The Official NSC thread for all things Aquarium.

[MattBackHome]

I remember when the Sea Life Centre was called the Brighton Aquarium & Dolphinarium, if that helps at all.

I went back there not long ago and am stupefied at how dingy that back room is, that they kept dolphins in it and that no one (it seems) knew better. Dolphins for Christ's sake. And I LOVED them.

Soz can't help with the fish.

 

[Goldstone1976]

I have a recollection that [MENTION=2019]jevs[/MENTION] may be your man. Though I also have a feeling that he specialises in reef/salt water set ups.

 

[Bry Nylon]

...they kept dolphins in it and that no one (it seems) knew better. Dolphins for Christ's sake.

What were you expecting at the Dolphinarium, exactly? Sharks with frickin' laser beams attached to their heads?

 

[sjamesb3466]

Tropical - I have a Fluval 3 plus filter and Fluval 150w heater

From memory the tank was mainly home to neon & stripy fishes (clown something) and red finned shark, that I do remember.


If that's pretty basic that'll do me, I should have mentioned I really want this to be as cheap as possible.
I just didn't want to start off on the wrong foot, turning the tank into a fishy graveyard.

My tip would be to buy top quality food. It may cost more but in my experience quality food will save valuable time and money as it tends not to have such a negative effect on water quality. Also, only feed your fish what they can eat in a couple of minutes. If food is sitting on the gravel at the bottom you are feeding too much and that will be bad for water quality.

Start off by having the tank running without fish (filter and heater going) for 1-2 weeks. I would start with a small group of something hardy like platy or x-ray tetra. Don't add too many fish too quickly as you will overload the filter and cause an ammonia spike. Regular small water changes are vital (I do 2no 10% water changes per week)

 

[Bry Nylon]

Marshall Mathers does a range of fish tank accessories online.

One of his best sellers is the Eminem anenome.

 

[sjamesb3466]

Once again thanks, I will do a visit, I promise.
But if I go in completely blind I'll get lost in the advise and will end up wasting everybody's time.

In my experience most good shops prefer you to be honest and say 'I know nothing but would like your advice so I do it right'. That's what I did 4 years ago when I bought a 30l nano tank and am now a proud owner of a 300l cichlid tank with a really beautiful, active and largely peaceful tank (despite cichlids being naturally aggressive, avoid until you know what you're doing ). When buying fish, if you don't know what you're buying always advise them what fish you already have and confirm that the new ones will be compatible. If the seller is always saying yes I would careful as a good seller would rather say no than sell fish that will be killed or kill others in your community

 

[Stat Brother]

Shirley this thread needs some inspiration?

 

[Stat Brother]

The stat fish wet room is now, at least, wet.

Bloke in shop was helpful, as expected bearing in mind I've spent £70 without even the hint of a fish.
I bought a couple of 'logs' but seem to have a floater!!, I guess it'll sink soon enough.

I've got the filter about an inch or so below the waterline, so it's causing a gentle ripple, but no noise or water 'spurt', is that right?

Still at least that works, time will tell re the heater.

 

[sjamesb3466]

Shirley this thread needs some inspiration?

Photo quality not great and my fish were being rather shy. One of my Yellow Labs and the Blue Striped are Pseudotropheus Demasoni

 

[sjamesb3466]

The stat fish wet room is now, at least, wet.

Bloke in shop was helpful, as expected bearing in mind I've spent £70 without even the hint of a fish.
I bought a couple of 'logs' but seem to have a floater!!, I guess it'll sink soon enough.

I've got the filter about an inch or so below the waterline, so it's causing a gentle ripple, but no noise or water 'spurt', is that right?

Still at least that works, time will tell re the heater.

As long as the water surface is 'agitated' then the filter arm should be fine. I tend to put mine level with the water line to create a strong ripple as it will help agitate the water and therefore improve oxygen intake into the water.

Have you got a decent thermometer? Would definitely recommend a digital thermometer as they are not very expensive but much more reliable than a glass one or even worse those bloody awful strips you stick on the outside of the glass.

 

[Stat Brother]

As long as the water surface is 'agitated' then the filter arm should be fine. I tend to put mine level with the water line to create a strong ripple as it will help agitate the water and therefore improve oxygen intake into the water.

Have you got a decent thermometer? Would definitely recommend a digital thermometer as they are not very expensive but much more reliable than a glass one or even worse those bloody awful strips you stick on the outside of the glass.

Thanks I'm move it up a smidge.

Strip on the outside, I'll, begrudgingly, get a better one.

If my heater is working, how long should it take to notice a difference to 126 ltr of what was feckin cold water?

 

[Superphil]

Shirley this thread needs some inspiration?

240l Community tank, small fish, some colourful endlers and some wild South American golden tetras. There's also a few Panda Coreys and Chain Loaches in there somewhere (I'm rubbish at Latin names)

 

[sjamesb3466]

Thanks I'm move it up a smidge.

Strip on the outside, I'll, begrudgingly, get a better one.

If my heater is working, how long should it take to notice a difference to 126 ltr of what was feckin cold water?

Lol I just hate the strips as I don't find them very accurate and can be too easily affected by sunlight etc. One of the below is more than sufficient and will be a god send in the summer as you will be able to notice any major temperature fluctuations easily. Last summer during a particularly hot spell I had to keep the lights switched off/lid open to try my best to keep the temp below 27*C. Otherwise you can always do small (10%) water changes every day with water about 20*C to gently bring down the overall temperature a little bit. Whatever you do never put water in straight from the tap as the change in temp can stress your fish unnecessarily. I have a separate small heater that I put in my water change bucket which brings the temperature level of the new water up to the tank water temperature within an hour.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fluval-Cel...&sr=8-5&keywords=digital+aquarium+thermometer

 

[Stat Brother]

240l Community tank, small fish, some colourful endlers and some wild South American golden tetras. There's also a few Panda Coreys and Chain Loaches in there somewhere (I'm rubbish at Latin names)

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Blimey by comparison mine looks like solitary confinement.

Am I ok to add 'furniture' as and when, or should I use this non-fish week as my only time to make the place look comfy?

 

[Superphil]

Blimey by comparison mine looks like solitary confinement.

Am I ok to add 'furniture' as and when, or should I use this non-fish week as my only time to make the place look comfy?

So long as what you put in the tank is clean and not contaminated with anything I'm pretty sure you can introduce at any time, do be sure to read some dos and dont's though, some rocks are not at all suitable, and I'd avoid anythIng artificial that isn't made specifically for aquariums.

 

[sjamesb3466]

So long as what you put in the tank is clean and not contaminated with anything I'm pretty sure you can introduce at any time, do be sure to read some dos and dont's though, some rocks are not at all suitable, and I'd avoid anythIng artificial that isn't made specifically for aquariums.

This all the way.

It will also depend on the type of fish you have. In my experience, a community tank tends to flourish when things are stable and consistent however with my cichlids I tend to move the rocks around every month/6 weeks or so as chiclids are naturally quite territorial and I find changing the aquascape every so often prevents fish 'claiming' an area too much and bullying anyone that comes near his/her turf.

 

[sjamesb3466]

240l Community tank, small fish, some colourful endlers and some wild South American golden tetras. There's also a few Panda Coreys and Chain Loaches in there somewhere (I'm rubbish at Latin names)

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Nice set up You have the same heater as me too (great minds and all that)

 

['sladegull]

Do some googling to understand the nitrogen cycle or your fish will suffer even if they survive . Its not rocket science

I am paranoid about losing fish so use test strips regularly. If you can afford it buy a more accurate test kit


Its all about the water quality take your time and don't rush to introduce fish too early