Just bought a fish tank
Discussion
One of these, being delivered Friday,
http://aquael.co.uk/product/aspect-80cm-black-cabi...
Used to keep Tropical fish years ago so know a little bit, but after tips on essential reading, fish to buy or any tips.
http://aquael.co.uk/product/aspect-80cm-black-cabi...
Used to keep Tropical fish years ago so know a little bit, but after tips on essential reading, fish to buy or any tips.
Dr Mike Oxgreen said:
The maximum for nitrate in tap water is 50 mg/l, above which your water company would be in trouble. Whilst this would be too high for some species of fish and/or inverts, it's fine for a large number of spjecies - especially if the individuals are acclimatised to it, which they will be if you bought them from a nearby fish store.
If you're buying water from a shop, it'll be Reverse Osmosis (RO) water. It's important to know that you must not use it on its own, because it has zero hardness and therefore no buffering against swings in pH. You must either remineralise it using special mineral mixtures, or mix it with your tap water. I personally use rain water and mix it with tap water in approximately 3:1 rain:tap ratio, which gives me the moderately soft water that I want for my chilli rasboras (but not too soft for my shrimps).
We know this tank is 80cm long, but what are its other dimensions? That will be key is determining what fish you can keep.
Another key question is quite simply: which species of fish do you like? What have you kept in the past, and how successful were you? Are you interested in growing plants? Do you want to keep inverts like shrimps?
Used to have a pair of Silver Dollars, loads of Neon Tetras and the usual stuff, it went pretty well, had a 2 ft tank, just lost one of two Goldfish after 15 years, thats our only current fish, the other looks like its 100 years old.If you're buying water from a shop, it'll be Reverse Osmosis (RO) water. It's important to know that you must not use it on its own, because it has zero hardness and therefore no buffering against swings in pH. You must either remineralise it using special mineral mixtures, or mix it with your tap water. I personally use rain water and mix it with tap water in approximately 3:1 rain:tap ratio, which gives me the moderately soft water that I want for my chilli rasboras (but not too soft for my shrimps).
We know this tank is 80cm long, but what are its other dimensions? That will be key is determining what fish you can keep.
Another key question is quite simply: which species of fish do you like? What have you kept in the past, and how successful were you? Are you interested in growing plants? Do you want to keep inverts like shrimps?
Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Sunday 11th December 20:43
This holds 112 litres, 80h * 30d * 45h.
I bought the display one which had a load of plastic plants, but will have a mixture I think, I remember that live plants help Nitrogen levels.
Going to do some reading on types of fish and decide what to get, nothing sharky, had a red tail one last time and it was a menace, would like a couple of Silver Dollars again, reminds me of my youth, used to have my tank in my bedroom at my parents before I moved out, was fantastic, really excited to go back to having a tank, its going in my office/man cave which has always looked a bit unfinished but I think it will really finish it off.
Last time I had a tank, I just kept it clean, changed a few inches of water every week and had what, at least it seemed to me to be a healthy tank with active fish.
I didnt do any PH, Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia or any other testing, I had no idea about it and very rarely lost many fish, dont remember having any stuff to add tot he water.
Will be a bit more scientific this time though, just filled it today and tested the PH and it was 7.0 based on the test kit, water is clearing nicely.
I will give it this week and then pop to my local fish shop and get a few hardy fish, Danios and maybe something else.
Quite an expensive business this, popped in yesterday to get more gravel and an air pump/stone, £50, realised I didnt have a net or a thermometer, so theres another £15, then, Friday probably another 50 quid. Had to get an 8 gang socket, £18.
I didnt do any PH, Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia or any other testing, I had no idea about it and very rarely lost many fish, dont remember having any stuff to add tot he water.
Will be a bit more scientific this time though, just filled it today and tested the PH and it was 7.0 based on the test kit, water is clearing nicely.
I will give it this week and then pop to my local fish shop and get a few hardy fish, Danios and maybe something else.
Quite an expensive business this, popped in yesterday to get more gravel and an air pump/stone, £50, realised I didnt have a net or a thermometer, so theres another £15, then, Friday probably another 50 quid. Had to get an 8 gang socket, £18.
SeeFive said:
... If,you are adding fish, add a whole bottle of Tetra Safe Start in any volume bigger than your tank to be (shaken vigorously beforehand) an hour before the fish. Turn off any blue lights for a week at least and just leave it alone 
IMO, don't let them fob you off with anything else instead of safe start.
