I need tips on getting started with a fish aquarium

[4_Legs_Good]

I haven't had one in probably 20 years.

How can I get the most bang for the buck? Any ideas on what's easiest/most fun? Where to shop?

Essentially I'm looking for something not too big, but not tiny either. I have 2 kids (3/6) and a cat. I don't want to have to do too much maintenance, and want fish that don't die!

But it's been so long I don't really know where to start, how much it'll cost me, I can't even remember if a 20 gallon tank is big or small. I think the biggest I've ever had was just 5 gallons. Or was in 3? I am clueless! I like to buy stuff that's well made, but also don't like to break the bank. I certainly wouldn't want to start out spending over about $200, and would like the option of having it as part of a furniture type of deal rather than just sitting on a table top.

Sorry for being clueless, but I'm not sure where/how to begin.

David

[Breeze54]

1. Fresh water or (salt water) tropical fish?

I had a fish tank few years ago. Just fresh water guppies and a few gold fish.

I learned one thing... if you move?

Bring gallon jugs of the water of your previous home and gradually add it in, until the fish become accustomed to the new water source at your new place. I cleaned the tank once a week, I fed them sparingly and if you have plants in the tank? They'll breed and reproduce like rabbits! ;)

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

4. For $200 and only experience with tanks 5 gallons and under, salt water is out of the question

[4_Legs_Good]

31. Yeah, I think you're right there.

Salt water sounds fun, and the fish are cooler, but I'm way too much of a novice for that.

David

[4_Legs_Good]

32. dupe

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

2. For a furniture look, you're probably going to have to spend more than $200

I recommend getting at least 29 gallon. 20 gallon minimum. Aquaclear filters are pretty inexpensive and very high quality. Make sure you get a florescent light, not incandescent.

Feel free to ask/PM me any questions. I don't have time right now to write a huge post, but I'll answer any questions later. I've had fish tanks my whole life.

[Parche]

3. Lost says you DONT know anything about fish tanks

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :hi: :hug:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

5. She did not say that

[4_Legs_Good]

33. I figured the furniture part would bet the most expensive bit, but is it possible

to start with a tank only that could eventually move to cabinet piece?

I guess 29 gallons is pretty heavy though...

David

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

41. You could keep it on an inexpensive metal stand or a really heavy duty piece of furniture until then

If you're handy, you can find plans online and in aquarium books for building your own stands.

Each gallon with gravel, etc weighs about 10lbs

[old mark]

6. Get as much information as you can online or from books and visit local

pet shops, etc before you spend a dollar. It's very easy to go wrong.
Good luck, and enjoy your search.

mark

[4_Legs_Good]

34. Thanks! Will do!

[NMDemDist2]

7. OK, first start haunting yard sales and thrift shops

the cabinet will be the most expensive part, it's just a cabinet with no back where you can store the stuff you need.

I had great luck with bio wheel powered filters like this one, they are easy to clean and keep the water in good shape



also, DO NOT BUY FISH FOR AT LEAST!!! a week (two is better) then buy an algae eater and a few cheap guppies. I like plecoustmous (sp?) but they look like this



don't buy many cheap fish though, they are usually the messy ones. just buy 4 or 6 and expect to lose them while the tank 'cures'

figure one gallon of water per inch of fish and take into account they grow.

buy and add fish slowly, angel fish are wonderful and easy usually, but will get aggressive if crowded

have fun!!

[Blue-Jay]

9. Mostly good ideas, BUT...

I would recommend 2 zebra danios to condition the tank. Algae eaters are very hearty, but they'll starve in a new tank. Danios are very hard to kill, they're cheap, and they're not ugly. If they live for two weeks, add ONE more fish (any kind you like that isn't an asshole). After that, add no more than one fish per week until you have between 1-1.5 fish per gallon.

The bio wheel filters are excellent, but I'd also suggest an under gravel filter. Instead of using an air stone, I like to feed the bio filter intake into the tube that extends from the under gravel filter. This is good for filtration, plus it keeps the smaller fish from being sucked into the intake. I wouldn't add a pleco until the tank is established with at least 4-6 fishes (maybe 2-2.5 months).

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

10. Zebra danios are good

I also like sponge filters with a powerhead better than undergravel filters for biological filtration. However, I use sand in my tanks (African Cichlids) so an undergravel filter is out of the question.

[Blue-Jay]

16. Cichilds are a whole different thing.

If the OP wants to have cichlids, I'd recommend a long tank (as opposed to a high tank) and filling it with ONLY cichlids, with maybe a pleco and one or two algae eaters. Cichlids tend to thrive better when they have more horizontal room to move. They're fast swimmers, and they like to have plenty of room. They are fun to watch, but they have slightly different requirements than most other freshies.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

18. I recomend a long tank for all types of fish honestly

More air surface.

