tropical fish tanks

[cable man]

Hi all, I have just got a fish tank 19"x9" for my little girl, I have got all the stuff, i just need ideas what 2 get it 2 look like i have looked on google nowt took 2 what i like, If any of you have got any pics of your set up then plz post them.... need idea.. thanks cable man

[Rick]

I've no pics but have kept fish for a while.

The first thing you want to decide is what fish you want to keep and go from there. Perhaps a small tropical community tank would suit you best, they are relatively easy to keep. Guppies are very colourful, and will also breed easialy which can add interest especially for kids. Or you could go for a species tank, and have one or two larger fish.

Then look at rocks, plants etc as well as choice of gravel, temperature, water pH etc to suit your chosen fish. Best also to find a decent local aquarium. Most of the superstores lack quite a bit of knowlege, and can sell you the wrong thing through ignorance.

[cable man]

thanks al go and have a look at the fish 2moz and al get back and tell you how i got on..

[elton]

A community tank is the best way to go so there's less chance of fighting amongst the fish.

One thing I would say is to introduce the fish very slowly.

Start off with a small pair of guppies [or whatever] and leave them there to settle and seed the filter before adding more.

[tiger56]

Originally Posted by elton

A community tank is the best way to go so there's less chance of fighting amongst the fish.

One thing I would say is to introduce the fish very slowly.

Start off with a small pair of guppies [or whatever] and leave them there to settle and seed the filter before adding more.

good advice bud,i had to sell my set-up after i was made redundant

[elton]

Oh that's sad.

I did have a 6' marine reef setup but regrettably, one of the four external filters threw a connection and deposited circa 40 gallons of salt water into the lounge!!!!

Bit of a clear out required. Smelt like the Severn with the tide out ... it stank for months.

All my stock of corals, invertabrates, fish etc were left with a local store to 'mind' while the tank was put together again. Whammy #2 the buggers went under and my stock was lost. Couldn't afford to restock as a marine so put a cichlids tank together - sadly that couldn't hold my interest so the lot was sold on.





Perhaps I'll start again when the magic numbers come up .....

[tiger56]

@cable man, one golden rule,look after the water and the fish will look after themselves

[Rick]

Thats unlucky Elton. I've had similar problems with external filters but never to that degree. It's a good Idea to have the pumps on a float switch, so if the level drops a couple of inches the pumps cut out, and closes valves on the inlet and outlet to stop self siphonage. I prefer the HMF filters I'm now using

I'm keeping African Rift Valley Malawi Cichlids at the moment. They are breeding well too.

Be aware when buying fish, that not all "community" fish can be kept together. Water requirments may be differant, or they may just not get on. Also all too frequently I see Mollies labeled up as community fish, when infact they prefer brackish (slighty salty) water. The other common fish sold as but not suited for a community tank being Siameese Fighters and Angels.

A good start, considering your size of tank might be, 6-8 guppies or tetras. A couple of Danios, and a Red Tail Black Shark for the bottom. As said build up numbers slowly. From a completly new setup you are looking 6-8 weeks to reach those numbers, this gives the filter and water chance to mature and bacteria to grow.