Your first tank. What fish should you get - Aquarium Advice

**BrianNY** · 06-20-2005, 06:13 AM

Many first time aquarium owners set up their tanks without planning what inhabitants it will house. They will wander through the lfs confused about what fish should be kept with what, or worse buy whatever strikes their fancy. This is one of the most common mistakes a newbie will make.

Having a plan to stock your tank will save both you and your fish alot of aggrevation. We can help you plan a trouble free first aquarium if you provide us with the following information:

1. Tank size
2. Current filtration
3. Type of substrate
4. pH of your water
5. What type of fish you like the most.

After deciding on the type of aquarium you want, and what fish you want to keep, begin a new thread in this forum and we'll discuss the needs and compatibility of these fish before you make a purchase.

**QTOFFER** · 06-20-2005, 09:56 AM

Great thread, Brian!

You know why you see so many complete aquarium setups in the trash, at garage sales/flea markets, or listed on Craigslist/E-Bay?

The people who previously owned them probably didn't know how to cycle the filter, or keep the water parameters stable, or they simply purchased incompatible species...or species that just require some degree of experience. The result was fish deaths, frustration, replacement fish, more fish deaths, more frustration, and finally...giving up.

Don't let this happen to you! AA can help!

06-20-2005, 05:26 PM

Yay! i actually had a good idea

Thanks Brian

greenmaji · 06-20-2005, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AshleyNicole

Yay! i actually had a good idea

Thanks Brian

Good show AshleyNicole!!!

megladonsharky · 06-20-2005, 11:16 PM

Mananhammer · 06-23-2005, 04:32 PM

Love this idea this gives me a noob some criteria before wasting. Rock on AA rules!!!

gfink · 07-08-2005, 04:07 PM

Good suggestions for different types of communities with links to info on each fish.

http://www.elmersaquarium.com/c106communityinfo.htm

I also use this site to get info on specific fish. http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/categ.cfm?pcatid=830

mr86mister · 07-11-2005, 01:50 PM

i took some time to look up some cycling and beginners questions so they can read up as well as getting help from us

The Nitrogen Cycle: http://www.algone.com/cycle.htm

http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/cycling2.htm

The Beneficial Bacteria: http://www.algone.com/nitrifiers.htm

Fishless Cycling: http://www.tropicalfishcentre.co.uk/Fishlesscycle.htm

http://www.pcpages.com/fish/fishless.html

http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/tom01.html

Info on live plants: http://www.algone.com/plants.htm

Basic info on Tropical Aquarium: http://www.aquariumfish.net/informat..._aquariums.htm

Choosing Fish: http://www.tropicalfishcentre.co.uk/Choosing.htm

Some fish to start with after Cycle is complete: http://home.comcast.net/~jpsweb/fish.html

i hope this helps everyone, its for beginners and i know others will have different ideas or views as do i, but this is good for beginners

06-20-2005, 06:13 AM	#1 (permalink)
BrianNY Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 4,248 Images: 18	Your first tank. What fish should you get Many first time aquarium owners set up their tanks without planning what inhabitants it will house. They will wander through the lfs confused about what fish should be kept with what, or worse buy whatever strikes their fancy. This is one of the most common mistakes a newbie will make. Having a plan to stock your tank will save both you and your fish alot of aggrevation. We can help you plan a trouble free first aquarium if you provide us with the following information: 1. Tank size 2. Current filtration 3. Type of substrate 4. pH of your water 5. What type of fish you like the most. After deciding on the type of aquarium you want, and what fish you want to keep, begin a new thread in this forum and we'll discuss the needs and compatibility of these fish before you make a purchase. Last edited by Fishyfanatic; 06-23-2008 at 01:52 PM.

06-20-2005, 11:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
megladonsharky Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: north idaho Posts: 468	__________________ two gallon with 16 [acronym:362a9a3f00="Gallons per hour"]gph[/acronym:362a9a3f00] filter with live plants and a female betta named Meloday 3-4 gallon with 80gph ... Planted lightly three white clouds ( Birtha Clara and Delila) and some snails (mainly melodys snacks) 9 gallon with 130gph , heated with male betta (Trafalger RIP)Kaden ( a male betta)has moved in, pygmy cory (MaMa) , pitbull pleco(Metal), three preacox rainbows( Annabel, Glitter and Mondo) and various snails...

07-08-2005, 04:07 PM	#7 (permalink)
gfink Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Connecticut Posts: 398 Images: 7	Good suggestions for different types of communities with links to info on each fish. http://www.elmersaquarium.com/c106communityinfo.htm I also use this site to get info on specific fish. http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/categ.cfm?pcatid=830 __________________ 10 Gal Planted, 3 [acronym="Watts Per Gallon"]wpg[/acronym], Eco-Complete and Tahitian Moon Sand 29 Gal Planted, 1.2 [acronym="Watts Per Gallon"]wpg[/acronym], Estes Gravel

07-11-2005, 01:50 PM	#8 (permalink)
mr86mister Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: May 2005 Location: East Syracuse, NY Posts: 723 Images: 21	i took some time to look up some cycling and beginners questions so they can read up as well as getting help from us The Nitrogen Cycle: http://www.algone.com/cycle.htm http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/cycling2.htm The Beneficial Bacteria: http://www.algone.com/nitrifiers.htm Fishless Cycling: http://www.tropicalfishcentre.co.uk/Fishlesscycle.htm http://www.pcpages.com/fish/fishless.html http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/tom01.html Info on live plants: http://www.algone.com/plants.htm Basic info on Tropical Aquarium: http://www.aquariumfish.net/informat..._aquariums.htm Choosing Fish: http://www.tropicalfishcentre.co.uk/Choosing.htm Some fish to start with after Cycle is complete: http://home.comcast.net/~jpsweb/fish.html i hope this helps everyone, its for beginners and i know others will have different ideas or views as do i, but this is good for beginners __________________ 20 Gallon High Semi-Aggressive 5 Gallon Community 3 Gallon Wet/Dry for Fiddler Crab Oceanic BioCube 14Gal

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06-20-2005, 09:56 AM	#2 (permalink)
QTOFFER Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Kew Gardens, NY Posts: 3,669 Images: 30	Great thread, Brian! You know why you see so many complete aquarium setups in the trash, at garage sales/flea markets, or listed on Craigslist/E-Bay? The people who previously owned them probably didn't know how to cycle the filter, or keep the water parameters stable, or they simply purchased incompatible species...or species that just require some degree of experience. The result was fish deaths, frustration, replacement fish, more fish deaths, more frustration, and finally...giving up. Don't let this happen to you! AA can help!

06-20-2005, 05:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
Guest Posts: n/a	Yay! i actually had a good idea Thanks Brian

06-23-2005, 04:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mananhammer Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: May 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 34	Love this idea this gives me a noob some criteria before wasting. Rock on AA rules!!!

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