Building my first set up!

[Broke EF]

Hey guys, you have another NOOB on your hands! I have had some small aquariums in the past, but even though my fish survived, I know I had no idea what I was doing. With that said, I am starting from scratch. I am acting like I have never had fish in my life, and I am a blank slate to teach! I read up about the fishless cycling last night, and I plan on doing that for sure. I also know that I don't want to do live plants (maybe down the road). I also know that I need to get a Python and also an API Master Test kit.

What I don't know!
What do I need to treat my tap water for filling the aquarium
Where is a good resource for decorations, my local fish store seems way overpriced on them
What fish to stock the tank with (which I believe goes hand in hand with decorations)

Speaking of decorations, do I need the tank 100% setup before starting my fishless cycle, or can I add them in during the cycle? Also do I have to have fish picked out first before getting decorations, or is it not that big of a deal?

As you can tell, I really don't know much other than I want a tank I'm looking for any and all advice from you guys to have a nice looking tank filled with happy fish!


Thanks in advance,
Sean

 

[eco23]

Hey guys, you have another NOOB on your hands! I have had some small aquariums in the past, but even though my fish survived, I know I had no idea what I was doing. With that said, I am starting from scratch. I am acting like I have never had fish in my life, and I am a blank slate to teach! I read up about the fishless cycling last night, and I plan on doing that for sure. I also know that I don't want to do live plants (maybe down the road). I also know that I need to get a Python and also an API Master Test kit.

What I don't know!
What do I need to treat my tap water for filling the aquarium
Where is a good resource for decorations, my local fish store seems way overpriced on them
What fish to stock the tank with (which I believe goes hand in hand with decorations)

Speaking of decorations, do I need the tank 100% setup before starting my fishless cycle, or can I add them in during the cycle? Also do I have to have fish picked out first before getting decorations, or is it not that big of a deal?

As you can tell, I really don't know much other than I want a tank I'm looking for any and all advice from you guys to have a nice looking tank filled with happy fish!

Thanks in advance,
Sean

Welcome to the site

Sounds like you've got a good plan. It's nice to hear somebody doing their research beforehand (unfortunately it's rare).

First thing I'd advise is to purchase a bottle of Seachem Prime as your water conditioner. It removes chlorine / chloramines, heavy metals, neutralizes toxins and is very concentrated and cost efficient.

What size is the tank? Options of what fish you can get are obviously dependent on tank size.

All you need in order to start a fishless cycle is water and a filter. I'd get it set up ASAP so you can get a head start on things. You can decorate during the process.

Fishless cycling prepares the tank for fish and is a very toxic environment during the process. You can't have any fish in the tank during it...hence the "fishless" part of it. *oops! I just saw you're talking about decor...not fish, haha *

Good luck!

 

[Broke EF]

Thanks for the advice! I can't believe I forgot the tank size! It a 46gallon bow front. I also read about the sea chem prime, but its good to hear another person refinement it. I'll post more when i am home with the tank.

Thanks,
Sean

 

[eco23]

Thanks for the advice! I can't believe I forgot the tank size! It a 46gallon bow front. I also read about the sea chem prime, but its good to hear another person refinement it. I'll post more when i am home with the tank.

Thanks,
Sean

I've got a 46 bow as well . It gives you some great options on what you can stock. Personally I like community tanks, and I've got Neons, Danios, Red Eye Tetras, Panda Corys, Oto's, a Bolivian Ram and Red Cherry and Amano Shrimp in there.

One thing to consider if you haven't bought substrate yet...tons of us start with gravel and end up changing over to sand. Switching out your substrate is a major pain in the butt...so if sand is something you're interested in it's best to start out with it. Having sand is more natural for the fish, allows you to keep the tank cleaner and is a lot better looking in my opinion. There's different colors, but a lot of us use pool filter sand since it's so cheap (like $10 for a 50lb bag) and looks great.

Do you already have a filter for the tank? I have a Fluval 405 canister filter on mine which is terrific. If you're going with a hang on back type the AquaClear's are great filters as well. Remember you always want to purchase a filter rated for higher than your tank. For example, the 405 is rated for 100 gallons, and is the perfect match for my 46. The manufacturers over rate their filters...so shooting high is virtually mandatory for good filtration.

 

[Broke EF]

OK, so I got it set up and filled!!! To clarify, I have the following so far

Aqueon 46 Gallon Bow Front
Aqueon glass lid, and standard light
Aqueon 75/80 filter (says good for 90 gallon)
Aqueon Pro 200 watt heater
Aqueon python (man is that thing sweet!)

I filled it with 40lbs of sand (said it was for cichlid's?) I also picked up some Sea Chem Prime (added slightly less than one cap full). I am ordering the API Freshwater master test kit tonight along with some decorations. Ill pick up some ammonia tomorrow on my way home from work so I can start cycling!!! I'm super excited to get it going so I can get some fish in there!


Sean

 

[Broke EF]

Can you guys recommend a thermometer for me? Also what else should I get for regular maintenance and so on. I am going to start researching fish ASAP so I know what I want, and how they will all interact.

Thanks again,
Sean

 

[eco23]

OK, so I got it set up and filled!!! To clarify, I have the following so far

Aqueon 46 Gallon Bow Front
Aqueon glass lid, and standard light
Aqueon 75/80 filter (says good for 90 gallon)
Aqueon Pro 200 watt heater
Aqueon python (man is that thing sweet!)

I filled it with 40lbs of sand (said it was for cichlid's?) I also picked up some Sea Chem Prime (added slightly less than one cap full). I am ordering the API Freshwater master test kit tonight along with some decorations. Ill pick up some ammonia tomorrow on my way home from work so I can start cycling!!! I'm super excited to get it going so I can get some fish in there!

