Hello! New With Questions.

[tiffie]

Hi, I have a little experience with aquariums before, but haven't owned one in almost 6 years. I'm about to purchase a 46 gal beauty, and I have a few questions. I'm a bit out of the loop, as you may imagine!

1) I saw a "puffer" -type fish at PetsMart in my hometown today, and I was wondering about that. I know they're awfully aggressive (a puffer bit me on a trip to Hawaii!), but I wasn't aware there were freshwater variations. They were also TINY, as in 1/4 inch tiny. So, I looked online but didn't really find anything conclusive. Could anyone point me to a link that gives me some details on this species?


2) I'm looking at getting a MarineLand filter and Hydor heater. They seem to have really good reviews. I'm not sure if I should get the under-gravel filter as well for this size or not; I definitely want SOME plants, but only a middling amount. I'm thinking of using 1-2 bags of flourite substrate with the rest gravel. I also want to get some wood (heck, whatever is safest + cheapest... that isn't going to be my main expenditure atm...)


3) My fiance wants a "shark." That's his only request. Of course, since this is a community tank I'm setting up, I can't just bend it to his whim... So, what peaceful, "shark-like" fish could I appease him with?


4) If there's no one nearby to donate bacterium for a fishless cycle, is there somewhere I can buy it just prior to setting up my tank?


I thank you all in advance for these answers! I work for a non-profit organization, so my paychecks aren't huge; I'm getting this tank over the next two months, starting with this weekend. I'm very excited! Thanks!

~Tiffany

 

[Mikaila31]

1. Most likely a dwarf puffer, not a community fish. There is also the figure 8 puffer which needs brackish water, it's a community fish either.
2. For a 46gal a canister filter would be the very best to get. If not one of those then you would want a HOB(hang on back) filter. what ever you get, it should be rated for larger tanks, like 60gal. It is always a good Idea to excess filtration . Don't get UGF, they are really bad IMO. Almost impossible to clean and a real pain to take out once you have had enough of it. Also they aren't recommended for plants. If you are intersted in plants I suggest you read the pinned topic in the planted tank section, keeping fish and keeping plants are too very different things. You will most likely have to upgrade the lighting on the tank, even for low light plants.
3. The only shark-like fish that I can recommend, is definetly German Blue Rams , or gouramis and tetras.
4. Were are you located? -(for some reason CA is bouncing around in my head) Sometimes you can get it from private fish stores. The chains never seems to give it out or they just look at you funny. I've been able to get some from private fish stores, I normally have to coax it out of them. They tend to look at you funny too, when you say you will pay for it .

cheers,
mikaila31

 

[tiffie]

1. Most likely a dwarf puffer, not a community fish. There is also the figure 8 puffer which needs brackish water, it's a community fish either.
2. For a 46gal a canister filter would be the very best to get. If not one of those then you would want a HOB(hang on back) filter. what ever you get, it should be rated for larger tanks, like 60gal. It is always a good Idea to excess filtration . Don't get UGF, they are really bad IMO. Almost impossible to clean and a real pain to take out once you have had enough of it. Also they aren't recommended for plants. If you are intersted in plants I suggest you read the pinned topic in the planted tank section, keeping fish and keeping plants are too very different things. You will most likely have to upgrade the lighting on the tank, even for low light plants.
3. The only shark-like fish that I can recommend, is definetly German Blue Rams , or gouramis and tetras.
4. Were are you located? -(for some reason CA is bouncing around in my head) Sometimes you can get it from private fish stores. The chains never seems to give it out or they just look at you funny. I've been able to get some from private fish stores, I normally have to coax it out of them. They tend to look at you funny too, when you say you will pay for it .

cheers,
mikaila31

Thanks so much for the reply!

I LOVE the fishie you recommended for the "shark"!!! Sean should be pleased.

I live in Riverside, CA... It's in So. Cal, which is in the Inland Empire, waaaaaaaaay down in the southern-west-most of the country. There used to be quite a few little fish shops around here, but most of them packed up a few years back. I only know of one in the city now.

