Total Newbie Needs Advice

[Cheerful Dragon]

I'm thinking about keeping fish and I need some advice before I start. I've done a bit of online reading, and one site (Practical Fish Keeping) recommends wider 'tanks' because of increased surface area. However, wider tanks also mean higher capacity. What is the best size aquarium for a beginner to start with?

Another question is the availability of mains power. Do I need this? How many sockets for an aquarium without a heater? With a heater? What will happen to the fish if there's a power cut?

Finally, what are good fish for a beginner to start with? I'd be happy with some of the more unusual looking 'goldfish', but hubby would prefer to watch some tropical fish swimming around.

Thanks in advance

 

[purplekaz]

Hi Cheerful,

I'm in the process of setting up a new aquarium myself.
As you've probably found out, there's so much to learn!

The tank you purchase obviously depends on your budget, but I'd recommend going for the largest volume you can afford and accommodate in your home.
Being a newbie we are going to make a few mistakes, and this will affect the poor fishes less if there is a larger volume of water to dilute any chemical changes etc. It's easier to keep the water parameters constant in a larger tank.
Also I'd advise a "traditional" style tank, i.e. wider than it is tall. This is to make sure there is lots of surface area for gas exchange, to ensure the fish get plenty of oxygen to stay healthy.

I went for a Juwel Rekord 96 (96 litres, traditional rectangular shape), it's a nice size for me and fits in my living room well.

Regarding the availability of mains power: yes you will definitely need that close to your tank.
I use 4 sockets: one for the filter, one for the light, one for the heater, one for my air pump (creates my bubbles).

If you plan to keep tropical fish you will need a heater to keep the temperature constant for them.
I don't recommend coldwater fish for your first tank. Goldfish need much larger tanks than most people can accommodate, they create a lot of waste, and there is a much larger choice of fish if you stick to tropical instead.

I am still cycling my tank before I can add any fish (please see the thread on "Fishless Cycling" in this forum, it's quite important that your tank is ready before any fish are added, or they may get quite ill).
However I have been thinking of the kind of fish I would like to buy eventually:

tetras
cories
honey gourami
a few amano shrimp

but your choice of fish is a personal decision so take a look through the forum threads which will give you info on the different kinds available.

Any more questions just fire away

 

[Rooster]

The WHOLE key to fish keeping, is STABILITY... this is a lot easier the larger body of water you have, think about how quickly a cup of tea cools compared, say to a bath. Temperature isnt the only thing that can go awry, all aquaria rely on a chemical balance - which happens more quickly in a smaller body of water.
A good rule of thumb is to get as large a tank as you can accomodate (and afford !) Running costs are going to be about the same, and you can have more stock (fish, plants etc)

Electical outlets - well, its a bit of string question really.... easy answer is "you never have enough" ! I run a few tanks, using 4 way "extension leads" so you really only need the one free socket, which needs to be dedicated to the job (ie never gets turned off)

Tank size is a personal choice, but I would try and stay clear of anything smaller than a "two footer" with tropicals.

 

[Cheerful Dragon]

Thanks for the advice, both of you.

I'm going to have to compromise between what I can fit in the available space (around 3'), what I can afford and what I can cope with. There's no point in me buying a large volume aquarium as there's no way I could manage the water changes on my own. I'm a disabled female - not wheelchair-bound, but strength issues. Yes, I could do it in stages (half a bucketful at a time), but that could end up just as tiring.

I'll have to investigate what's available locally and give the matter further thought.

 

[chicklette]

Good starter fish are cherry barbs, danios, tetras, corys. Basically any fish that is hardy. You want to stay away from sensitive fish like loaches.

You will make mistakes, everyone does when they first start out. If they say they don’t, they are lying. It can be tricky to learn the water parameters but you will get there. But that is how you learn. However, I give you a lot of credit for asking question and wanting to learn first before you even have the tank.

You will also need a python to clean you tank as well as water conditioner. You will also need a test kit, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and pH.

I agree, I would get the largest tank you can afford. The bigger the better. It’s also much easier to keep water parameters stable is a larger tank. I would go for the wider tank not the taller.

I use fours sockets for my tanks. Because I have two filters, an air stone and a heater .