Sean

Hmm...Cichlid sand is normally aragonite which is used to increase GH / KH and raise pH into the high 8's. Good for African Cichlids...not necessarily so great for a community tank or other fish. Fish can adapt to a wide pH range assuming it is stable, but by using a substrate which dramatically changes the water chemistry...every time you do a water change you are causing fluctuations in those values. Have you already put it into the tank?

As for a thermometer, just get one of the normal glass ones from the LFS. They're only a dollar or two. The strips which stick to the glass are pretty much garbage.

Maintenance wise... just the Python and a bottle of Prime are all you need for a healthy aquarium until you start getting into live plants.

 

[Broke EF]

Yeah, I already put the sand in. There were packets in each bag that you were supposed to mix into the water, but I didn't do that. I guess we will see what the levels look like once I get the testing kit. Maybe I avoided a disaster by not adding those packets?!

You don't like any of the digital thermometers? And any recommendations on a net (very noob question, I know).

Sean

 

[bigbanker]

Re: Thermometer

I had a digital coralife... It ran a bit off and once I dropped it into the water it was no good. Silly I know. I now use a regular mercury looking one that reads spot on!

I'd say that if you do digital have a regular one for back up and to compare it against.

 

[eco23]

Yeah, I already put the sand in. There were packets in each bag that you were supposed to mix into the water, but I didn't do that. I guess we will see what the levels look like once I get the testing kit. Maybe I avoided a disaster by not adding those packets?!

You don't like any of the digital thermometers? And any recommendations on a net (very noob question, I know).

Sean

I'm not sure what that stuff is. Some substrates contain a form of bacteria to "help" cycle your tank...but in reality it's not the correct type of beneficial bacteria and a bad idea to use it IMO. If I had to guess (and I am guessing) I'd say maybe that packet was the heterotrophic bacteria. From what I understand, aragonite sand itself is what has the properties which raise pH and buffer...I wouldn't imagine a packet you mix in being what's responsible.

I don't worry about thermometers other than the little glass one in the tank. It's not worth the $ IMO to get a digital one. The glass ones are perfectly accurate and are only a couple dollars.

When you do water changes it's not important to get the temps dead on...similar to the touch is fine.

As for nets...I couldn't really tell you. I use very fine mesh ones because I've seen fish get their fins caught in the larger mesh and have to be cut out. I'm not sure if it makes much of a difference, but that's what I prefer.

 

[Broke EF]

OK, net, test kit, digital and regular thermometer, some plants and decorations are all ordered up. As soon as it comes in I can start testing and see if that sand messed me up.

I guess we can open up the discussion to stocking! I want a tropical looking tank, and I think I would like a small school of something (as much as you can school in a 46 gallon tank). Lets hear some suggestions

Thanks,
Sean

 

[ashleynicole]

I will agree that seachem prime is best water conditioner on the market.

I think your sand is going to be a problem, If it said it was for cichlids then you may have a super high PH. If you want tropicals you might need to change the substrate to a different kind of sand. I like pool filter sand from home dept, a 50lb bag costs about 5 bucks.

Let us know what your PH is as soon as possible. For the most part, most fish can adapt to slightly higher or lower PH, mine is around 7.6-7.8 from the tap and very hard so it stays that way in the tank. However if you go above 8, I am not sure how well some tropicals might adapt. For the most part it is recommend to not mess with PH, however if the sand does cause high PH, you might want to consider removing it and adding a different kind of sand.

Or you could stock with african cichlids? LOL, although they are a lot of work and you really have to research compatibility.

 

[Broke EF]

I had exactly ZERO luck finding ammonia! I tried every place I could think of around here. I found one bottle at ACE hardware that didn't say anything about anything, so I didn't want to trust it. The other one I found had something else in it, so that was a no go. Every other place had nothing. Is there somewhere I could order it online?

Thanks,
Sean

 

[Gboy66]

I had exactly ZERO luck finding ammonia! I tried every place I could think of around here. I found one bottle at ACE hardware that didn't say anything about anything, so I didn't want to trust it. The other one I found had something else in it, so that was a no go. Every other place had nothing. Is there somewhere I could order it online?

Thanks,
Sean

The stuff at ace is good from what iv heard

 

[Broke EF]

It wasn't the ACE brand janitorial stuff. Just an old bottle that said Ammonia on it.

Sean

 

[Broke EF]

I will have the ammonia figured out tomorrow.

So lets start the discussion of stocking this tank!


Thanks,
Sean

 

[ashleynicole]

I will have the ammonia figured out tomorrow.

So lets start the discussion of stocking this tank!

Thanks,
Sean

That all depends on what interests you. I suggest browsing the local fish stores and researching whatever catches your eye. Then you can figure out what you like and what will be compatible.

 

[Gboy66]

Hehe i like stocking. How about...
2x angelfish
7x lemon tetra
7x rummynose tetra
1-2x GBR
6x cory cats
1x albino bristlenose pleco

Like it?

 

[Broke EF]

Gboy66 thank you for the suggestion, I quickly looked up some of them this morning. What is a GBR though? I am also not a big fan of angelfish.

After looking around some, I seem to like Cichlids, and some loaches the best. From what I understand, cichlids can be difficult though, is that correct?

There are so many fish to choose from, and I want to make sure they all get along well. At least I know I have some time before my tank is ready

Sean

 

[Gboy66]

Gboy66 thank you for the suggestion, I quickly looked up some of them this morning. What is a GBR though? I am also not a big fan of angelfish.

After looking around some, I seem to like Cichlids, and some loaches the best. From what I understand, cichlids can be difficult though, is that correct?

There are so many fish to choose from, and I want to make sure they all get along well. At least I know I have some time before my tank is ready

Sean

German blue ram! And ya! Whatever you prefer!