Starting Up

[OM09]

Hi

I'm thinking of starting a tropical aquarium (perhaps 4ft or 5ft) but was wondering how much time it requires.

For example I didn't realise that water changes were required so frequently.......Is this necessary on a weekly basis throughout the aquarium's lifetime?

I have a pond which seems to take care of itself.

Does anyone have a coldwater aquarium.................Does it need as much attention?

My concern is that I don't want to disrupt the fish once they are established........Weekly or even fortnightly water changes would do this I think

I'd welcome any comments

Thanks

Steve

 

[chibi]

As long as you aren't overstocked, you should only have to do a small water change only 2 weeks or even more. Many people might disagree with me, but I've gone like 4 months without changing water (when I was a newbie) and I didn't have much of a problem. I'm NOT suggesting not changing the water for 4 months, I'm just saying not doing it weekly should be okay. Even if it was a coldwater, you'd have to do water changes. So, go for a tropical tank! Don't worry about water changes, they really aren't a big deal.

 

[OM09]

Thanks Chibi

I think I'll go ahead with the aquarium...............They look great.

My plan is to plant it up quite heavily and just have enough fish of a couple species (maybe two or three small shoals)

 

[Miss Wiggle]

there's a good guide here to weekly maintenance http/www.fishforums.net/Step-by-step-Gui...ce-t171045.html

this is based (very roughly) on an averagly stocked and filtered tank, if you have more filtration and less fish you can do less with the tank.

do also bear in mind that once you've got used to doing water changes they're pretty quick and with just one 3/4 foot tank to look after once you've got the swing of things you'll be able to maintain it in an hr a week or even less.

check out the pinned topics at the top of this forum for some more info on starting up your tank, fishless cycling should be your first port of call

 

[angelmouse]

that sounds good, plants look good and you understock in the begining you shouldn`t have problems. But with a 4-5ft tank you can have quite afew nice fish. Weekly small water changes are good and don`t take that long or disturb the fish, mine seem to like it, and having a good filter will help.
Welcome to the site, you will get lots of friendly advice here.
Angel

 

[OM09]

Thanks Angel and Miss Wiggle (good name)

What would a small water change be ?? 5 or 10% per week maybe??



If I were to consider a couple of suitable shoals of fish, what would you recommend? I was thinking perhaps tetras or barbs.

Thanks



Steve

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Thanks Angel and Miss Wiggle (good name)

What would a small water change be ?? 5 or 10% per week maybe??



If I were to consider a couple of suitable shoals of fish, what would you recommend? I was thinking perhaps tetras or barbs.

Thanks



Steve

lol thanks.

i'd say average weekly water change is 30%, if you understock you could get away with 20% or something but honestly by the time you've taken 20% out you may as well make it 30% because it doesn't take much longer.

you'll also find that with a tank 4/5 foot long you've got a fair bit of floor space to cover, and you need to vac it all to get the poop and uneaten food out of the tank, by the time you've covered that much floor space you'll have taken 30% out anyway.

most tetras are easy to keep, as are danios, raboras and most barbs. steer clear of tiger barbs, they're very aggressive and you need a really big group to avoid them bullying other fish, then you'll find you've not got room for a hell of a lot else. an average stocking level is 1" of fish per us gallon of water, so you need to find out the gallonage of your tank when you decide on one then you can work out how many fish to get and what species.