Just Ordered My Tank, Few Questions...

[steve_b21]

Hi people,

I have just ordered a custom made tank to install in my home.

Tank size is :

47"W
31"H (28"H at front)
5"D

Depth of the tank is very small at just 5", this is because i have a 'hole' in a wall and want to sit tank in flush so it looks like a picture frame. Obviously i will be restricted to small fish.

Ok, few questions i have is :

What types of set up can i go for? Cold water (is this jus for goldfish?) Aquarium? Tropical? is there 3 different types?

I have been told Plec fish will be ideal as they are naturally small in size. Will this mean i will need a tropical setup? or just a warm water?

What other fish could i go for? i will be having a black background so i would like something neon.

Thats enough questions for the meantime, im sure i will think of more.

Thanks

 

[Miss Wiggle]

hello and welcome, sounds like a lovely tank

your choices are as follows

freshwater coldwater - this is things like godlfish and koi carp, there's only maybwe 1/2 species suitable for your tank so maybe not the best idea
freshwater tropical - this is probably what you should get, massive range of small colourful suitable fish
saltwater coldwater - this is the fish you'd find on the british coast or sea, water with salt in and cold!
saltwater tropical - this is what you usually see in saltwater sections of fish shops, often referred to as marine, possibly not for a begiiner as the science can get a little complicated
brackish - brackish water has some salt in but not full strength, fish who live in esutries or migrate between the sea and river are suited to this environment

if it was me i'd go freshwater tropical planted and with just small fish, google takashi amano for some inspiration

but first things first, you need to know how to set up the tank before fish, so read the link in my sig 'fishless cycling'

plec is a bad idea, some get to 24" so whoever told you they stay small is talking rubbish!! have a read of the link in my sig which explains how to choose fish that won't fight or eat each other, then look throught eh fish index for some that catch your eye!

 

[mark.w.jones]

Agreed. Go for small tropicals that reach a maximum adult size of 2"

In my sig. is a link to ideal fish for a 10 gallon tank which lists smaller species.

Pygmy cories, many smaller tetra species - glowlights, cardinals etc., harlequin rasboras, Endlers livebearers, guppies, cherry barbs, platies would all be reasonable options.

With that tank you will definitely have to be careful about oxygen levels. Small surface area for a relatively large body of water. You may want to consider a bubble wall or something similar to create lots of suface movement. Also, planting wise if you go for live plants you will need to buy lowlight species as very little light will get to the lower levels in the tank.

Finally, maintainance will be quite difficult. You'll need a very narrow gravel vac and a lot of patience to hoover the bottom.

Good Luck

 

[steve_b21]

Thanks for your prompt reply.

I mentioned plecs... although i think it was Tetra's he was talking about. These are small fish if i recall correctly.

I should be getting the tank delivered in about 2 weeks, so im trying to do as much research about setting it up once it arrives.

Apart from the Cycling kit, what else will i need? Filter? Lighting etc

Is there a shop online which you use?

 

[Miss Wiggle]

most tetra's are small, but there's loads of different types, some of them get a bit bigger but none of them are massive!

the fish JonesyUK mentioned is a very good starting point, stick any of them into google image search and see what you like and take it from there

you will need a filter, heater, substrate, decor, thermometer, test kit, gravel vac, couple of buckets, pure ammonia for cycling, dechlorinator, fish food..... that'll do for basics.

i'd also recommend getting a few basic medicines in, i recommend pimafix, melafix and king british ws3 which would cover most of the common ailments

to pick a filter first you need to choose internal/external/under gravel/hang on the back (HOB)

benefits and drawbacks to each of them

Internal filters are cheap and reliable for small tanks, however it makes the tank look a bit cluttered to have equipment in it
external or cannister filters are excellent but expensive and may be overkill on a small tank, however the lack of equipment in the tank makes it look better, remember you need somewhere for this to live, i'd recommend for a hole in the wall tank to build a cupboard into the wall below the tank to house the filter
under gravel is the old school filtration method, it's OK, not very effective and doesn't allow you the number of fish that internal/external methods do. but it is cheap!
hang on the back filter may be your best option if you have room for it, equipment is out of the tank so no clutter but they are small enough to work well on a relativley small tank, as you would expect it basically hangs on the back of the tank, if it was me i'd have a small section of the hole at the back of the tank left open, this is where the HOB would sit and also allow you room for maintenance

 

[steve_b21]

I think i may have to go for a internal filter, due to the fact i have ordered the tank to sit in the wall with only about 1.5/2" free on the side. Doubt a hang on filter will fit externally?

