Tropical fish

[BRIGHT ON Q]

I'll give it a year.

 

[The Grockle]

It won't make the slightest bit of difference how long you leave the tank set up....a day, a year, a decade. The tank will need some kind of bacteria source to get the filters started and the nitrogen cycle kicked in. You then have two choices, follow the "fishless cycle" or add one or two small fish a build up slowly....but you must get the bacteria going.

The best way to do that is to get some old aquarium water from a friends tank....maybe a bit of sand or gravel too (only half a cupful) or even better....find someone whose cleaning their filter out and get them to save some of the crud from that (it'll need to go in your tank within a couple of hours)





Thank you uncle Jack....you had the pleasure of seeing my 150 gallon tropical marine reef aquarium when i lived in Brighton and it was one of the best in the country at the time.

I haven't forgotten about your cash...i'll get it to you this week

You clearly know your stuff Jevs! I've only had a couple of tanks, i'm certainly no expert-just throwing in my 10 pence worth!

A 700 litre Marine set up sounds pretty impressive, do you have any pictures?

 

[seven stands]

Yeah....don't listen to any of the shit posted on here so far

1) Leave the tank for a month ? Why ? please explain
2) Make sure the new water is room temperature ? Room temp is approx 68 degrees F...too cold for most trops
3) A 300 lph filter is a decent one ? not if you've got a 5 litre tank its not....and it wouldn't be a lot of kop for my 450 litre.

What size tank do you have, what equipment have you got and what would you like to keep ?? we can go from there !!!

Good luck

2. i ment dont pour straight out of cold tap into tank, be nice to be able to afford a warm up tank., but yes i prob am speaking shit .

 

[Billy the Fish]

PS Where's my eight squid!!

Swimming around in Jevs' aquarium by the sounds of it

 

[biggles]

another tip for getting used to fish keeping and aquariams etc.
set your tank up with saltwater , filters ,gravel , rocks etc .
then get yourself down to some rockpools and stock up with baby bass ,wrasse, mullet , shrimps , gobies .terrific fun , fish cost is zilch . when you get really brave ask some local pot fishermen for some cuttlefish eggs (the cuttle lay eegs on the pot lines) put the eegs in the tank and they will hatch in june if i remember correctly , the cuttle are tops to keep thewy change shape and colour but beware of the ink!!

 

[throbinson]

Yeah....don't listen to any of the shit posted on here so far

1) Leave the tank for a month ? Why ? please explain
2) Make sure the new water is room temperature ? Room temp is approx 68 degrees F...too cold for most trops
3) A 300 lph filter is a decent one ? not if you've got a 5 litre tank its not....and it wouldn't be a lot of kop for my 450 litre.

What size tank do you have, what equipment have you got and what would you like to keep ?? we can go from there !!!

Good luck

Got a 95 litre tank, which came with a Elite jet-flo 100 underwater filter, 150w heater, tank comes with a light, got sum gravel, not sure on the fish as yet, that needs some more research.
The person in the shop said it proberly best to add just 6 hardy type of fish first

 

[Helter]

That reminds me of Diving in the Bahamas last year but obviously with larger tropical fish and masses of them. Always thought about getting a fish tank, just worried about my Cats thou

Invested? Why, are you planning on breeding the little scaley squirts and selling them?

Or get yourself and old telly, put it in a box and add a DVD

[yt]<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bLYLIenbYLc&hl=en_GB&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bLYLIenbYLc&hl=en_GB&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/yt]

 

[The Grockle]

Got a 95 litre tank, which came with a Elite jet-flo 100 underwater filter, 150w heater, tank comes with a light, got sum gravel, not sure on the fish as yet, that needs some more research.
The person in the shop said it proberly best to add just 6 hardy type of fish first

Have you been to the London aquarium? There's a pretty decent freshwater tropical section with plenty of fish you can buy in a pet shops, it might give you some idea of what fish you might want to keep?

 

[Daddies_Sauce]

As Jevs has indicated, learn how to keep the water and the fish will mostly look after themselves (unless they get eaten by bigger fish). Take a (small) pee in the tank when set up and leave it for a good while for the filters to start to work on the ammonia. Get the biological filtration process started first.

Trust us we are Koi-Keepers!

 

[biggles]

As Jevs has indicated, learn how to keep the water and the fish will mostly look after themselves (unless they get eaten by bigger fish). Take a (small) pee in the tank when set up and leave it for a good while for the filters to start to work on the ammonia. Get the biological filtration process started first.

Trust us we are Koi-Keepers!

yep forgot to say also take a big shit in the tank but do NOT put the used toilet paper in otherwise it may cause pollution

 

[mccraque]

get the filter running for a week or two before you add many fish. Depending on the size of the tank you could probably add one or two initially. Need to get the biological filter working first before putting too much strain on it.

Secondly - never wash the substrate in the filter as the bacteria living here keep the nitrate from turning to nitrite....which will kill your fish.

check the nitrite with a test kit regularly...especially initially after set up.

if nitrite is high, change a third of aquarium water daily til it lowers.

and be careful with your mix of fish. easy to make expensive mistakes.

 

[throbinson]

As Jevs has indicated, learn how to keep the water and the fish will mostly look after themselves (unless they get eaten by bigger fish). Take a (small) pee in the tank when set up and leave it for a good while for the filters to start to work on the ammonia. Get the biological filtration process started first.