Well, its a Fish tank, am fairly keen to get some fish in there at some point IMO, don't let them fob you off with anything else instead of safe start.
When you say Blue Lights, does that mean the Led tubes in the tank.
Will get some safe start for sure, will be going on Friday to get it and some fish, maybe a couple of plants.
With regards to adding rocks, if I want to add some does it have to be from the fish shop or are there any rules for adding stuff I have or find, obviously dont want to poison the tank
I got four Platys, three Silver Dollars and five Neon Tetras, two Neons have deceased, looks like the biggest one has nipped the tails off them, seems to have settled down, PH, Ammomnia, temp and Nitrate all fine, water looks fine, put Safe Start in.
Fish shop will replace the Tetras when I get some more fish they said but said wait a week or two which is fair enough.
Is a Betta a bad idea ?
Fish shop will replace the Tetras when I get some more fish they said but said wait a week or two which is fair enough.
Is a Betta a bad idea ?
The fish shop replaced the Neons, have added three Panda Corys, 2 Gourami and a Shrimp, all seems pretty harmonious so far and lovely to watch, checked all the levels today (PH, Nitrates and Ammonia) and they were all good, changed ten percent of the water.
That will do for now, seemed a bit lacking but plenty to look at now, will let them all settle in and then rethink the planting in there, just gave the Dollars some lettuce to try and entice them away from eating the plants, I knew that would happen and thankfully they only bother with one and it is growing faster than they can eat it.
That will do for now, seemed a bit lacking but plenty to look at now, will let them all settle in and then rethink the planting in there, just gave the Dollars some lettuce to try and entice them away from eating the plants, I knew that would happen and thankfully they only bother with one and it is growing faster than they can eat it.
My Shrimp promptly hid in the gap behind the filter and I thought he may not be well/happy, this morning he is centre stage charging up and down, funny to watch,
Did put some safe start in when I added the new fish, noticed a bit of Algae on the front of the tank, have ordered a scraper to remove it, are snails better for keeping it clean or other methods ?
All seems good, lots of activity, no agression manifesting itself.
Did put some safe start in when I added the new fish, noticed a bit of Algae on the front of the tank, have ordered a scraper to remove it, are snails better for keeping it clean or other methods ?
All seems good, lots of activity, no agression manifesting itself.
S11Steve said:
If you've seen one baby platy, there will be a dozen more you can't see!
I kept Koi for around 15 years before I had to fill in the pond before renting the house out. I went a year without fish, then bought a 180l tank on impulse. Then a few months later a 120l Marine system, then another 180l tropical, then a 40l pygmy puffer set-up... then a 6ft, 1200litre mixed reef tank.
You're now on a slippery slope!!
Oh wow that is stunning.I kept Koi for around 15 years before I had to fill in the pond before renting the house out. I went a year without fish, then bought a 180l tank on impulse. Then a few months later a 120l Marine system, then another 180l tropical, then a 40l pygmy puffer set-up... then a 6ft, 1200litre mixed reef tank.
You're now on a slippery slope!!
I am really enjoying being back into it, so much more info easily available via the net nowadays, the Facebook group is very helpful, you get instant answers from knowledgeable folk.
The Brown Algae (Diatoms) that bloomed is goign now, apparently a new tank thing, fish seem happy, water parameters good.
the whole family are interested which is nice, my youngest (17) particularly, he has been sending his mates photos and my wife likes it, she keeps checking on the baby Platty that is lurking (wisely) behind the filter stack.
We have definitely seen two, but only one of late but they are good at hiding, hopefully it will survive.
One day I will have a marine tank and have always wanted a pond.
SeeFive said:
Hi Jacko.
Sounds like it is going well, chuffed for you.
As suggested above, patties make good food for adult fish, I had to be in there quick with the net years ago to get them into a nursery tank as the angels just loved them. I had one pregnant platy in a breeding trap, and as soon as a little one popped out the back, she would turn around and immediately eat it if it hadn't dropped through the grille to safety. Quick as a flash, not too maternal at all.
I put some extra red shrimps into the shrimp tank a few days ago to mix up the breeding gene pool and keep colours strong. They are probably 4 generations into incest now, so they will be dropping brown ones soon.
