New Tank & Some (probably Silly) Questions.

[Aliena]

I want a larger aquarium later but have decided to start with a smaller less expensive one to see how I get on with it. Assuming I enjoy it and manage to keep at least some of the fish alive I will hopefully buy the bigger tank in about 12 months time.

For now I have bought the elite style 60 kit. Been reading a few posts about it which mentions it comes with the stingray filter which apparently isn't recommended. Mine came with a Fluval 2 plus filter which people have said is better so hopefully that is all ok. Now for the questions:

1. Does anyone have the stand for this aquarium?

http/shop.aquakoiaquatics.com/elite-styl...tand-1827-p.asp

I have a pretty sturdy table I was going to put it on but I am concerned whether it will be strong enough. I always worry that the tall skinny stands will get knocked over (I have children and cats!) and before I splash out on a stand like that I want to know it is going to be stable.

2. I was looking at the price of gravel where I got the tank. Seemed expensive, I assume I can't use gravel from the garden centre if that is cheaper? I think I want gravel (the rounded pea type) rather then sand. How much would I need for an aquarium this size?

3. Last question (for now!). There is a bottle of stuff called nutrafin cycle in the box. I assume this is one of the things that says it will help the cycle but won't? Just out of interest, would it do any harm if I used it?

I will probably be back soon with more silly questions but I will leave it at that for now - don't want you all getting sick of me before I even fill the thing with water!

Aliena

 

[naughtbutbones]

about the table as long as you can stand or jump (depending on how brave you feel ) the stand should support it. my tank is a little 50litre and sits on a little side coffee table that wobbles if you touch it and if you have small children i suggest you just put by the wall.

 

[Aliena]

about the table as long as you can stand or jump (depending on how brave you feel ) the stand should support it. my tank is a little 50litre and sits on a little side coffee table that wobbles if you touch it and if you have small children i suggest you just put by the wall.

Thanks, the table I'm thinking of definitely doesn't wobble. It'll take my weight and according to my slimming clubs scales I am a lot heavier than the tank will be. Think I will forget the stand and try the table, don't really want to spend £30 on something that will look totally out of place in the room unless I absolutely have to. I am not rushing to get fish (being all swotty and reading lots first!) so I can fill it and check it doesn't cause and problems before I start cycling.

 

[chrisrm]

the gravel in garden centers should be fine aslong as it doesnt have sharp edges, just give it a good wash, if you buy a bag from say B&Q 1 bag would be more than enough(25kg i think)

 

[craig855s]

aquarium gravel isnt cheap about 80p a kilo and you'll need 8 kilos me thinks.Or you could get a £3 bag of play sand from argos that will do the lot..with spare left over


Best of luck,remember,liquid ammonia from boots for a fishless cycle (if u want to stock soon im tempted to recomend tetra safestart (after a few days of ammonia,and then keep the ammonia going in as per fishless cycle instructions)

Where are u located as u may find someone willing to donate media

 

[Aliena]

I wil have a look at the cost of gravel in B&Q etc and I'll think about sand too - is that harder to keep clean than gravel? I assume the play sand would also need washing before use?

I will head to Boots for the ammonia soon. Need a test kit first though as I can't cycle without one obviously. I'm on a tight budget (as you can tell from the gravel question!) so taking my time to source the best bargains whilst still trying to get everything right.

I live not too far from Dudley in the West Midlands if anyone would like to help.

 

[OldMan47]

Welcome to the forum Aliena.
Sand shows the dirt because it doesn't fall between the individual grains of sand. If you are very concerned about appearances, the sand will be a PITA to maintain. If you are more concerned about healthy fish, the sand is easy to get really clean because nothing gets hidden down inside the substrate. Gravel has the advantage and disadvantage of letting the fish wastes get down where you can't see them and it takes a very deep cleaning to get it all out. Some fish like the corydoras group, really do much better with tanks with a sand substrate but can be properly cared for if you have rounded gravel also. My personal preference, remember it is just personal, is a coarse sand of maybe 2 mm diameter particles. It is coarse enough to make using a gravel vac with it quite easy while keeping most of the waste on top where I can reach it. On a sand that large, make sure it does not have any sharp corners on the individual grains. They should really be rounded in shape to work well with bottom dwellers.
I get much of my sand / gravel at home improvement centers because they often have what I want and the LFS does not. Price is not a major issue if you remember that you will probably have the tank for many years and the annual cost of having gravel, even at pet shop prices, is not really so bad. It is many times higher than at the home improvement center if it has a picture of a fish on the label though.

 

[llamalord305]

No, don't worry, we were all like this at some time.

1. Most aquarium stands can support aquariums! So your problem would be with it falling more than it breaking.....

2. I have heard of using sand from the home improvement stores, but I'm not sure about gravel.

3. This is supposed to have bacteria. We've heard pretty mixed reviews mostly negative. Besides, how could bacteria live for years on a shelf with no food?

If you have more questions, ask away! Better safe than sorry!

 

[timbruun]

not just anything will hold an aquarium full of water though. remember one gallon of water = 10 pounds of weight. so for example if you have a 60 gallon tank full of water and you're testing the table by sitting on it. might not hold.

 

[Aliena]

Thanks all. Bought my gravel today from one of the lfs. I'm worried if I use sand I will end up with more in the bucket than in the tank after the first vac! Now just need to order my test kit and pick up a few other little things and I can set it up and start attempting to cycle.

Then I get to really start thinking about fish. My daughter really likes Siamese Fighting Fish. I have tried to explain that they can't be kept with some sorts of fish but she really loves them. Can see us ending up with a second tank for her to have her own. At least that would solve the Spongebob problem - I won't have Spongebob ornaments she is adamant they are they way to go!