Trust us we are Koi-Keepers!

You telling me to piss in the tank?

 

[Billy the Fish]

yep forgot to say also take a big shit in the tank but do NOT put the used toilet paper in otherwise it may cause pollution

Quality

 

[algie]

Saves me writing tons on this topic so just follow Jevs advice and NOT shop sellers unless they really know what they are talking about..
Cycling the tank as stated can take up to six weeks but aim for a month.I've cycled mine in two weeks only because i did water changes 3 times a day.Use someone elses water etc as Jevs says.That's a good tip and saves time.I can't be bothered to go right into the equipemnt detail but will list some important steps for you to follow.

1) Place tank in good location, not in view of sunlight on sturdy strong floor as the tank you have is bloody heavy once filled with water.That's a great tank to start with as well.The bigger the better and that's a fact as it is actually easier to look after then a much smaller one believe it or not.

2) Join fish forums,This way you pick up expert advice and tips.

3) Aim for a low tec setup.What i mean is don't go down the route of Co2 equipment as this can be tricky.There's plenty of plants that will do fine without co2 infusion.Carefull with airstones and plants.They don't really mix too well.Aim for 2watts per gallon of light if you want a planted tank.I've had plenty of sucess without co2.Good lighting and plant food is the key as well as regular upkeep ie water changes,gravel cleaning etc.

4) Study what fish and plants are hardy for beginners.You really need to do your homework on fish.Some shoal,some fin nip or eat others,some don't even like there own species etc.

5) Plant all your plants in one hit when you set up.Once tank has cycled then add fish gradually over months.Expect to lose one or two fish though.Thats life..


Seriously i could bang on all day about this as there is quite a bit to learn for a beginner if he wants to go down the correct route.Hire books,check charity shops,join forums is the only way.Once you have grasp how to start out then come back for plant,fish advice and other general advice/tips etc.There's alot to learn but rewarding.If you want to take the hobby seriously then you will enjoy what a complex hobby it can be and will want to read up on everything.
Good luck.

 

[algie]

You telling me to piss in the tank?

You can actually do that but i wouldn't though.

 

[throbinson]

Saves me writing tons on this topic so just follow Jevs advice and NOT shop sellers unless they really know what they are talking about..
Cycling the tank as stated can take up to six weeks but aim for a month.I've cycled mine in two weeks only because i did water changes 3 times a day.Use someone elses water etc as Jevs says.That's a good tip and saves time.I can't be bothered to go right into the equipemnt detail but will list some important steps for you to follow.

1) Place tank in good location, not in view of sunlight on sturdy strong floor as the tank you have is bloody heavy once filled with water.That's a great tank to start with as well.The bigger the better and that's a fact as it is actually easier to look after then a much smaller one believe it or not.

2) Join fish forums,This way you pick up expert advice and tips.

3) Aim for a low tec setup.What i mean is don't go down the route of Co2 equipment as this can be tricky.There's plenty of plants that will do fine without co2 infusion.Carefull with airstones and plants.They don't really mix too well.Aim for 2watts per gallon of light if you want a planted tank.I've had plenty of sucess without co2.Good lighting and plant food is the key as well as regular upkeep ie water changes,gravel cleaning etc.

4) Study what fish and plants are hardy for beginners.You really need to do your homework on fish.Some shoal,some fin nip or eat others,some don't even like there own species etc.

5) Plant all your plants in one hit when you set up.Once tank has cycled then add fish gradually over months.Expect to lose one or two fish though.Thats life..


Seriously i could bang on all day about this as there is quite a bit to learn for a beginner if he wants to go down the correct route.Hire books,check charity shops,join forums is the only way.Once you have grasp how to start out then come back for plant,fish advice and other general advice/tips etc.There's alot to learn but rewarding.If you want to take the hobby seriously then you will enjoy what a complex hobby it can be and will want to read up on everything.
Good luck.

Thanks for the advice,got to try and do it right with the money it costs, take it by what you said it best to have some plants in the tank?

 

[algie]

Don't have to but if you want a lovely relaxing tank to look at then it's the way to go.Plants are quality.Gives it the WOW factor for you and others to gaze at.You will love em when they grow etc.

 

[k2bluesky]

Plants = snails, check and wash plants, ask shop about getting rid of the snails, they multiply like stink and can be a pain as they add waste products which you don't want - don't over populate the tank, let them live in a country estate rather than a high rise. Red eye tetra last years, one of mine went on for 7 years!!

 

[Prettyboyshaw]

Most important thing is - USE THE FILTERED WATER FROM THE SHOPS!!!

I have tried and killed so many over about a year that I was going to give up. Tried all the chemicals water test etc. Waste of money! Use the pre filtered stuff they sell very cheap.

Since using it, I haven't lost any fish.

Also, do regular 10% water change, wash the filter out in the tank water you take out...our tap water is like poison down here.

 

[Superphil]

Jevs and Algie, what are your opinions of the all in one set ups available from aquatics shops, from the likes of Juwel, Aqua One, and others, where the kit includes tank, pump, filter, often the heater too? Also, what are your opinions on filters in the lid of the tank. I am only looking at a small tank, 30-50 litres max.