You can have snails and shrimps!

That stocking is fine as long as you realise those livebearers will produce lots of young which will need to be moved.