For a splash of different clolour in the tank, I also added 5 black and white striped crystal shrimps to see if my water conditions suit them (should be ok). If so, will hopefully start to build a little ecosystem of those by adding another 5 and putting some Barry White on for them.
Nice shrimps, but at £6.95 a pop - woh, they had better live!!
Yeah I paid £7.50 for mine, he is a Bamboo Shrimp I think he is called "Genghis" now according to my son, the baby Platty is called "Dinsdale", as he sticks his head out like the Hedgehog from Monty python and is likely to be someones Din Dins.Sounds like it is going well, chuffed for you.
As suggested above, patties make good food for adult fish, I had to be in there quick with the net years ago to get them into a nursery tank as the angels just loved them. I had one pregnant platy in a breeding trap, and as soon as a little one popped out the back, she would turn around and immediately eat it if it hadn't dropped through the grille to safety. Quick as a flash, not too maternal at all.
I put some extra red shrimps into the shrimp tank a few days ago to mix up the breeding gene pool and keep colours strong. They are probably 4 generations into incest now, so they will be dropping brown ones soon.
For a splash of different clolour in the tank, I also added 5 black and white striped crystal shrimps to see if my water conditions suit them (should be ok). If so, will hopefully start to build a little ecosystem of those by adding another 5 and putting some Barry White on for them.
Nice shrimps, but at £6.95 a pop - woh, they had better live!!
Would like a tank for the other living room now, I think she might go for it, currently there is a solitary 15 year old Goldfish in there, he mate died before Christmas and was cremated in the log burner one night over a drink, better than what most Goldfish get !
Cheers, is there a minimum size for Marine ? I do get that the water volume buffers issues to a certain extent but a small marine tank would go nicely in our lounge.
Failing that, have seen smallish tanks for one Betta, is that cruel, I dont mean the super tiny ones with no filtration, heat or air.
Also, when you change water (tropical) do you just add it with Tapsafe in it that has had five mins to do its stuff or do you warm it in some warm, I added a kettle full of boiling water so it wasnt ice cold.
Do you make your own RO water ?
Failing that, have seen smallish tanks for one Betta, is that cruel, I dont mean the super tiny ones with no filtration, heat or air.
Also, when you change water (tropical) do you just add it with Tapsafe in it that has had five mins to do its stuff or do you warm it in some warm, I added a kettle full of boiling water so it wasnt ice cold.
Do you make your own RO water ?
Edited by J4CKO on Thursday 12th January 13:40
Cheers !
the baby Platy is about 1cm now and is getting bolder and venturing out of his hiding spot, I reckon he is going to get eaten,
Dont think the dollars will bother they mainly eat my plants and Platty turds, they are like hippy Piranhas.
platties, dunno, thick as mince eating machines, depends on whether it is too big to fit in their mouths
Panda Corys, nah too small, low down, not arsed with anything that isnt on the bottom
Gourami, think he would but seems to be too quick so far.
Genghis the Shrimp, too small, too fixated on poo
the baby Platy is about 1cm now and is getting bolder and venturing out of his hiding spot, I reckon he is going to get eaten,
Dont think the dollars will bother they mainly eat my plants and Platty turds, they are like hippy Piranhas.
platties, dunno, thick as mince eating machines, depends on whether it is too big to fit in their mouths
Panda Corys, nah too small, low down, not arsed with anything that isnt on the bottom
Gourami, think he would but seems to be too quick so far.
Genghis the Shrimp, too small, too fixated on poo
Reorganised the tank last night, ot rid of the plant my Dollars had decimated, cleaned everything, changed 20 litres of water, scrubbed the sides and realised the pump wasnt flowing that hard, adjusted that and then relaised why the airstone wasnt bubbling that well, pipe was kinked. The fish seem to love the higher flow and swim at it and then get carried back, quite funny to watch.
Anyway, came down this morning, the water is crystal clear and the fish are super active, it is mesmerising, that moment when you feel its all come together, and my baby Platty is still alive.
Going to go to the fish shop in a bit,
Might replace the Gourami that died, it was bullied to death by the other one, get some different food to give them a change, need a net as I ordered one and it never turned up and might get a fry box as I think another Platty is preggers.
Plattys are always givign birth, usually to ses who can swim round witht he lagest turd hanging from their back end, the Dollars and stuff you never see poop, Plattys you never see without.
So glad I got another tank.