I have a 55.

In the past, I've kept all sorts of fish (except saltwater), but now I just keep cichlids and bettas, because they're my favorites.

[Blue-Jay]

27. That's (sort of) true...

Longer, faster fish (cichlids, f'instance) tend to require longer tanks. Evolution, and all that... Taller, slower swimmers (angels, tiger barbs, etc) do just fine in high tanks. It really depends on what kind of fish you prefer to look at. Scum-suckers are OK in any tank, and bettas can live in a coffee cup.

[NMDemDist2]

11. ooops you are right on all counts!! and one more thing about the cabinet

the reason it's an "aquarium" cabinet is because it's beefy enough to hold all that water, so any old cabinet won't do with out bracing it up some

edit to add, I love danios too

:hi:

[Blue-Jay]

17. If I were starting a new tank (and older than 12), I'd go with a "20 long".

They don't cost that much more than a 10 gallon tank, and you can fit a much more diverse collection of fish in it('runners' & 'walkers', if you will). They don't take up a bunch of room, and they just as easy to clean. And yeah, danios are awesome when you're conditioning a new tank.

Dear OP - Make sure that you check the pH level before you add new fish, and try to get fish that require similar temperatures. Good luck!

[4_Legs_Good]

35. Thanks. 20 long. That sounds like a good place to start

Thanks!

David

[pinniped]

29. I got a couple plecostamous buried in my backyard.

.

[curse of greyface]

8. For the tank itself, try a garage sale this weekend.

People are always trying to sell there old tanks for pennies on the dollar... also check Craigslist.

[surrealAmerican]

12. While you could get almost any other equipment ...

... at a yard sale, I would not recommend getting a tank there. You want to be sure it doesn't leak, and has never contained or been washed with anything toxic to fish.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

13. Yeah -- I feel the same way

I'll go the used route for reptiles, but not for fish.

[4_Legs_Good]

36. That's what I was wondering

I've seen many a cracked tank at a garage sale, and I can only imagine most of the ones that you can't see cracks in still have them somewhere.

David

[Lex]

14. 3 biggest mistakes to avoid (so you don't have dead fish):

1. Loading up the tank with too many fish at once. Start very, very slowly when adding fish. Very slowly.

2. Overfeeding. Feed them half of what you think they need, and half as often as you think they need it.

3. Cleaning the tank too often. Just like in your own stomach, there is actually "good bacteria" that is useful to the fish and the natural nitrogen cycle of the tank.

Basically, know your Nitrogen Cycle:
http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/biologicalcycle/a/nitrogencycle.htm

[surrealAmerican]

15. The easiest way to go would be goldfish.

They're hearty, grow fairly large, come in many colors and shapes, and are reasonably priced. They also don't need a heater in the tank (unless it's unusually cold in your house). You'll want at least a ten gallon tank. I've had good results with a "sponge" filter in this kind of setup, which is usually the least expensive option. If you have a cat you absolutely MUST have a full tank cover. As others here have mentioned, set up the tank with water and filter running a few weeks before you get any fish.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

19. Goldfish need larger than a 10 gallon and they're filthy as hell

[surrealAmerican]

21. I agree, a bigger tank is better, but you could manage ...

... two or three goldfish in a ten gallon. Whatever kind of fish you have, you'll need to clean the tank regularly. I'm not convinced goldfish are dirtier than other kinds.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

22. I've kept goldfish, tetras, barbs, cichlids, etc

The only thing you could possibly put in water dirtier than a goldfish is a turtle, and that is not a fish.

[surrealAmerican]

25. I guess what you mean is that their feces are ...

... more noticeable? In a way that just makes them easier to clean up. If you're not overfeeding the fish, the water is not getting dirtier than it would with a different fish.

[kaiden]

20. Check Craigslist for a tank set-up and get a Tiger Oscar.

You'll need at least a 55 gallon aquarium for one oscar (a South American cichlid) -- I have an Oscar and a plecostamus, but oscars have been referred to as "dogs in a tank." They notice everything outside the aquarium and will eat out of your hand. Very engaging fish. Unfortunately, they grow to be 16 inches long (boo!) and live for 10 years (yay!) -- so they're kinda like a small golden retriever -- but they are SO friendly.

My fish man is Oscar Levant.

My son has African cichlids -- they're all very beautiful, friendly and don't get as big as oscars.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

23. I'd go 75-100 gallons minimum for an Oscar

A 55gallon is only 13" wide, not enough room for a full-grown one to turn around right.

[pokerfan]

24. This is definitely a Craigslist/garage sale type of thing

Bargains to be had from by used.