I will get some pix up soon of the area i am fitting the tank in...

I came across a pic of these Banggai cardinal fish

Think they look very nice!

 

[Miss Wiggle]

they are saltwater fish not trops, need a whole lot more room and equipment for them i'm afraid

they are beautiful though

 

[vinylman]

If you go for Cardinal or Neon Tetras, don't add them until the tank has been cycled completely then matured for 5-6 weeks. Go for something hardy at first and ask the LFS if you can swap them for something else after the tank has matured. Don't forget - buy some small fish nets. I don't envy you trying to catch a fish in a tank of 5'' depth - I hope you've got long arms and a lot of patience!.

 

[mark.w.jones]

I don't envy you trying to catch a fish in a tank of 5'' depth - I hope you've got long arms and a lot of patience!.

Are you suggesting style over substance possibly Vinylman?

 

[vinylman]

Perish the thought, Jonesy..............

 

[steve_b21]

Hi, me again.

I have been doing a lot of reading up while waiting for my tank to get delivered. It was dropped off last week, and im just getting the space where the tank will be going all prepared (will be sitting in my living room wall )

Tank Size is :

47"W
31"H (28"H at front)
5"D

Tank's volume is approximately 6720 cubic inches or 29.09 U.S. gallons, which is approximately 113.16 liters... is this correct? Thats a lot of water


Im going to get started by cleaning the tank.

. I assume i just use normal tap water, no soaps etc?
. I can scrape off any excess silicone with a blade?


In reference to Cycling the tank for the first time. Do you recomend me placing the tank in my wall, then filling it up with de-chlorinated water? Tank is very heavy empty.... takes 3 of us to move it, going to be a real pain if i ever have to move it while its full of water lol. Do i add filter? gravel? lights etc now or wait? after it been cycled?

I will try and get pix up soon, so you all can see what im trying to achieve.

I am a complete newbie to keeping fish.... something i have always wanted to get in to... so apologies if i do ask silly questions

Thanks in advance for any advice and help.

 

[loachman]

. I can scrape off any excess silicone with a blade?

I wouldn't, you risk weakening the seal. If it lets go later, you've got a huge mess.

In reference to Cycling the tank for the first time. Do you recomend me placing the tank in my wall, then filling it up with de-chlorinated water? Tank is very heavy empty.... takes 3 of us to move it, going to be a real pain if i ever have to move it while its full of water lol. Do i add filter? gravel? lights etc now or wait? after it been cycled?

I'd put it in the wall first. It makes for less problems later.

While cycling, you can add anything but fish. The filter should definitely go in...that's what you're cycling in reality.

Lights are purely optional. Bacteria don't really care.

It's a good idea to add gravel early. If you don't thoroughly rinse it first, it can cloud the water for a few days. With the filter going, it'll clear up eventually.

 

[steve_b21]

What i might do is put the gravel in first... then put the tank in the wall and fill it up with water and attach the filter and get it going to start the cyclin off.

Any recomendations on a filter i should use? Worked it out that tank is roughly 120Litres.

Also what testing kit?

Ive had a quick look on ebay , and there are so many different filters and test kits.... confusing which one to buy

 

[Aphotic Phoenix]

API Freshwater Master Test Kit is prob the best one for the money.

 

[mcdanielnc89]

sure this is a dumb question but how u gonna be able to do maintance on it.. is there a way u can get into it from the back once it's all filled up and everything?