Beginner needs advice
Rodrigo Izurieta
I recently purchased a 28 gallon tank with a sponge filter. I want to get
started with "cool" fish and have "exotic" species (many colors, shapes,
etc.), but I also want them to be healthy and prosper. What type of fish do
you recommend? (freshwater, marine?) I have had some experience with
goldfish, but I really want to go beyond that.
--
Rodrigo Izurieta
Good ol' Al
Hi Rodrigo.
I too am new to aquaria but I'm hooked.:)
The thing to do is go slow. Fish can live for many years in the right conditions
so picking
the right fish is very important. Also you will want to get either fish that can
live well
together or a couple or so fish of one species. Either way one fish at a time
and let
things progress naturally. Remember to try to mimic nature as best you can and
things
should work out alright.
I have a 75 gallon f\w community tank with three clown Loach, 6 Sumatra Barbs,
2 Pl*cos,
a dragon goby and a weather loach. Also There are two tiger oscars [very small]
visiting
till the new tank is set up this weekend.
Were I you, I would start with a couple of small hardy fish to get the tank to
cycle and
establish the bio filter, then add a few clown loach. [I just love 'em you will
too] Gouramies
are really nice looking. Try to avoid buying a number of different new fish and
introducing
them all together. This is really hard on the bio filter, new fish and fish
already in the tank.
There is a ton of information here on the internet about all kinds of fish ,
fresh and marine
alike so read up, get smart, choose wisely and have fun.
Take care Rodrigo
Good o'l Al
PieNaple1
I would just like to add that in a 28 ga your best bet is freshwater. It is a
very bad idea to do even a starter marine tank in anything less than 40gallons.
Mostly I think because the water quality, pH, salinity, chemicals, etc... have
to be so exact. A 28 ga would have too many fluctuations. You seem to be
concerned about keeping the fish alive and healthy as well as being
aesthetically pleasing so go with the freshwater.
Oh... a suggestion for a pretty tank....
Lots of real plants, I have no desire to work hard for plants so I always buy
goof-proof easy to grow ones. Hornwort especially works great for me in a
simple gravel substrate.
The fish... (just a suggestion as there are many routes here)... I currently
have a beautiful set up with 5 cory cats, 2 blue dwarf gouramis (just
beautiful) and two female bettas (who are also beautiful, look just like the
males with slightly shorter fins. sometimes pretty femmes are hard to find
though). Oh, and a redtail shark, but he's pretty aggressive. I would have
more gouramis and bettas if room allowed (it's an overstocked 15 ga ) The
color and shapes are awesome!
And like someone else already said, it's a good idea to cycle your tank before
you get the permanent fish.
Candi (PieN...@aol.com)
RW Billings
I just got my 20 Gallon tank set up with 2 Giant Danios and 4 Zebra Danios
and a Kuli Loach. How long shoule I wait before adding some other fish and
when will I know when the cycle is complete. I've been testing the Ph and
Ammonia and the Ph is at about 7.6-7.8 and zero ammonia. All the fish seem
healthy but I don't want to buy expensive ones until I know the water is
right. I just have an UGF with a Powerhead. I'll probaly get a whisper
300 or so in a week. Thanks for the help in advance.
Beverly Erlebacher
In article <355694B7...@uio.telconet.net>,
Rodrigo Izurieta <rod.iz...@uio.telconet.net> wrote:
>I recently purchased a 28 gallon tank with a sponge filter. I want to get
>started with "cool" fish and have "exotic" species (many colors, shapes,
>etc.), but I also want them to be healthy and prosper. What type of fish do
>you recommend? (freshwater, marine?) I have had some experience with
>goldfish, but I really want to go beyond that.
Definitely freshwater. Go to your public library and read some books on
aquarium keeping. This will give you some idea of which fish you might
be interested in that are suitable for your tank and compatible with each
other, as well as being tough and tolerant of a beginner's mistakes. Also,
read the FAQs.
This will give you some background to ask more specific questions.
Btw, you've made a good choice in buying a 28 gallon tank. Many beginners
start out with a 5 or 10 gallon, not realizing that a small tank is much
harder to manage well than a bigger one.
Kelly Beard
I'm surprised no one has mentioned this yet, but I've never seen a sponge
filter that was adequate for a 28 gallon tank. You're probably going to
have to get some substantial filtering if you want to have a decent number
of fish, or have minimal fish because a sponge filter isn't going to be
able to handle a fish load of more than 3 or 4 small fish.
Forget marine. That is definetly an advanced hobby. Something for someone
with years of experience. You should start out with freshwater.
