Fish Tanks \ Aquariums

Hi

Thinking of getting a fish tank\aquarium, ideally to keep tropical fish, im a total beginner though with no experience. Any hints or tips, can anyone recommend a decent book to get?

Thanks in advance.

Join a decent UK based internet forum for fish keeping - I'm now into refs but there were quote a few - tropicalfishforums.co.uk (?sp) or similar

very useful

read a lot before you go for it and don't rush - especially the tank cycle this is VITAL and there are no short cuts

you will have a tank with no fish in it for several weeks whilst the bacteria build in the filter - rushing this stage will cause fish deaths and cost you money

Good luck bud and let us know how you get on - its a fantastic rewarding hobby

I keep fire bellied newts and Congo frogs in a ex Terra set up, I found fish a bit boring after a while.

ps I think Steve is gay

Thanks for the advice, im keen not to rush into it as i want to get it right, will take a look at some forums

Can you recommend a good starter tank etc?

I found the best thing to do was to go and speak to an expert about it. Find a decent aquarium stockist close to you (a proper one, not somewhere like Pets at Home). If you live anywhere near Romsey then Romsey World of Water always used to be pretty good (at least when I had my tropical setup a few years back). They'll be able to give you all the advice you need for startup.

And good aquarium stockists will be able to sell a complete starter pack (tank, heater, pump/filter, plants, gravel etc). They often come bundled in start up packs. The theory of them is pretty much the whatever the size of tank, my first tank was 3ft so you dont necessarily have to start small and work up.

I work just round the corner from Romsey World of Water so will pop in, i see they charge £99 for an hour installation and maintenance course so might try that? Thanks for the help :-)

Start with cheaper low maintenance fish, such as cichlids so you get used to them before moving onto high maintenance species

Also, get a water testing kit so you can test the quality of the water

Practical Fishkeeping Magazine forum is probably best place to start online - they're all very friendly and patient on there. World of Water was always good and there are a few branches of Maidenhead Aquatics dotted around Hants who are the best chain (imo). You're actually better starting with a bigger tank than a smaller one as they need less maintenance believe it or not. 150-200 litres is a good size that you won't grow out of quickly, can keep most fish in happily but at the same time won't take over your living room! Feel free to pm me if you want to learn from my many fishkeeping mistakes over the years!

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My Dad when I was growing was into all this lark, we had an octopus at one point and the thing was an escape artist!

My Dad when I was growing was into all this lark, we had an octopus at one point and the thing was an escape artist!

I had crabs (phnarr). A couple of them. They lasted for about 2 days before they both make a break for freedom (crawling up the wire for the pump and through an impossibly small gap in the tank lid. They were found perished, shrivelled and dried out by me the next morning on the living room floor, one having made it all the way to the patio doors. Idiots.

Ha ha this thing used to whack its tentacles out and then pull itself out of wait a while and realise it could not breath and drop down the tank and start again.

Even if tropical fish shops tell you it's fine to put African Rainbow Crabs in with you tropical fish, it's not! They will eat the lot.

If freshwater, it's best to cycle (as sussex says) the tank first to set up good levels before introducing fish. Don't get fish from ****ty pet shops and look out for sick ones to avoid contamination. Get some living plants in there too.

Agreed - live plants are the way to go. You'll be forever cleaning the algae off of artificial plants, the live ones look nicer, oxygenate the tank and absorb nitrates (fish poo). Not that it means you won't still have to clean the tank/change the water of course!

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I had them for a while, was great for a couple ofyears but then I got bored with the cleaning and expense. All came to a tragic end when I dropped a big saucepan out of the cupboard above them which bounced off the worksurface and smashed the tank. Fish and water all over the floor.

I had them for a while, was great for a couple ofyears but then I got bored with the cleaning and expense.

Sadly, I got bored too after a few years and waited for the last hardy tetra to kick the bucket before packing the equipment away! (Well, actually, I made the decision to chop it's head off* as he was looking bad)

Think I'd like to try a salt water tank with some clown (Nemo) fish soon though.

All came to a tragic end when I dropped a big saucepan out of the cupboard above them which bounced off the worksurface and smashed the tank. Fish and water all over the floor.

Oh ****!

*Apparently the most humane way to euthanize a fish FWIW

I have a reef tank now, it's incredible. Not only are the fish stunning but the corals are absolutely fascinating as well. Plus I have shrimp, hermit crabs, starfish etc all forming a symbiotic tank. My randalls goby and pistol shrimp have pried and I could watch them work together all day. Makes me wonder why I ever bothered with tropical.

I have a reef tank now, it's incredible. Not only are the fish stunning but the corals are absolutely fascinating as well. Plus I have shrimp, hermit crabs, starfish etc all forming a symbiotic tank. My randalls goby and pistol shrimp have pried and I could watch them work together all day. Makes me wonder why I ever bothered with tropical.

How much extra work is having a reef tank compared to a tropical setup? No doubt reef setups look much better (and have a much more interesting variety of sea creature) but they just seem like far too much hard work to me.