Hello all,
I am interested in setting up an aquarium, and have been getting started doing my research.
My first attempt at research beyond web surfing was "Aquariums for Dummies". Ouch. I don't know anything about fish and I could tell it was a useless book. Back to the store that went.
I now have read "The Simple Guide to Freshwater Aquariums" twice. It has answered a lot of my questions, but still has left me a little confused/indecisive on some things. I wanted to ask here before starting equipment and fish shopping.
! THINK I am going to go with a 29gal tank. I would like a 50 or 55, but the spot I plan on putting it is not really that close to a faucet. My brother used to keep a tank, (a 55 I think), but by the time he and his wife drained it and garaged it, it was pretty green. I have a funny feeling they didn't maintain it too well and the fish weren't living too long. I think my wife would be willing to let me keep the larger tank if I got it and the equipment from them. My question here is: how safe is it to use that old tank? If I bleach it, dechlorinate it, replace all the filter media, etc., what is the likelihood that it will be suitable for use? How will I know?
Water Changes: Okay, I have figured out that water changes are a good thing. The book I have suggested 20% a week, with 50% being even better (I don't think 50% is gonna happen, unless it truly is necessary). I'm willing to do 20% changes once a week, but that book left out some specifics. First, how do I get the temperature correct? Do I just mix in some hot tap water until the water stream feels lukewarm, and then just let the python do its thing? Do I have to get the temperature EXACTLY right?
I have Chloramine (Chlorine during March) treated water. Is it sufficient to drip the treatment into my tank before adding the water? Do I need to add extra because the Carbon filter I will probably have will suck some up? If I have to do PWC's via buckets in order to treat the water properly, a 55gal could get really old, really fast.
Some sites/books say that EVERYBODY should have a UGF, at least as a backup, others say that UGF's are prone to dangerous anerobic pockets, and beginners should just stick to power filters only. What is the "real" deal here? (I'll probably have some big questions later about power filters once I start equipment shopping.)
Everybody talks about how important it is to quarantine new fish / have a hospital tank. What on earth do you do with the quarantine / hospital tank when it isn't being used for quarantining / treating fish? Do you keep it running with a token hardy fish in it that you don't mind losing in order to keep it cycled, or what? I have a place that I could stash a 10gal if that was a usable size for a hospital tank.
Lastly, any good LFS in the Raleigh, NC area?
Thanks to all who take the time to read this fairly long post. I expect there will be more.
SirWired
I am interested in setting up an aquarium, and have been getting started doing my research.
My first attempt at research beyond web surfing was "Aquariums for Dummies". Ouch. I don't know anything about fish and I could tell it was a useless book. Back to the store that went.
I now have read "The Simple Guide to Freshwater Aquariums" twice. It has answered a lot of my questions, but still has left me a little confused/indecisive on some things. I wanted to ask here before starting equipment and fish shopping.
! THINK I am going to go with a 29gal tank. I would like a 50 or 55, but the spot I plan on putting it is not really that close to a faucet. My brother used to keep a tank, (a 55 I think), but by the time he and his wife drained it and garaged it, it was pretty green. I have a funny feeling they didn't maintain it too well and the fish weren't living too long. I think my wife would be willing to let me keep the larger tank if I got it and the equipment from them. My question here is: how safe is it to use that old tank? If I bleach it, dechlorinate it, replace all the filter media, etc., what is the likelihood that it will be suitable for use? How will I know?
Water Changes: Okay, I have figured out that water changes are a good thing. The book I have suggested 20% a week, with 50% being even better (I don't think 50% is gonna happen, unless it truly is necessary). I'm willing to do 20% changes once a week, but that book left out some specifics. First, how do I get the temperature correct? Do I just mix in some hot tap water until the water stream feels lukewarm, and then just let the python do its thing? Do I have to get the temperature EXACTLY right?
I have Chloramine (Chlorine during March) treated water. Is it sufficient to drip the treatment into my tank before adding the water? Do I need to add extra because the Carbon filter I will probably have will suck some up? If I have to do PWC's via buckets in order to treat the water properly, a 55gal could get really old, really fast.
Some sites/books say that EVERYBODY should have a UGF, at least as a backup, others say that UGF's are prone to dangerous anerobic pockets, and beginners should just stick to power filters only. What is the "real" deal here? (I'll probably have some big questions later about power filters once I start equipment shopping.)
Everybody talks about how important it is to quarantine new fish / have a hospital tank. What on earth do you do with the quarantine / hospital tank when it isn't being used for quarantining / treating fish? Do you keep it running with a token hardy fish in it that you don't mind losing in order to keep it cycled, or what? I have a place that I could stash a 10gal if that was a usable size for a hospital tank.
Lastly, any good LFS in the Raleigh, NC area?
Thanks to all who take the time to read this fairly long post. I expect there will be more.
SirWired