Would Appreciate Some Advice :)

[steph1988]

my little boy has a second birthday coming up.
after a lot of thought i have decided to buy a tropical fish tank because he loves fish (a rather selfish gift, because i have always wanted one too lol)

i have only ever kept goldfish before (in one of those small hexagonal plastic fish tanks lol) so as you can see, i don't have very much knowledge.

i have been trolling websites looking for information and am finding it all a bit confusing.
i think i've got the basics down - have the tank set up for a week or 2 before introducing fish. remove chlorine from water. make sure the tank is all working properly before i add any fish. add only a few fish at a time because of the toxin build up.

other than that, the rest of the info is a bit confusing.

i am trying to figure out what fish would be best for a beginner.
i need some types that are quite hardy and easy to take care of.
also, if anyone could tell me what fish NOT to go for (i.e are likely to eat smaller fish or are aggressive etc) that would be much appreciated.

i rather like the small neons that zip around and have the brightly coloured stripes. but im not sure if they would be a bad idea since i am a beginner...

also, i am very aware that im rather unknowledgable, that's why i'm here asking would like to get all the info i need before i get started

 

[markandhisfish]

hi . leaving the tank for 2 weeks isnt really what you should do to start things off. you should do a fishless cycle , to build up the bacteria colony in the filter. take a read through these links on theis page here where all is explained in detail .

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/277264-beginners-resource-center/

 

[walkers101]

mark has it covered

also neons are a no no for new tanks

 

[matt p]

my little boy has a second birthday coming up.
after a lot of thought i have decided to buy a tropical fish tank because he loves fish (a rather selfish gift, because i have always wanted one too lol)

i have only ever kept goldfish before (in one of those small hexagonal plastic fish tanks lol) so as you can see, i don't have very much knowledge.

i have been trolling websites looking for information and am finding it all a bit confusing.
i think i've got the basics down - have the tank set up for a week or 2 before introducing fish. remove chlorine from water. make sure the tank is all working properly before i add any fish. add only a few fish at a time because of the toxin build up.

other than that, the rest of the info is a bit confusing.

i am trying to figure out what fish would be best for a beginner.
i need some types that are quite hardy and easy to take care of.
also, if anyone could tell me what fish NOT to go for (i.e are likely to eat smaller fish or are aggressive etc) that would be much appreciated.

i rather like the small neons that zip around and have the brightly coloured stripes. but im not sure if they would be a bad idea since i am a beginner...

also, i am very aware that im rather unknowledgable, that's why i'm here asking would like to get all the info i need before i get started

Hey steph,

When I was setting my old tank up I just started with 2x marbled mollies and a pair of neon swordtails these are hardy fish that will get your culture growing in the filter.

Carryout a strict testing regime once they are introduced and once things are settled start gradually stocking from there. If you can when you go to your LFS just ask for fish that will be placid and they should be able to point you in the right direction.

What size tank are you thinking of getting?.

Regards

Matt

 

[Wills]

Hi steph welcome to the forums! I would go with the link in Marks post for the begginers section.

Im afraid its not a case of just chucking fish in after 2 weeks and hoping for the best any more its best to follow the guides either for fishless cycling and fish in cycling - fish less cycling is a lot easier to do but it takes longer for your tank to be ready for fish the other way fish in cycling means you get fish sooner but then its lots and lots of water changes every day for a number of weeks.

Which ever route you take, I wouldnt add fish in like Matt P suggested as it is very risky to add fish into a tank with an uncycled filter unless its done in a controlled situation like the fish in cycle guide will give you as the chemicals that build up as a result of the fishes poo can easily kill fish in new tanks or at the very least make them ill.

Wills

 

[matt p]

Hi steph welcome to the forums! I would go with the link in Marks post for the begginers section.

Im afraid its not a case of just chucking fish in after 2 weeks and hoping for the best any more its best to follow the guides either for fishless cycling and fish in cycling - fish less cycling is a lot easier to do but it takes longer for your tank to be ready for fish the other way fish in cycling means you get fish sooner but then its lots and lots of water changes every day for a number of weeks.

Which ever route you take, I wouldnt add fish in like Matt P suggested as it is very risky to add fish into a tank with an uncycled filter unless its done in a controlled situation like the fish in cycle guide will give you as the chemicals that build up as a result of the fishes poo can easily kill fish in new tanks or at the very least make them ill.

Wills

Sorry Wills, that's what I ment by the strict testing regime ie very close eye on levels and water changes

Apologies for the confusion.

Regards

Matt

 

[BethK]

I would focus on getting the tank in, cycling it. You could help quicken up the pace of the cycle, if you can get home of some already cycled media from a filter (might be worth asking a local fish shop or posting in the wanted section on this part of the forum). You need to build up a good bacteria colony, which in turn will ensure that your fish will live a happy and fulfilled life.

Also, purchase an API full test master's kit, this is a must have for cycling and water testing a tank.

As for easy fish, it really depends on the dedication that you are willing to give but tbh, once the tank is cycled, fish are in and everything is settled, it's just an issue of feeding daily, turning tank lights on and then off and a weekly water change.

What size tank are you thinking of purchasing?

Male guppies are pretty to look at, I would keep them as a single sex, you don't want to mix livebearer fish and their sexes, too many babies involved! You could have some rasbora harlequins, cardinal tetra, some form of cory fish..................but we'd be able to pass on suggestions easier, if we knew the size of the tank x

 

[markandhisfish]

id advise against cardinal tetras until you have more experience and a well matured tank as they are very delicate

 

[steph1988]

Hi and thanks for all the advice. I shall work my way through the links.