Once again, thanks so much for the reply! I have only owned a couple of tanks, and one large, so I don't have much experience. I'm taking setup slow; Probably won't have my tank fully installed for about a month. But that's really for the best.

Thank you!

 

[Mikaila31]

German blue rams are great little fish, full of personality.

If you see any members in your area, you can PM them and ask if they will donate some media. Most are more than willing. Also I know of a aquabid seller in Hacienda Heights. I've bought fish from him before, he might be able to donate some media to you. Also a good source to get quality fish from without having to pay shipping. Famikert

Good Luck,
Mikaila31

 

[Chrispixx]

I'm looking at getting a MarineLand filter and Hydor heater. They seem to have really good reviews.

What type of Marineland filter? if its a Penguin or Emperor they are great filters and have the bio-wheels. The marineland penguin filters are reliable, i have five of them and the oldest one is over 10 years old.
I have Hydor 300 watt submersible heater, I've had it a really long time, they are very well built and reliable.

Marineland Filters
Hydor Heaters

 

[tiffie]

I'm looking at getting a MarineLand filter and Hydor heater. They seem to have really good reviews.

What type of Marineland filter? if its a Penguin or Emperor they are great filters and have the bio-wheels. The marineland penguin filters are reliable, i have five of them and the oldest one is over 10 years old.
I have Hydor 300 watt submersible heater, I've had it a really long time, they are very well built and reliable.

Marineland Filters
Hydor Heaters

Exactly what I was looking at! the Pengiun from Marineland and a submersible heater from Hydor. I've had HORRIBLE experiences with TopFin heaters. One burned my plants!


Mikaila: Thanks again for the great advice! Going straight to my fave's!

 

[Hollymolly4]

Hi! Welcome back to the hobby! That's nice your fiance is into this as well.
I was looking into getting a dwarf puffer for awhile and even almost got a figure 8 puffer but decided against both for now. Someday I'd love to have one. They are just so cute!!
I'm also in Ca but way up north.
Glad to have you here!

 

[tiffie]

Hello again, guys!

I started another topic asking about loaches, but incidentally, I found a FANTASTIC deal on a 60 gal tank, so I'm upgrading. Just $10 more and I got a canopy and 14 extra gallons. I'm so excited about that. I've never had one beyond 35 before, but there's always a first, right? I LOVE this petstore. They only have a small fish section, but the tank stands are hand-made, so they're much less expensive!

Quick question: This is probably stupid; I should have thought of this before... I have a betta. Just a lil 'ole 5 gal non-filtered thing I change once a week. Will THAT suffice as a source for the bacteria to cycle my aquarium?

Also, what is the cheapest I can go before I really start sacrificing too much quality on substrate for plants, as I'll only be having them sparsely? Just as filler on sides and in back, with a little on top on sides in the future, and as tank progresses, some of those algae balls would be nice. And I should only have to use the more expensive stuff where I'll have the plants growing, right?

Thanks again for the answers. I feel like a newb all over again. I tell ya, what a difference six years can make! I didn't even know about fishless cycling when I started my last aquarium.

 

[Hollymolly4]

IF you have rocks or some sort of substrate you can take some out and put in the new tank or an ornament with bacteria on it will help.

I have plants in all my tanks and I only use the regular rocks for substrate. I'm sure they would grow better with the floralite stuff but they do pretty good with my setup. I have root tab fetilizers in the substrate also. Not too expensive. I'm pretty cheap with my plants.

I have a yoyo loach and a polkadot loach, they both aare doing great in my 28 gallon. Got the first one to take care of the snails and he got them all.

Also, if you're not getting it for a week yet, why not put a small filter on the 5 gallon you have and build up some bacteria that way? Then ifyou don't want the filter on the smaller tank just have it as an extra one on the bigger one. Or you can leave it on the small tank and just stick the filter media in the bigger filter. Just a thought.

HTH