newbie here and needing a lot of advice..

[mapes4]

Hello all! First post here...

I have always loved aquariums, but have never really had the time or funds to purchase everything. I recently acquired a 30 gallon tank from a family member and thought that this would be a perfect time to start.
What I need/want to know.
What type of filtration I need
Lighting
medicine
water treatment methods
do i need real plants?

What I really MUST KNOW
I really need to know some good beginner fish. Like I said, I do not know a whole lot about this so treat me as one of the most ignorant here. I need to know what breed, what they eat, and how to take care of them.

Being a college student I do not have hundreds to throw at special fish, but I do want something very nice to look at, and mainly something to do. This will be something that I am very willing to dedicate a lot of time to, I just need to know what to do.

Thank you in advance,
Dustin

[enadeau12]

id say just go with an aquaclear hang on power filter and maybe a corner filter. i love corner filters, they work excellent for so cheap. i would just let your water cycle and heat for a day, 16 to 24 hours then add in some fish because a fishless cycle makes absolutely no sense, how can water cycle without fish waste and other rottens in the tank. for starters i would go with some tetras and cory's. very easy care levels and there is quite a variety. i was like you, just picked up a tank and go. you'll learn from trial and error. make sure your ph is within good limits and your nitrites, trates and ammonia. good luck, have fun with it.

[mapes4]

Thanks man, do I need to get one of those sucker fish too? Sorry I do not know the exact name, but don't they keep the tank a little cleaner?

[fort384]

Welcome to AA!

Fishless cycle is the best way to go, and actually makes the most sense. It is pretty widely considered to be the safest, and most humane way to prep a tank for fish. The tank cycles because you seed it with ammonia.

There are several good beginner articles that you can read up on that will shed a lot of light on how to best start a tank. Check out these:
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/articl...es-/Page1.html
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/articl...le-/Page1.html
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/articl...cle/Page1.html
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums...es-103339.html

You will want to get an understanding of the nitrogen cycle, and what maintenance a FW tank requires.

Good luck!

[FastFly67]

first and foremost read up on a fishless cycle. if you do, you will then be informed on HOW a fishless cycle works without fish waste unlike some people....
if you start your fishless cycle now by the time it's finished you should have done enough research to know what type of fish you like

[enadeau12]

im not going to start acting like im twelve years old and argue about water cycling or try and criticize people on how they've set up their tanks. but i have not done a fishless cycle with 2 tanks, one 20 gal. and a 55 gal. and my fish are healthy, my tanks are stable and everything is going smoothly. but yeah, do a lil research online about fish. you'll learn a few things. and dont trust petco or chains of pet stores. try to find a local guy, a hobbyist. they have the healthiest fish. i be reppin black shark

[enadeau12]

oh yea, get a dwarf pleco. like a clown or bristlenose. they stay small and are just good to have. or you could get a few cories

[fort384]

Originally Posted by enadeau12

i have not done a fishless cycle with 2 tanks, one 20 gal. and a 55 gal. and my fish are healthy, my tanks are stable and everything is going smoothly.

enadeau is right -- you certainly do not have to fishless cycle. I cycled my first tank with fish, lost a few but everything turned out alright. I think one of the large benefits of doing a fishless cycle though is it turns out to be a lot less work. During a cycle with fish, you have to do a lot more partial water changes in the first few weeks to keep ammonia levels down. With a fishless cycle, you can keep ammonia levels up because there are no fish to worry about, so you end up changing a lot less water.

Best thing is to read up on both methods, and decide which is right for you. Either way, the articles I referenced above will go a long way in helping you reach an understanding of how the biological filter in your aquarium is going to work, which is important to understanding how to create a healthy environment for your fish.

[joy13]

Doing a fishless cycle will give you time to look at fish and figure out which ones is best for your set up. Sucker fish can be anything from a chinese algae eater, oto cat, pleco of many varieties, SAE, flying fox and probably a few more that have slipped my mind.

I use very few medicines and only when I have to I will buy them so I know they are fresh. You need to have a water test kit more than medicine to start with to make sure your water is safe for fish. While you are cycling your tank check out the plants and their light needs before you go and get lights. You may decide to have silk plants instead of real plants because the fish you want eat plants. You might decide to try your hand and shell dwellers. You can do all this research while your tank is cycling.

This is very good advice go to the store without money then come back research what you are wanting. I should practice this advice more often!!

[peaceablegarden]

I agree with the fishless cycle. I used fish, not knowing about the fishless cycle, and I would do it differently to do it again. I lost almost all the fish I started with (why waste the money and put the fish through unnessary suffering) and it was a hassle to go through water changes everyday worrying about whether the fish would make it or not and then seeing some dying.

I love my otos and would have more. They're fun and seemingly pretty hardy BUT I wouldn't put them in until you've got enough algae to support them. You could feed wafers but they often create a mess. So, I also like tetras (don't get the Neons though they're not very hardy). A school of cories sounds fun as well. My tank's not big enough for them.

I agree about using as little medication as possible. The critical thing I learned here was that it's all about water quality (I use the API Master Test Kit which is most recommended here) and acclimating new fish slowly. Stress and water quality lead to disease most frequently I've found. You'll be able to learn about water quality and get a good handle on it during a fishless cycle too.

You'll be able to learn a lot from this forum. Lots of information is not cut and dry and like car mechanics we all have our own ways of dealing with issues. You get to sort out that information and find ways that work best for you and your fish. Mostly, have FUN!

[missileman]

To fishless cycle or not to fishless cycle?
Depends on what you know (research alot) and what resources you have available to you.
Fishless cycle is best and fastest if you have limited resources and no access to plenty of GOOD bacterial seed sources.(over the counter starters that claim to have live bacteria don't count with the exception of refrigerated Bio-Spira if you can still find it)
If you do know of people with established aquariums that are willing to help you get started with some of their old filter media, gravel, ect... You can do a cycle with fish that will be very quick, often less than a week, and very easy on the fish.
I did a fishless cycle on my largest tanks but since I have plenty of bacteria available to me now from my established tanks I have cycled my last three tanks with fish without a problem.

[mapes4]

Thanks for all of the info guys. I had no idea that it would be this difficult. I think I am going to get the tank setup and let it cycle for a few days as if there were fish in there while going and looking for fish. Once again thanks a bunch!

[missileman]

Originally Posted by mapes4

Thanks for all of the info guys. I had no idea that it would be this difficult. I think I am going to get the tank setup and let it cycle for a few days as if there were fish in there while going and looking for fish. Once again thanks a bunch!

The tank will not cycle unless you add amonia or an amonia source.
It will just run and really do nothing but waste electricity.
PS: with bacteria added the cycle can be as short as a week, without it can take 6 to 8 weeks or more.

[peaceablegarden]

Here's some great information about fishless cycling...
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums...es-103339.html

Also, if you go to the the freshwater - getting started forum, there are many threads and tons of help there too...

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f15/