Thinking of getting a fish tank.

[cKGunslinger]

I've always liked how a nicely-implemented fish tank looks, and I love the gurgling water and soft light of a fish tank in the evening, when the house is all quiet, so I thinking about setting up a tank in our living room.

1) Size - I was thinking ~48 gallons or so - freshwater, if it's easier.

2) How easy is it to have a "no cleaning necessary" fish tank? Every one I or my kids ever had was 1-10 gallons, and we had the pull the fish and empty the tank and clean it every month or 2, as the water turned green and there was tons of fish feces all in the rocks. Also, there was a ~30% chance we'd have to get new fish after this ordeal, as well.

If I get a 48+ gallon tank, I damn sure don't want to have to empty it and clean it all the time. Is it possible to maintain a nearly self-regulating environment? One that stays clean and smell-free with minimum effort?

3) Any good sites you guys recommend?

 

[Howard]

How about an indoor pond?

EDIT: Seriously. Filtration can be easier and you can make it look pretty natural.

 

[cKGunslinger]

What about fresh water vs salt water? I like the look of many salt-water fish, but ease of implementation/maintainability is more important. Still researching..

 

[isekii]

1. Fresh water is much easier than salt.
2. Get one of those Snails and fish that eat the Algae.
3. Keep it away from the Sunlight, that'll slow the algae growth.
4. you don't need to drain the whole tank. Just Take out the gravel and replace like 20% of the old water with new fresh water. (Treated of course.)

 

[FoBoT]

freshwater for sure
i recommend either a 29 or a 40 or a 55 gal tank

you were over doing the cleaning, a whole tank breakdown/empty the tank should only be done maybe once a year at most.
cleaning isn't that bad if you don't over stock your tank, use a gravel vacuum and just clean it twice a month. you only have to do about 10% water change each time you vacuum it up

if you have a plecostomus (catfish) it will keep the tank glass clean

remember, fish live in lakes and ponds and rivers, they have "stuff" growing in them, that is natural, trying to keep fish in a 'sterile' environment isn't natural and you'll have problems. it doesn't have to be green/nasty, but it won't be 100% clean either

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
freshwater for sure
i recommend either a 29 or a 40 or a 55 gal tank

you were over doing the cleaning, a whole tank breakdown/empty the tank should only be done maybe once a year at most.
cleaning isn't that bad if you don't over stock your tank, use a gravel vacuum and just clean it twice a month. you only have to do about 10% water change each time you vacuum it up

if you have a plecostomus (catfish) it will keep the tank glass clean

I had one before and I think it stuck onto one of my koi and killed it. Was a long time ago, so I'm not too sure.

Freshwater is easier. Bigger is easier. Less fish is easier (but not for the fish, if they're the schooling type). Water plants will remove nitrates, which will prevent the water from going green.

 

[bignateyk]

Creating a tank that requires very little cleaning is a hard, but fun thing to do. It involves creating an entire ecosystem of live plants, fish, and bacteria. If you dont use live plants, you will have to use a gravel vacuum to remove fish waste every week or two.

Its also important to get fish that go well together. i.e. tetras and cichlids dont tend to mix. I have a tank just for cichlids, but you cant use live plants with them because they dig them up and eat them. I have another tank with smaller fish like tetras, swordfish, and other schooling fish, combined with lots of live plants. This tank requires very little maintainance.

 

[fishmonger12]

I bet you could pick up a nice used one for cheap here.

 

[cKGunslinger]

Originally posted by: fishmonger12
I bet you could pick up a nice used one for cheap here.

If I get a tank and he gets back up and running, I'd get some of those.


His thread also prompted my thread..

 

[Howard]

You're going to put shrimp and fish together?

 

[FoBoT]

you don't aim it at the fish
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/10555/product.web

 

[Howard]

I can't see how that funnel improves the efficiency.

Anyway, if you choose to go with a pond, you won't have to siphon the gravel/substrate.

 

[cKGunslinger]

Originally posted by: Howard
You're going to put shrimp and fish together?

Nah - just trying to encourage him =P

 

[Kaido]

Freshwater is infinitely easier to maintain than saltwater. There are two kinds of freshwater tanks:

1. Cold water
2. Tropical

Cold water is great for goldfish; I used to have a 20-gallon tank with fancy goldfish before I moved. A tropical freshwater tank simply requires a heater. If you want goldfish, go cold; if you want anything else, go tropical. You'll need the following:

-tank
-lid and light for tank
-stand (or a table to put it on)
-bubble maker (pump)
-gravel
-various chemicals
-decorations
-fish
-fish food
-filter & spare filter cartridges
-sponge-on-a-stick or algae-eater (it's a fish)
-fishtank hose & a bucket (for water changes & cleaning the gravel)

Modern filters are awesome. I really like Penguin filters. btw, under-gravel filters are a thing of the past. To maintain a tank, change the filter once a month and do a water change once a month (can't remember if it's 25% or 50%). The filter is easier than taking out a trash bag; just pop the lid, lift the old one out, and put the new one in. The water change involves a simple hose (manual suction). You fill it with water than invert it to get the pressure going and drain it into a bucket. The nozzle of the hose is use to suck up crap off gravel and to suck out the water. Then just refill the water and add a few drops of decholorinator (I think that's the chemical?). Really really easy to maintain and quiet. If you do your once-a-month cleaning, it won't really smell at all. Oh and as far as algae goes, get a sucker fish to eat the algae if you get a tropical tank. If you get a cold water tank, you'll need to get one of those cheap sponges-on-a-stick to wipe the sides with when you change the filter.

 

[Greenman]

Fresh water is easy, but salt water fish are so much more colorful.

 

[cKGunslinger]

I think I might go fresh-water tropical...

 

[Howard]

Koi can get pretty colorful.

 

[cKGunslinger]

I like the looks of this tank (how much would a 100+ gallon tank run?)

125g

I'd want a different variety of fish, however (never was a fan of oscars.) Some yellow and/or blue tangs, etc.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger
I think I might go fresh-water tropical...

The larger the tank you get, the less maintenance it will be. If possible, plan for an emergency and put it in a spot where it wouldn't do too much damage if it leaks or breaks.

 

[Howard]

http://www.glasscages.com/?sAction=ViewCat&lCatID=2

 

[cKGunslinger]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger
I think I might go fresh-water tropical...

The larger the tank you get, the less maintenance it will be. If possible, plan for an emergency and put it in a spot where it wouldn't do too much damage if it leaks or breaks.

See, I want it in my living room, on the carpet, near the HDTS and AV gear..

 

[cKGunslinger]

Originally posted by: Howard
http://www.glasscages.com/?sAction=ViewCat&lCatID=2

Cool, thanks.

It looks like you can still have a nice setup with a 55g tank, too: Text

Probably better to start here and see where it goes..

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger
I think I might go fresh-water tropical...

The larger the tank you get, the less maintenance it will be. If possible, plan for an emergency and put it in a spot where it wouldn't do too much damage if it leaks or breaks.

See, I want it in my living room, on the carpet, near the HDTS and AV gear..

I'm sure it won't be a problem. I've never actually had a tank break on me before. Leak yes, break no. And the leaky one was years and years ago. Just a word of caution is all

 

[thedarkwolf]

Check craigslist and your local papers for used ones. Lots of people get tired of them and just dump them for chump change.

 

[cKGunslinger]

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
Check craigslist and your local papers for used ones. Lots of people get tired of them and just dump them for chump change.

Yeah, I do remember looking on the Dallas Craigslist (which is huge) for tanks and almost being overwhelmed by the amount of deals out there. :thumbsup: