new to the hobby same old questions

[biggreeny_101]

hey
im new to fish keeping (and i mean realy new)
i woke up this morning and decided this is what i want to do.
but!!!!
i had a few questions:
1: how small is too small? i dont live in a big house and i have young children so a big tank is not advisable
2: salt or fresh water? what are the differences?: is fresh water easer to maintain
3: tank setup? on a budget but i want somthing thats going to work and look nice
4: the big question: FISH variety???? what fish are best to start with. (i dont want goldfish or those sad looking fighting fish you can buy at pet stores)

[biggreeny_101]

and i forgot to mention
dont feel as if you have to answer all my questions in one go!
experiance/ opinions on any of these would be helpfull.

[Diana]

hey
im new to fish keeping (and i mean realy new)
i woke up this morning and decided this is what i want to do.
but!!!!
i had a few questions:
1: how small is too small? i dont live in a big house and i have young children so a big tank is not advisable
2: salt or fresh water? what are the differences?: is fresh water easer to maintain
3: tank setup? on a budget but i want somthing thats going to work and look nice
4: the big question: FISH variety???? what fish are best to start with. (i dont want goldfish or those sad looking fighting fish you can buy at pet stores)

well welcome to the hobby - I am sure you will enjoy it..

1. The best size as far as tanks are concerned is one that is as big as you have space for and can afford. Bigger tanks are easier to maintain and also give you more options regarding how many and what type of fish you can keep, but ultimately it's down to cost and how much soace you have.

2. I would recommend starting with freshwater. I think a lot of people would love to keep marine fishes, but there is a lot of work and expense involved.

3. Not sure what you mean by tank set-up but hope this helps. There is an article in the Articles section on how to set up a tank and what you need - here's the link for it

http://tropicalfishfanatics.forumsmotion.com/setting-up-an-aquarium-f34/setting-up-a-freshwater-aquarium-t226.htm


4. Fish - there are endless varieties, but before you can have fish you need to have a read on the articles about the fishless cycle - a safe and effective way of preparing the filter for loads of fish. It also prevents you having fish deaths early on in your fishkeeping. Here's the link for that too.

http://tropicalfishfanatics.forumsmotion.com/cycling-and-water-chemistry-f70/fishless-cycle-t227.htm

Hope thios helps, but dont hesitate to ask loads of questiuons - we all have

[Fishfan]

Dont be put off by doing the fishless cycle greeny. It does seem to be a pain but it's not really and once its done you can fully stock your tank and not in dribs and drabs.

Look forward to seeing what tank you get!

[GeordieDave]

hey
im new to fish keeping (and i mean realy new)
i woke up this morning and decided this is what i want to do.
but!!!!
i had a few questions:
1: how small is too small? i dont live in a big house and i have young children so a big tank is not advisable

If I were you id get as big as you can get otherwise after a while you will wish you had gone bigger! Pick a space for the tank measure it up and get one to fit. As far as im aware 28L is the smallest you should go but that would only be suitable for a Betta or a small pair of fish.

2: salt or fresh water? what are the differences?: is fresh water easer to maintain

Salt water tanks are more expensive and a lot more work to maintain. I however have never had a salt water tank, but I do intend to get a little nano one day . With fresh water they are very easy to look after if you take the time to do water changes etc. As the myth goes the supercalifradgelisticexpialidocious the tank the less problems you will have, smaller tanks can go downhill rapidly if you miss a Water chnge for example.

3: tank setup? on a budget but i want somthing thats going to work and look nice

Cant help you much there Im afraid. What you looking to spend? In my opinion its best to get a tank with an external filter (obviously depends what size tank you get) there are much easier to maintain and clean. You will also need a heater (depends what size tank you get to the watage), gravel, plant/ornaments, water testing kit (VERY IMPORTANT), Fish food, dechlorinator. Personally id check ebay as tanks sell for a fraction of the price new.

4: the big question: FISH variety???? what fish are best to start with. (i dont want goldfish or those sad looking fighting fish you can buy at pet stores)

This is down to your taste, many people say guppys, mollies, platties, neons, danios are the sort of fish you should start with all fairly hardy fish too. But I wouldnt add any fish without doing a fishless cycle as mentioned above.

[charley]

As the myth goes the supercalifradgelisticexpialidocious the tank the less problems you will have, smaller tanks can go downhill rapidly if you miss a Water chnge for example.

Is this some kind of weird code GD??

[GeordieDave]

What! I didnt write that!!!

[munchycarrot]

Gd did you write any of that post???

[GeordieDave]

Gd did you write any of that post???

what do you mean?

[Diana]

I think I have solved the problem! Rob did some inventive word replacements in the word censoring system for the forum. GD you meant to write -"The bigger the tank......", but I think you had some inadvertent fingerslip - check your keyboard to see what letters are close by and you will get what I mean!

Hence the rather strange word replacement

[GeordieDave]

bugger

[munchycarrot]

just the "Salt water tanks are more expensive and a lot more
work to maintain. I however have never had a salt water tank, but I do
intend to get a little nano one day " I didn't think that sounded like you, especially with the little wink

as for the word...???

I'm confused now coz the word clearly wasn't 'bigger' or GD couldn't of typed bugger

[Diana]

No it wasn't bigger, but look at the keyboard and see what letter is next to b!

[munchycarrot]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh OH i see

[Diana]