[realisticphish]

28. i love oscars

great pets. I would also recommend a larger tank, though, unless you find an oddly sized one width-wise. My current oscar is not full grown, and he fills his 30 gallon tank... i'm in the market for a 55, which is all i can afford at the moment, but i will probably end up with a 75 or 125

[Jamastiene]

26. Fish that don't die?

You might want to get a screen saver of an aquarium in that case. :P

I hear Oscars live quite a while, but they get pretty big and need a larger aquarium and small fish to eat. I've always wanted an Oscar, because they are so intelligent and interact with you more. I just have nowhere to put such a large aquarium.

Bettas are easy to care for but live only about 2 years.

[4_Legs_Good]

37. What about those little motorized fish

you know the ones with the little twisty things that buzz along?

Seriously, I just mean fish that aren't too sensitive, and I am always freaking out because I think they're sick/dying.

I'm really bad with dead animals.

David

[Jamastiene]

40. I am horrible with dead animals too.

Back when I kept fish, I learned the hard was about that Nitrogen cycle. I got attached to a guppy I had named Bee who would eat flakes out of my fingers and interact with me and a Betta named Gypsy who didn't live nearly long enough either. I love fish, but I'm a terrible fish keeper/raiser.

[TreasonousBastard]

30. I see lotsa good experience here and my 2 cents sez...

go for a 20 gallon tank to start with. Dunno what things are going for now, but tank, stand, filter, heater, air pump, gravel, plants, decorations... shouldn't bust your budget, and a 10 gallon tank is really too small to bother with. Places like PetSmart will sell you a whole kit with most of what you need. "Most" is the operative word, since you'll soon dump the cheap filter and find out the gravel they give you is barely enough to cover the bottom.

FWIW, I built my own wooden stand for a 50 gallon tank a while back-- it's not hard if you're handy. I also went down to the beach and got my sand and gravel. If you go that way and don't buy a stand to match your tank, remember that water weighs a little over 8 pounds a gallon, and you'll have another 10-20 pounds of gravel and stuff in there, and the weight of the tank.

You do want to maintain a fairly constant temperature and pH, so make sure all your fish are tolerant of the range you end up with. I'd start with a few tetras and barbs to get the tank running, and then some swordtails which will almost immediately start mating. Be careful about going into the fish store and just buying what looks cool-- many fish will just not get along.

If you smoke, be careful about smoke being pumped into the tank with the air-- nicotine is a deadly poison to most fish. I killed off a tank one winter by not thinking about that.

And find a good book so's you can read up on all this stuff, 'cause no one mentioned diseases or the different foods and environenments they need. They're not "just fish"-- they're live animals that require good care.

[4_Legs_Good]

38. I totally forgot about the heater!

I knew there were things I was spacing on.

Thanks for the tips, I really appreciate them!

David

[surrealAmerican]

43. You may or may not need one.

I'd recommend leaving a thermometer in the place you intend to put the tank, and reading it at various times during the day and night. If the temperature is pretty stable and in range for the kind of fish you choose, you won't need one. Also remember never to locate a tank near radiators, or where it gets direct sunlight. It will overheat and kill the fish.

[mopinko]

39. good advise from my vet- bigger tanks are more stable.

even a 20 gallon is very variable, temperature wise, nitrogen cycle wise, etc. it may seem intuitive to start small, but you really should get the biggest tank you can afford, and have room for.
wont repeat all the good advise you are getting.

[Rabrrrrrr]

42. The bigger the tank, the easier it is to maintain. I started with a 120 gallon,

and I love it!

Of course, for $200 you can't start at 120, but you could possibly start at about 50, maybe 29.

Go to your local pet store and see what they have, and ask the experts, and tell them of your experience and what you are looking for, and they will set you up right.

[Sheets of Easter]

44. Other folks here have echoed the same sentiment, but bigger is better,

but not too big. 20-30 gallons is manageable for a decent amount of fish. Anything smaller, and it's like woking with bonsai.

[4_Legs_Good]

46. That is really helpful advice, as I would have completely thought the opposite

So thanks much! I have to admit, it's more exciting too than starting small!

:)

David

[Bertha Venation]

45. Only one suggestion:

Wait a day after filling the tank and treating the water before you introduce the fish.

Good luck and have fun!!

[4_Legs_Good]

47. I'm really impatient, so these kinds of warnings help a lot

I'm always tempted to just say f*ck-it! And got for it, so hearing from so many people to hold off on introducing the fish really helps.

I'm bad at tearing off tape when I paint too. I always rip it off too early and then have to fix a bunch of stuff. I just painted the kids room again over election day (when I was home anyway to watch returns!), and I'm still trying to keep from moving things around too early or adding stuff to the walls before I should.

Anyway, thanks again!

David

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

48. Wait a week

And introduce them slowly. Just get a couple at a time.