I take it your tank is not yet set up? You need to do some quick education
and research about the nitrification cycle so that you will have healthy,
happy fish. The first fish you buy should be fish that have a reputation
for taking a lot of abuse, because during nitrification, that is exactly
what will happen. If you buy a lot of "cool" and "exotic" fish, they may
not make it during those first two months when the bacteria are taking hold
in your tank.
My suggestion to you is to learn as much as you can BEFORE you get started.
Ask questions, hang around the LFS, read, browse the web, read the FAQs.
You say you have a 28 gallon and sponge filter. What other equipment do
you have?
--
"I live in the land of opportunity - and stealing, cheating and lying".
-- Juliana Hatfield
Kelly Beard, Cat IV, Team Allanti
Race in Tennessee - http://www.tbra.org/98-road.shtml
ICQ UID #1942410
Rodrigo Izurieta wrote in article <355694B7...@uio.telconet.net>...
>I recently purchased a 28 gallon tank with a sponge filter. I want to
get
>started with "cool" fish and have "exotic" species (many colors, shapes,
>etc.), but I also want them to be healthy and prosper. What type of fish
do
>you recommend? (freshwater, marine?) I have had some experience with
>goldfish, but I really want to go beyond that.
>--
>Rodrigo Izurieta
>
PieNaple1
>I'm surprised no one has mentioned this yet, but I've never seen a sponge<BR>
>filter that was adequate for a 28 gallon tank. You're probably going to<BR>
>have to get some substantial filtering if you want to have a decent
>of fish, or have minimal fish because a sponge filter isn't going to be<BR>
>able to handle a fish load of more than 3 or 4 small fish.
I'm wondering where you get this information? Many breeders use only sponge
filters on their tanks and nothing else. A sponge has a large surface area for
bacteria (so they are great bio filters) and two sponges would have twice as
much. I run a big aquaclear on my 55 ga (essentially a power/sponge filter)
wich is heavily stocked with no problems ( I also have an emporer on there
too.) Why do you say they won't work?
Candi (PieN...@aol.com)
heather&mike
Welcome. We started into freshwater tropical after a really "no fun at
all" experience with goldfish. This was our fault - not the goldfishs'. We
were newbies, made all the standard mistakes, learned about all the common
diseases - ich, velvet etc. at the expense of the fish. So, my first
recommendation would be read, read, and read some more especially the FAQ.
Lurking here will get you tons of info.
When we gave up on goldfish, lucky for them, we bought half a dozen head 'n
tail-light tetras to re-cycle our 20 gal. tank. We only lost one in the
process. Next addition was 4 dime-sized Angels, another 20 gal. tank, 6
cory cats, a 24 gal. coldwater freshwater tank with 3 native fish and a 16
gal. tank with the most recent addition of 2 wild-caught pelvacachromis
taeniatus (I think - identification is still tentative). The only casualty
so far has been the tetra and no illnesses.
We run sponge filters only on all our tanks. We like them because they are
simple, inexpensive and easy to maintain.
Salt-water is still on the wish-list but we need more experience, more money
and a bigger house :>/). Be prepared - you've only just begun!
harry silva
Rodrigo Izurieta <rod.iz...@uio.telconet.net> wrote:
>I recently purchased a 28 gallon tank with a sponge filter. I want to get
>started with "cool" fish and have "exotic" species (many colors, shapes,
>etc.), but I also want them to be healthy and prosper. What type of fish do
>you recommend? (freshwater, marine?) I have had some experience with
>goldfish, but I really want to go beyond that.
>--
>Rodrigo Izurieta
It's usually Best to start with freshwater.
But first get a good book. If the Book faq is still out there look up
the Simon and Schusters reference guide. It's still a fine 'picture'
book.
(We have it available from our book store... I'm not spaming but
frankly we have some of the best 'fish' books out there Reach our book
store from my home page http://www.spectra.net/~silvah)
Once you get a good book decide what fish you want to keep.
Frankly I find goldfish very interesting. But more 'tropical' fish
might be what you are after. Some good 'starter fish include guppies,
swordtails, Angelfish, Cories make a nice first catfish. And many
others.. for the first few weeks you might want to get some hardy fish
- such as Zebra Danio's (They have some rather interesting strains now
- including some with a gold shean, some with long fins) Most are
hardy and will surivie the cycling.
Did you get a heater? Therometer? Reflector/light? Plants? Gravel?
/harry silva/
Associate Director
Helping A Hand Foundation http://www.angelfire.com/biz/nelpinghand/
Check out Harry's Place http://www.spectra.net/~silvah/
were the voice of the SouthernTier!
(c)1998 HSE arr.