Going shopping!

[emo]

Ok, i'm going to a few LFS tomorrow to start shopping around for the equipment for my 10g tank (9g in actual fact).

Basically i'm just wanting to get peoples advice on any equipment to look out for, or (more specifically) any to stay well clear of.

I've got the tank, and 160 l/h pump.

The thing's I need are:

Heater (around 65w? More?)
Light (planning on having plants + want it to show colours nicely)
Gravel (hate that artificial big stuff. something fine/coarse, that plants can develop root system)
Hood (maybe... not that important yet I dont think... altho, needed to hold light?)
-------------
Testing kit(s) (nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, ph.... any other tests?)
Dechlorinating solution

I'm pretty sure that's all I need... if there's anything else to look out for, please do let me know!

Thanks for your help in advance

 

[jkun17]

Just a hint about getting a strip light. I suggest you buy only the bulb at the LFS. You can go to hardware store and buy a cheaper one there.

The striplight at my LFS was $30.00

Striplight at Hardware Store was $9.00

Just some food for thought

 

[sylvia]

Hmm... have you bought a stand/decided where you're going to put the tank yet? Though this is a small tank so it isn't necessary, you may want a half inch layer of foam to put between your tank and whatever its sitting on to even out any uneveness I don't think this is necessary with a 10 gallon though Just something to consider... If you are going to get course gravel you will be limited as to what fish you can keep. Fish like corydoras catfish (which are very popular) and smaller plecos (don't buy large ones for a 10 gallon!) appreciate a fine gravel so they don't get their 'whiskers' worn and can lie on the gravel more comfotably. You may be able to find something that looks very natural but also isn't course and I would deffinately reccomend this.
Something else you may want to buy is a gravel vacuum and a net for the fish. If you are serious about this, you should also get a small quarantine tank for any new additions to your tank so you don't introduce diseases to your established tank (once its established). You need not get this now but it's always better to have one on hand for new or sick fish. It need not have a filter or decorations but will require a small heater and it can be just 2 - 5 gallons for a 10g.
Also get any decorations including driftwood or rocks you want as you can then test your water BEFORE the fish are in it to make sure the objects in your tank don't alter pH drasticly (something that often causes problems later unfotunately).
If you will be cycling fishless (best way IMO) you will also want some pure ammonia or fish food. You will also want a few LARGE buckets for the water changes...
Don't get fish food now for your future fish as it loses its nutritional value gradualy over time and you are better off buying the food at the same time as the first of your fish.
As for the necessity of a hood... you don't realy need one and there are other ways to fix lights to your tank but I would reccomend one anyway as it will keep jumping fish in the water and helps destribute the light evenly in your tank.

As for what NOT to buy... the fish!!! Make sure all the equipment is set up and working for at least a couple of days before even considering your first fish. Then do try to fishless cycle. It will take about a month of adding a few drops of pure ammonia to your water every day to mimmick the waste-production of fish. test your water regularly until you have 0 ammonia and nitrites and relatively high nitrates. Then do a large water change (say 50%) and get your first few fish I'm only mentioning this incase you weren't aware of cycling and don't do anything without lots of research first

 

[emo]

Thanks for the quick replies!

The tank is going on top of a sturdy desk without legs so there's no worries about it supporting the weight. I was hoping to get similar gravel to the stuff I've used in fish tanks since I was about 8... it's quite fine, 2.5mm thick or so, bits of shell, corel e.t.c... which I 'borrowed' from a beach in skye. The fish seemed to like it.

As for a quarentine tank-- I have been researching quarantining for a while, and think it would definetally be a good idea. After cycling this along with the main tank, would I have to keep the filter running while it was empty? I'm considering buying a slightly larger quarentine tank so in the future I could possibly delve into breeding guppys or mollys... however that's for the future not for now.

I've been doing loads of research on cycling and think it would be best to do a fishless cycle, which means no fish for a while! But it will be worth it when it's time.

 

[sylvia]

With the quarantine tank it is best to keep it running if you have a filter in it and add a few drops of ammonia to keep it cycled. That way it'll be ready in case of emergencies or if you suddenly find yourself with a new fish...
The substrate you mentioned would be ok but you should be aware that coral/shells can and will increase pH and make your water harder. This may or may not be a problem - depending on the fish you want to keep and the pH/hardness of the water you will be using in the first place.

 

[Matty]

If you ever need to drop your pH, bogwood is a great and pretty way to do it

 

[BobK]

Regarding the heater, I don't think you need one with more than 25 watts for a 10 gallon unless there are large temperature swings in the room. Even then a 50 watt would probably be the maximum needed. Don't forget to get a thermometer and locate it at the opposite end of the tank from the heater. It's best to place the heater by the filter discharge, if possible, so the heat is better distributed throughout the tank.

 

[emo]

I went to a couple of the shops today... so impressed by the number and variety of stock they both had. (coming from a small town, my lfs there had less than 12 tanks!)

My room is a nightmare, heating wise. Especially now, Scottish winters are tempremental to say the least. It's either really cold in my room, or pretty hot... it's never really comfortably warm. I've had so many different people telling me which wattage of heater to get, and it's really confused me.

I'm thinking i'll go for the Visi-Therm 50w... it seems to be best reccomended... If anyone thinks I should go higher, please do let me know!

 

[BobK]

Hey Emo, I can relate to the winters as well. Chicago winters are pretty cold too. I have a Visitherm heater in my 75 gallon and it works great. They're completely submersible too so you can put it completely below the surface and hide it behind a plant. Just be sure not to have it touching the gravel, a plant, or any other type of ornament. The built in thermostat is really nice too. Keeps the tank at a constant temp w/o fluctuations.

 

[thapsus]

I'm just curious: What do you consider as cold winter?

thapsus (from finland)

 

[emo]

Well, nowhere near as cold as finland i'm sure!

But it does get pretty chilly... fetches -12 or so in the coldest part of winter. But what I was saying was that winter here is tempremental, one day it can be sub zero, then the next day it can be 3c!

My room is the worst in the flat, it's a huge room with three very large windows, and the radiator is right next to the door, so as soon as the door gets opened the heat drains out...


Visitherm it is!

 

[BobK]

Yeah, I doubt Chicago is as cold as Finland. I do have friends in the southern states, Georgia, Texas, Florida, and compared to them we have a cold winter here. I'm sure you have it much worse though.