OK, I'm new.
My daughter wants a fish tank for her birthday. I've generally fancied one for ages so I don't mind and my wife also quite likes them. We haven't bought anything yet. I've read loads but thought I'd ask for advice before I go out and start spending some money.
Wife likes ornamental tanks (Hexagons, BiOrbs etc) but I want something that is fairly easy to keep and I expect that the BiOrb will need frequent water changes given the poor filtration system. I know a lot of people don't seem to like them. I'd prefer a bowfronted tank and get it as big as possible, but will probably have to compromise on size. I'll see if I can get the wife to go for something as big as 150-180 litres.
So advice on tanks:
Jewel Vision 180
Fluval Vicenza 180
Rena Aqualife Panorama 100
Aqua One AquaStyle 850
Aqualantins Evasion Evo Horizon 100
Are the ones that spring to (my) mind. Are there others I should look at? I'm going out to look at them later today so may add some more or say if any appear to become favourites of the wife/daughter. Fortunately there are two garden centres, both with fairlylarge fish stores, less than 2 minutes down the road.
The tanks all seem to come as kits with the tank/cabinet/filter/heater - are the filters good enough (I read that somepeople upgrade them later or even at the same time as buying the tank)? Are external filters better than in-water filters or above water filters (Aqua One)?
When I get the tank I'll be doing a fishless cycle and will probably add some bacteria if I can (as daughter won't want to wait a minute longer then necessary, and preferably less). Can I add plants whilst doing the cycling - and will this speed up or slow down the process? Obviously she will choose the fish and I can only hope that the LFS stops her from choosing ones that are incompatable. Other than a testing kit and some dechlorination product, is there anything else I need to buy (really obvious thinbgs - how do I do a water change - do I need some sort of syphon thing and a bucket for example)?
Personally I like marine fish (probably because I'm a diver) - is a marine aquarium really a lot more difficult to keep (something like the Red Sea Max)?
My daughter wants a fish tank for her birthday. I've generally fancied one for ages so I don't mind and my wife also quite likes them. We haven't bought anything yet. I've read loads but thought I'd ask for advice before I go out and start spending some money.
Wife likes ornamental tanks (Hexagons, BiOrbs etc) but I want something that is fairly easy to keep and I expect that the BiOrb will need frequent water changes given the poor filtration system. I know a lot of people don't seem to like them. I'd prefer a bowfronted tank and get it as big as possible, but will probably have to compromise on size. I'll see if I can get the wife to go for something as big as 150-180 litres.
So advice on tanks:
Jewel Vision 180
Fluval Vicenza 180
Rena Aqualife Panorama 100
Aqua One AquaStyle 850
Aqualantins Evasion Evo Horizon 100
Are the ones that spring to (my) mind. Are there others I should look at? I'm going out to look at them later today so may add some more or say if any appear to become favourites of the wife/daughter. Fortunately there are two garden centres, both with fairlylarge fish stores, less than 2 minutes down the road.
The tanks all seem to come as kits with the tank/cabinet/filter/heater - are the filters good enough (I read that somepeople upgrade them later or even at the same time as buying the tank)? Are external filters better than in-water filters or above water filters (Aqua One)?
When I get the tank I'll be doing a fishless cycle and will probably add some bacteria if I can (as daughter won't want to wait a minute longer then necessary, and preferably less). Can I add plants whilst doing the cycling - and will this speed up or slow down the process? Obviously she will choose the fish and I can only hope that the LFS stops her from choosing ones that are incompatable. Other than a testing kit and some dechlorination product, is there anything else I need to buy (really obvious thinbgs - how do I do a water change - do I need some sort of syphon thing and a bucket for example)?
Personally I like marine fish (probably because I'm a diver) - is a marine aquarium really a lot more difficult to keep (something like the Red Sea Max)?
