this isn't really a question, but just me sharing things i've learned since i started this hobby. to benefit all those that are new at this. this is basically stuff i wish i'd understood before i went to my local fish store and and bought everything for my first tank setup. anyone, please feel free to add things that you'd like to.
Gravel - Big gravel rocks may look nice (the little river rock type), but don't do it. Big rocks let too much waste fall thru the cracks. Also, I've seen my catfish struggle and struggle in vain to get a pellet that had fallen a little too far for them to reach it. the waste accumulates under there like crazy. the smaller the gravel the better i think. recently switched over to sand, it looks amazing, and it's going to be easier to keep clean. And it cost me $3.57US for a 50lb bag. Compare that to the $30 or $40 bucks I spent on that big rock gravel that I just tossed in the garbage. smaller gravel works well too for most fish, but if you think cichlids are pretty cool, and really do plan to do a cichild tank, you might want to think about sand, or at the very least the finest gravel you can get. When I was getting my tank supplies, I asked my LFS salesperson what kind of gravel was best... All I got was "whatever you want really". Well, yes and no. There is information he could have gave me, but he let me buy that large river rock anyway. sigh.
Tank sizes - tall tanks make you feel like you're getting more tank (more fish!) with less footprint, but you're not. You'll be as limited with a 37gallon as you would be with a 29g. Same footprint. Get the LONGEST tank you can possibly fit/afford or that your parents/spoouse will allow. argue with them that small/tall tanks are harder to maintain. you'll want a longer tank at some point. it's only a matter of time. I WISH the sales guy at my LFS has said that to me. Wished he'd explained the simpleness of fish swimming back and forth, not up and down. And cichild territories being divided horizontally, not vertically. All makes perfect sense now, but when you're excited about getting an aquarium, before you've delved a little deeper into the hobby, you're just looking at Gallon/litre numbers. Not to mention tall tanks are a pain in the *** to set up and work on
hopefully this will help someone a little bit in selecting their first tank setup.
Gravel - Big gravel rocks may look nice (the little river rock type), but don't do it. Big rocks let too much waste fall thru the cracks. Also, I've seen my catfish struggle and struggle in vain to get a pellet that had fallen a little too far for them to reach it. the waste accumulates under there like crazy. the smaller the gravel the better i think. recently switched over to sand, it looks amazing, and it's going to be easier to keep clean. And it cost me $3.57US for a 50lb bag. Compare that to the $30 or $40 bucks I spent on that big rock gravel that I just tossed in the garbage. smaller gravel works well too for most fish, but if you think cichlids are pretty cool, and really do plan to do a cichild tank, you might want to think about sand, or at the very least the finest gravel you can get. When I was getting my tank supplies, I asked my LFS salesperson what kind of gravel was best... All I got was "whatever you want really". Well, yes and no. There is information he could have gave me, but he let me buy that large river rock anyway. sigh.
Tank sizes - tall tanks make you feel like you're getting more tank (more fish!) with less footprint, but you're not. You'll be as limited with a 37gallon as you would be with a 29g. Same footprint. Get the LONGEST tank you can possibly fit/afford or that your parents/spoouse will allow. argue with them that small/tall tanks are harder to maintain. you'll want a longer tank at some point. it's only a matter of time. I WISH the sales guy at my LFS has said that to me. Wished he'd explained the simpleness of fish swimming back and forth, not up and down. And cichild territories being divided horizontally, not vertically. All makes perfect sense now, but when you're excited about getting an aquarium, before you've delved a little deeper into the hobby, you're just looking at Gallon/litre numbers. Not to mention tall tanks are a pain in the *** to set up and work on
hopefully this will help someone a little bit in selecting their first tank setup.