Anyway, came down this morning, the water is crystal clear and the fish are super active, it is mesmerising, that moment when you feel its all come together, and my baby Platty is still alive.
Going to go to the fish shop in a bit,
Might replace the Gourami that died, it was bullied to death by the other one, get some different food to give them a change, need a net as I ordered one and it never turned up and might get a fry box as I think another Platty is preggers.
Plattys are always givign birth, usually to ses who can swim round witht he lagest turd hanging from their back end, the Dollars and stuff you never see poop, Plattys you never see without.
So glad I got another tank.
condor said:
I was told that the fish with a line of poo coming out of their bottom ( sorry don't know the technical terms) were suffering from fish influenza and that could be treated with ( i think it was a grain of potassium pomamgenate in the water with infected fish). Can anyone knowledgeable confirm?
I asked the guy in the fish shop said it is normal Platties are s
tting machines, all my other fish seem to find a quiet corner but these just go round trailing it like a lead, he said just seed them a bit less.Noticed my Gourami is staing near the filter and at the top all the time, not sure whats going on there, I know they are top dweller but seems something is wrong, everything else is very active
Gourami was dead this morning 
Rest seem fine, the flow rate of the pump was too low so I turned it up to get some decent flow and apparently Gouramis dont like that, not sure if that would kill it though, they seem like hard work to be honest, loads of stuff about them just expiring, a lot of diseased ones, they even have their own disease that only affects them.
my baby Platties are surviving, saw both at once today
Rest seem fine, the flow rate of the pump was too low so I turned it up to get some decent flow and apparently Gouramis dont like that, not sure if that would kill it though, they seem like hard work to be honest, loads of stuff about them just expiring, a lot of diseased ones, they even have their own disease that only affects them.
my baby Platties are surviving, saw both at once today
Oakey said:
My two Gouramis have been doing okay since August now, even if they do hate each other. What kind did you have?
I was looking at some small orange coloured ones in Pets at Risk the other week and noticed one of them had dropsy, it looked ridiculous. Like some sort of bizarre puffer fish.
Steve, is that a Juwel tank? Which is it? I want a bigger tank, can't decide whether I'd rather have a Juwel 180 or a Roma 200.
Cant remember what they guy in the shop called them other than Gourami.I was looking at some small orange coloured ones in Pets at Risk the other week and noticed one of them had dropsy, it looked ridiculous. Like some sort of bizarre puffer fish.
Steve, is that a Juwel tank? Which is it? I want a bigger tank, can't decide whether I'd rather have a Juwel 180 or a Roma 200.
For now am going to stick to my dollars, Guppies, Plattys and that kind of stuff, would like to try a male Betta in there but not sure on that one.
The Gourami were always a bit slow and nervous, unless they were harassing each other, put me off them a bit.
One of the babies was out in the open, obviously getting a bit more confident, dont think the others looked all that bothered, only really at risk from other Plattys, but probably borderline for getting eaten by a Platty now at a centimetre long and they cant half move quick, they sort of teleport rahter than swim.
So, four months in and loving it, lost a couple of fish, Gouramis didnt do very well, couple of Neons and one of my Cory Pandas, however everything else is thriving, a bit too much as now ending up with a lot of Platys and Mollies, every time I look there seems to be more, I do a decent water change once a week and am not finding it a chore, do a bit of running cleaning through the week.
I think after a full year of tropical I may go Marine in the other room, the whole family loves the fish tank and pends ages looking at it, a major issue this week has been "Ghengis" the Bamboo Shrimps state of mind since a Golden Nugget Plec was introduced, my wife is applying some human psuedo psychology to fish which is amusing, I reckon he was just shedding, I mentioned that some Plecs may eat Shrimp, but not a small Golden Nugget.
Will need to go for a bigger tropical tank as my Silver Dollars will outgrow it.
But, Marine, where to start, will be a fairly small showpiece tank.
I think after a full year of tropical I may go Marine in the other room, the whole family loves the fish tank and pends ages looking at it, a major issue this week has been "Ghengis" the Bamboo Shrimps state of mind since a Golden Nugget Plec was introduced, my wife is applying some human psuedo psychology to fish which is amusing, I reckon he was just shedding, I mentioned that some Plecs may eat Shrimp, but not a small Golden Nugget.
Will need to go for a bigger tropical tank as my Silver Dollars will outgrow it.
But, Marine, where to start, will be a fairly small showpiece tank.
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