New Tank?

[mommyof2bettas]

I was going to a pet store and I wanted to get some new fish.
My bettas live in separate small tanks without filters, so I can't put more fish there.
But I was wondering how much a medium tank would cost and how many small fish, and what type of fish I should put in there. I can't get a tank that is too big or too expensive. I saw some medium tanks that are about as big as a computer screen. The price wasn't labeled and I was just browsing so I didn't ask the clerk the price of the tank. Anyone have any ideas?
I might add one of my bettas to the medium tank and keep one or two small fishies in the betta's old tank. Or I might buy the medium tank and keep about 4 small fishies in there and keep the bettas where they are.
I just can't pass the pet store without glancing at the fish and wishing I could have some more...
They are just so cute!

 

[Chri$]

I would buy the biggest tank you can afford and have the space for etc. Then think about stocking when you get it all set up.

 

[mommyof2bettas]

For my bettas, I have a little bottle with betta water purifier or something like that, it says it makes water safe for bettas without need to add or lessen Ph levels, and anything else. If I get a tank, what will I need to make sure the water is safe for whichever fish I'm putting in there?

 

[ICEEGRL]

It really depends on the kind of fish you decide on. Different fish need different things. First I would concentrate on getting it and getting cycled. For now you should only need to worry about the norm. Something for clorine, cloramine, heavy metals... I use API stress coat and Kordon AmQuel+. Some say that is good and some don't. For now with no fish you could use just one. There are several pinned articles on setting up new tanks and cycling on this site that are very good. You should really read them before you do anything. They helped me alot!

Good luck.

Amanda

 

[Tolak]

Here's some tank sizes & prices, sometimes a good store sale beats these prices. This will give you some idea of size & gallons, which will help you plan filtration, stocking, etc.
http/www.glasscages.com/?sAction=ViewCat&lCatID=2

 

[mommyof2bettas]

I never had an aquarium before, I'm kinda new to these terms.
So, I was thinking:
1get the tank.
2 ??
3 ??
4 ??
5 put in the fish
Does the filter usually come with the tank?
Should I buy gravel?
I was thinking about getting maybe a parrotfish, a couple of neon tetras, and either a guppy or some other kind of tetra, is this a good combination?
How many plants should I buy- can I have no plants in my tank?
How do I get each type of fish to eat their own food?
I've seen those transpearent fishies, anyone know their name?
If I get a tank like this one:

are these fish gonna be okay in it?
2 parrot fish,
3 neon tetras
2 guppies.
What do you mean by cycling?

 

[my fat fish]

what size of tank are you thinking of in my opinion i recommend as big as poss look on EBAY i got a 47gal tank of ther for £150 leaves loads of room 4 mistake lol thers always deals and buying off second hand users they can often teel you the best way to set ur tank up

 

[Mr. Convict]

Also, wouldn't the parrots murder the tetras?

As for gravel, and plants.. it comes down to your own likes and preferences... cuz u have real or fake plants.. gravel/sand/other substrate

Its your tank.. you have to make the decisions, we can jus help guide and give you advice...

And the transperent fish (spelling?) can be glass fish, or something else.. can u get a pic?

Good luck with whatever you choose

 

[mommyof2bettas]

Ok...
So, again, I'm new to all of this, what is cycling???
Apart from the tank, gravel, plants, fiter, fish, what do I need?
Any suggestions on another fish instead of the parrot fish, maybe one about its size?
The fish was about the size of a guppy, with features like the tetra, but it was totally see-through. It might be the glass fish, but it doesn't really matter.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

maybe a bolivian ram would work with the parrot. as for cycling This should help you out. Id say get a 45g tank, anything the size of a computer screen wont hold very many fish. hope this helps.

DL

Here are two fish that i could think of off the top of my head:




This is a Glass Catfish

the only other I could think of was one of these without the stripe of color injected by a needle

 

[mommyof2bettas]

It's the glass catfish!!!
I'm sorry, the links didn't really help out, I must be stupid

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

These would make good tankmates with parrot cichlids. They grow upto 6inches but preffer to be in groups of id say 5+ a good stock for parrot cichlid and these would be

1 parrot cichlid
5 glass catfish

in a 55g tank. even though that may be abit overstocked may want to ask. Make sure the glass catfish are big enough to be kept with the parrot when you first get them.

 

[mommyof2bettas]

I was thinking maybe 1 or 2 glass catfish, no parrot cichlids or parrotfish, but thanks for the suggestions, I like the bolivian ram, but I don't think the petstore has one!
Maybe one or two neon tetras.
Then, as I get more used to the tank, I might get more.
The tank's too expensive, so I'm hopefully gonna get one for X-Mas!

 

[mommyof2bettas]

I finally found a 55g tank that my parents agreed to buy.
And for the fish I thought of getting 2 neon tetras and a glass catfish would he go good with the tetras
And then I'll just browse.
Now, what is cycling?
What will I need?

 

[dwarfgourami]

I finally found a 55g tank that my parents agreed to buy.
And for the fish I thought of getting 2 neon tetras and a glass catfish would he go good with the tetras
And then I'll just browse.
Now, what is cycling?
What will I need?

Ah, first you need to think about proper numbers. Glass catfish are actually quite capable of pining away and dying from stress if not kept in a large enough group (at least 6). And neons too are schooling fish; their instinct tells them they are only safe if they can see others like them around them; otherwise, they will live in permanent stress which is likely to affect their health.

If you look up any fish species and find the word "schooling" this will mean it needs to be in a group of usually at least 6 fish. Other fish are territorial, like male bettas, so may not be able to live with others of their species. And some, like many livebearers, need special sex ratios, usually several females per male (though you can keep females only). So, this is an important part of browsing- finding out ideal numbers. Also, other requirements- some fish need caves, some need bogwood, some need plant cover.

Cycling means building up a colony of bacteria which will process your fish's waste. There is a pinned topic on this. I would definitely opt for fishless cycling. And don't forget to look up if there are any nearby members who could donate filter media (pinned topic).