Help Please, Anything Is Good :)

[HelpImmaFish]

So if some of you have read my past posts I at the moment am taking care of a goldfish but I have been saving more money up and at the moment have about £200 so I am thinking of getting a bigger tank to start a tropical aquarium. I've read up about cycling and everything like nitrates, nitrites and ammonia but I don't know what tanks size would be a good beginner sort of thing. I own a 40 uk litre which has a new filter and air pump, but heater wise is the issues I'm having. My brother is going to help me when he visits next but at the moment that is an issue itself so in the meantime I'm looking for any help that you guys can give me. Thanks

 

[khial]

I started with a 100 litre, more than sufficient for me at the moment, as I have another 60 litre, 25 litre and an 11 litre. I would say it depends on how much knowledge you have and also how much time, what issues are you having with a heater? and what other issues? any specifics?

 

[r.w.girard]

The bigger the better for the following reason: the more water means the more stable the environment will be.  Any problem, ammonia from food waste for example, will be more watered down.  Also, it will save you from having to upgrade later, which is how it works.  We all want more fish, larger groups.  Once you start, the urge to increase is hard to fight so it is best to invest in the largest tank possible.  Also because all fish will be happier in a larger tank than a smaller one.  And, it means that you could keep more kinds of fish since some fish need larger tanks to begin with, even if they were to be housed alone.  So get the biggest you can afford and have room for.

 

[Liz xty]

My friend got a smallish tank - really trendy, fancy thing but the top was open with the light suspended above and the outlet water from the filter trickled over a rock effect thing. Looked nice BUT some of his fish jumped out! AND he had to top the water up every couple of days! I suspect because it was heated AND open topped AND the thickly fountain effect AND small water volume?
So I'd agree with previous posts - get as large as you can happily fit, but also if you're going tropical - ie heating it - avoid the fancy open topped styles!
I started 18 month ago with what I thought was a large 4' (160l) tank and have recently upgraded to a big corner (350l) tank as I realised the fish I enjoyed the most needed more space! I don't envisage being a multi tank girl, but it seems to happen to people on here?! ;-)

 

[Lunar Jetman]

The bigger the better for the following reason: the more water means the more stable the environment will be.  Any problem, ammonia from food waste for example, will be more watered down.  Also, it will save you from having to upgrade later, which is how it works.  We all want more fish, larger groups.  Once you start, the urge to increase is hard to fight so it is best to invest in the largest tank possible.  Also because all fish will be happier in a larger tank than a smaller one.  And, it means that you could keep more kinds of fish since some fish need larger tanks to begin with, even if they were to be housed alone.  So get the biggest you can afford and have room for.

 
This.
 

get as large as you can happily fit, but also if you're going tropical - ie heating it - avoid the fancy open topped styles!

 
And this!

 

[HelpImmaFish]

Well I have a fish store near me and a Pets at Home but like what sort of wattage heater for the size of the tank I mean in P@H they have tank kits in biggish sizes, I could go 60-90L or slightly bigger but a lot bigger is a problem because I don't have a lot of space to keep it. I was thinking of starting out on a Betta fish because since the beginning of last year I kept asking my parents but we then had an issue with our house which meant we didn't know whether we were going to have to move so I have a lot of knowledge about them. Are they a good starter fish though? I have plenty of time to cycle the tank and anything else needed, also if I was to get a Betta could I have anything else in there with it like tetras. I know not anything with flowing tails simply cos if I got a male fighting would be a problem, but anything else or what could be a good beginning fish.

 

[khial]

50 watt heater 50 litre tank, 75 watt..75 litre..you get the jist I tend to go one up though to be safe, I have 150 watt heater in my 100l , I'd go for the 90 if that's your limit, like everyone says, the bigger the better, there is slot of mixed opinions on what cm be kept with a male beta, I have seen them kept with neons but best to have a bigger tank so he's got his own space, like I say, there is allot of varied opinions,

 

[HelpImmaFish]

Thanks, the 90l I'm thinking of getting is the Fluval Roma from pets at home because I haven't been to my local pets store before so I don't know whether they have it or not. I anyone knows what it is like and whether it is a good tank that would help me decide on whether it is a good tank to get.

 

[RCA]

Where are you located?  I am guessing the UK, but which County?  Just thinking on what options you may have for stores etc.

 

[HelpImmaFish]

East anglia, Norfolk, locally I have a pets at home another pets store and a fish store I don't know if there is any more

 

[khial]

Very popular tank, certainly has the looks if you go with the matching stand, have you tried online, there are alot if sites cheaper than pera at home and will deliver free, also what filters comes with it, if you was planning on keeping a beta you would be better with something that has a spray bar or adjustable flow

 

[HelpImmaFish]

I'm not certain, at the moment I can't shop online for the simple reasons- my parents are old school so won't online shop. I know crazy, it comes with a Fluval 2 plus filter. If you need anything else to do with the tank just ask or look on pets at home it's under tropical tanks

 

[khial]

not 100% sure on this but just found a review by someone...it says that without the matching stand the guarantee is void so you would need the stand,
 
. no chance of a little persuasion they are online including cabinet with free next day delivery for around £200,
 
if not i would try another local lfs, i have several local to me which all deal more with aqua one tanks ( i have an aqua one ufo 550)
 
or failing that have you thought about buying second hand? you could get one with fish or closing tank down so you wouldnt need to cycle the filter as someones already done it for you

 

[lock77]

I'd give pets at home a miss and go straight to gumtree. My first tank was a 64lt fishbox from pets at home, it was 119 for the tank, heater and filter and another 60 for the stand. 2 weeks later I got a 110lt juwel delta with cabinet, 2 heaters, external filter and a load of fish and bogwood for 90 quid. As for size I would say buy as big as you can afford.

 

[khial]

definitely agree with lock77..... my ufo 550 was off gumtree, 100 litre, matching cabinet, adjustable silent air pump heater, external fluval 205, bogwood, live plants, offered me 10 fish to go with it...i payed £100 all ready to go, could put fish in 3 days later.
 
I personally wouldnt buy new...i dont see the point...but each to there own