Newbie :)

[LankyLettuce]

Hi I haven't quite got a tank or fish yet but will be getting one as a Christmas present from my girlfriend.

I will be keeping fresh water tropical fish as I've been told they are easier to maintain than salt water...and cheaper!

Can anyone give me any hints or tips for my first tank or point me towards some helpful books?

Thanks
Sam

 

[laura120381]

Hi Sam and welcome to the forum. You have certainly come to the right place. As far as getting a new tank goes, my advice would be to buy one as big as you possibly can!! larger tanks are much easier to maintain in terms of water chemistry and they vastly improve the choice of fish you can keep in there. I would recommend you have a look at the beginners section on here (especially the part about fishless cycling!) then have a look on the internet to see what kind of fish/tank you fancy getting. post your ideas up here and we will be able to tell you if they will work!!

you are correct in saying that marine fish are more expensive and are not really for beginners in my opinion. there are loads of people on here though that could advise you on setting up a marine tank if thats the way you want to go!! let us know what ideas you have and i'm sure everyone will be happy to help you out with suggestions and any questions you may have!

L

 

[This Old Spouse]

Welcome, Sam! Glad you joined us. I'm so happy to see that you're doing your research before even getting your tank. Wonderful! That will make things so much easier for you and your fish. You can click on the "New to Fishkeeping? ..." link in my signature to read up on fishless cycling. You really do need to get your tank filter cycled before you add any fish, or you'll start down a road of frustration and fish death. The single best piece of advice I can give you is to try and find someone who has a cycled filter, and get some of the media to put in your filter. Then you can add fish quite quickly, instead of waiting the 6+ weeks for a fishless cycle.

Even better? If you know someone who has a tank going already (maybe your girlfriend?) put some filter media in that tank now and let it be until you get your tank set up, then voila! Instant cycling.

Keep us posted on what you decide!

 

[Blubble37]

+1 laura!

Buy as big a tank as you can afford!!!

The reason being that 1 ml of ammonia in a 50 litre will raise it one heck of a lot more than in a 200ltr or even 300ltr tank.

If you could post the size of tank you are getting i am willing to help you out in terms of choosing equipment...

if you are willing to make the journey (uk only) i will even donate you some media for no cost AT ALL!!!

 

[LankyLettuce]

http/www.aquariumsdelivered.co.uk/catalog/aqua-one-ar850-aquarium-cabinet-set-p-38.html

This is the tank setup I'm looking at getting!

I really am a newbie but when you refer to 'media' what is it you mean?

 

[Blubble37]

media is the foam or stuff like that in the filter

 

[Blubble37]

youll have to hold fire with the fish mate... you need to cycle the tank first... have a look in the beginners resource centre

 

[colleen0309]

Good afternoon and welcome to the forum! This Old Spouce and Bubble37 are right. Please read up on cycling in the beginners Resource Center. It will make things go much smoother, with less frustration. By the way, nice tank!