I thought that cycling took around a week or two and that then I would be ready to start slowly introducing some fish. Or have I misread that somewhere?

I have the API testing kit on order and it should arrive before I go to pick up the fish tank.

As for the size, it is a 4ft x 1ft x 1ft tank

 

[fluttermoth]

Hi and thanks for all the advice. I shall work my way through the links.

I thought that cycling took around a week or two and that then I would be ready to start slowly introducing some fish. Or have I misread that somewhere?

I have the API testing kit on order and it should arrive before I go to pick up the fish tank.

As for the size, it is a 4ft x 1ft x 1ft tank

No, I'm afraid cycling takes much longer than a week or two! It depends on the tank, but most take at least 4-6 weeks and some take even longer. It is possible to do a 'fish-in' cycle (as matt p suggested) but most of us wouldn't recommend going down that route; it can be very hard work; you'll probably need to be doing water changes of at least 75% every day for about a month and it is VERY stressful for the fish; get it wrong and they'll die.

But you can short cut by getting some mature filter media from an already established tank; either from someone you know, the LFS (although they don't all do this) or someone here (there's a sticky at the top of the 'Your New Freshwater Tank' section of the forum).

Your tank is quite a nice size; much better for a beginner than some of the tiny tanks that are on sale, so well done you
This gives you a lot more variety of amounts and kinds of fish you can have.
As there are so many kinds of fish on sale, it's easier if you go and have a look around while your cycling your tank, make a list of different fish you like the look of and then ask here and people will give you advice on whether they're suitable or not.

Best of luck; your son will be enthralled when it's up and running (just don't let him tap the glass or feed the fish unsupervised!!!)

 

[BethK]

Ahh silly me, didn't see the tank size! Would that be about a 60ltr tank?

How about some apple snails? You can get pink/purple ones and golden ones, look very pretty (go with 2).

 

[OohFeeshy]

4x1x1 is a nice size, big enough for lots of options but small enough that a water change is still only a bucket or two. Is it a specific 'package' or are you getting all the kit separately?

Cycling wise, it's up to you as to what will work best. Option one is with fish, which isn't nessecarily a bad plan if you want the usual 'hardy community fish', and the tank is big enough that adding two or three fish at a time shouldn't cause too much hassle for you or the fish.

Option two would be fishless, which really isn't as technical as some people try and make it. In essence, you go to Homebase or similar and buy some household ammonia. Then you use one of the calculators on the internet to work out roughly how much you need to add to your tank. Get a test kit for ammonia and nitrite, sit and wait until both are 0, occasionally chucking in a few extra millilitres of ammonia, then you're good to go.

Both take a bit of time, but you can use that to plan out your final stock, decorate the tank, do some reading, whatever.

As for fish, the best advice I've heard is to go to whichever local shop you'll be buying the fish from with a notepad and write down the names of anything that you think looks nice. Then post the list somewhere on here and people will be able to tell you which fish are suitable, how many and how to look after them. Or most libraries seem to have a couple of fish books with lists of species in them, you can do the same thing with that.

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Everyone has already given you advice on cycling.

As for fish; have a trip to a local shop; have a look at what you like the look of; write a list of names down and then do some research and ask on here at what would be suitable for the tank, and what would be suitable togehter.

It gives you plenty of time to look around and decide and research whilst your tank is cycling.

I have a link to fishless cycling in my footer if you have a read of that (it's a little complicated to understand but when you get started it's actually really easy to follow).

 

[steph1988]

thank you everyone again
it is a second hand one, so am not quite sure what it comes with. it has a stand and a heater, but i think i will have to get the filter etc. i have got money there to buy whatever else i need shoooppppiiiinnnng

my grandad kept tropical fish and passed down the love to my mum who also used to keep tropical fish (until my little sister tipped an entire tub of food in there and they all went to fishy heaven ) so she also given me some extra guidance on the setup as well.
it will be helpful, because once i have it set up, she can come and look and tell me what major errors im certain to have made

i am in uni tomorrow, but i will go to some shops on saturday after i've picked up the tank and have a look and see what fish there are and come back and ask for some advice again if you don't mind
i will also then have a better idea of what else i will need to buy also.

have been looking through all the links and have realised that there is a looot to learn. reckon i'll go and pick up a couple of books to have on hand as well

 

[filterman]

Hi Steph,

welcome to the world fishkeeping and don't be put off by all the technical replies. The fact that you are doing research before you set up puts you in an elite minority and means you will be a credit to the hobby.

I've found the most valuable asset to be some mature tank water with a fresh scoop of filter gunge from someone with a very healthy tank and filter. Leave it for a week or so with everything running then add only a few fish over a few months. I know all about the theoretical time taken to establish a new tank and I was designing biological filters 25 years ago, but a donation of healthy bugs is worth a box full of test kits; If you can't get the former, however, you will need the latter. Don't be tempted to buy any Clown Loaches until your tank is about say 6 months old as they are more susceptible than most to new tank syndrome, white spot and velvet. Choose community fish suited to your local water quality or the type of water you can easily maintain. Do regular partial water changes, never add more food than your fish will eat in the first minute, and never ever let non fishkeeper feed them or use holiday blocks etc.(they are much safer fasting for a week or so)

Good luck and happy reading