Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 12:43 pm Post subject: Tips on setting up
Hi,
Iam looking forward to setting up a new fish tank. Iam a beginner to this and have no info on buying a fish tank/choosing the right fishes and also on the initial setup processes. Iam from Chennai. Could anyone suggest me on the basic minimal tank size to buy(am not looking for a very big tank), places to buy, the right fishes and the additional setups like a filter and other things I might need to buy. Am not looking for plants in my aquarium.
It would also be better if someone could mention about how to amintain the tank.
Joined: Nov 23, 2011 Posts: 1030 Location: Bangalore
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Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 1:11 pm Post subject: Re: Tips on setting up
Hi Charanya,
I think the best thing to do is do a lot of reading about basics of aquarium..
there is no shortcut for this hobby.. google out "Basics of aquarium" and read all you can.
Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 4:00 pm Post subject: Re: Tips on setting up
+1 with Nidhi ....
The tank size, setup etc etc depends on your budget, space where you want to setup the tank. So you are the best judge for that. So google things and if you have specific questions do post them here and IAH' ites will be more than happy to help ..
Just one suggestion that I would like to give at this point in time. If possible try to get a minimum of 2 * 1 * 1 (in feet) tank if you are serious about this hobby. The reason I say this is most of beginners (I can say this about myself and some of my friends) start with a small tank and within a few month feel that we should have got a bigger tank as small tank limits the number of fishes you can keep. Also small tank means more efforts to clean it.
Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 4:15 pm Post subject: Re: Tips on setting up
Charanya, I can share one basic rule that I learnt from my experiences. Do not stock fishes just because you want to or can afford. They have life and we should respect that. It does feel very bad when some fish die because of some negligence on part of the owner. My recommendation would be to start with some really hardy fish like betta or flowerhorn, just one. Learn more about them, their behaviour etc and take good care of them, specially giving them a clean environment. See if you can really give them time and attention, by checking your routine of water change, waste removal, feeding etc and when you are sure that you are consistent with your routine, then probably you can think of stocking some unique and interesting fishes later.
Theres a lot of learning and change of perception that will happen over time. To mention one fact, I started with kois. gold ro the normal fishes stocked in the LFS initially and now my preference is more towards chiclids, catfishes and shrimps. And when I look back, I realise that I should have waited for sometime and LEARNED about the fishes than BUYING them instinctively. Visit some good LFS and see their new stocks regularly. Over the time you'll realise what you like and what you'll prefer keeping. Its not just because of the money spent, but gaining experience at the cost of life can never be appreciated. I've lost many fishes due to overstocking, missing routine of changing water and occassional out of station movements, and I know many others who have done that.
Filters, tank size and accessories can be decided once you decide on the fish that you want to keep.
Joined: Jun 14, 2011 Posts: 267 Location: Bangalore
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Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 4:57 pm Post subject: Re: Tips on setting up
+1 for Vipin.
Charanya, your question is really too generic to get one or two specific answers. I'll take the line of Vipin: Start your journey with some easy-to-maintain setups & fishes. And more so, as you say, you're a complete newbie to the hobby. This is my take:
1) Buy a basic 2 feet tank.
2) Get a simple internal filter - you'll find them in most shops.
3) Start with live bearers - mollies, guppies etc. These are some very hardy fishes, easy to care and feed. Moreover, they breed fast and frequent, giving the new hobbyist the pleasure of really 'growing' fishes and seeing your 4-5 fishes growing to 10s.
Moreover, today you get lot of fancy varieties in mollies & guppies themselves, so you can really start with some good-looking fishes.
4) In the meanwhile, read up a lot, visit other hobbyists, visit fish stores (since you're in Chennai, you can always go to Kolathur), get to know different varieties, learn about planted aquariums etc.
Its not too difficult to learn to be a bigger hobbyist, but be sure that you really know what you're doing. That way, you'll harm less fishes.
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 9:39 am Post subject: Re: Tips on setting up
Thanks for all your replies and the links. Let me go through them before I head to Kolathur to buy the fishes. It would be good if you could also point me to some shops in Kolathur. I have heard that some shops are not very genuine.
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 4:22 pm Post subject: Re: Tips on setting up
Whenever you go to LFS to buy fish, don't go by what the LFS guy says. Use your brain. Most of the newcomers to this hobby are impulsive buyers and buy too many or wrong fish to begin with and lose them to overstocking or not being able to maintain them properly.....I myself was guilty of this impulsiveness and don't want others to repeat it.
Like just past weekend I met one of my old friend who took to this hobby recently and he is keeping 3 gold fish in a bowl....what a disaster .......
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