Starting an Aquarium

The former owners of our house left their huge fish tank (no fish, just the water) in the living room. It looks nice as the guy built a stand for it that matches the rest of our house. We really want to start an aquarium of tropical fish but don't really know where to start. I had a small aquarium when I was little but this thing is huge!! Does anyone here have an aquarium? Where do I start? I want simple easy to keep fish but I want it to look nice, too.
Any tips or websitse or ideas?
Thanks!

Are you looking for fresh water or salt water fish?

I've had lots of aquariums-freshwater, saltwater...our biggest was a 110 gallon saltwater reef tank. Fun hobby!!

I moved a few times in the past five years, breaking down and starting up the aquarium became too much of a hassle. I'm anxious to start one again.

Believe it or not, the larger tanks are easier to manage than smaller ones. Drastic changes in temperature or ph or ammonia don't happen as often as they could in a little fish bowl.

Do you have all of your equipment? You'll definitely need gravel, filter, heater and lights and a test kit.

In a nutshell, you'll need to fill the tank w/gravel and conditioned water, let it run a day or two, get some hardy fish to get the nitrate/nitrite cycle to start...then enjoy it!

Lots of how-to websites on line. It's also worth it to find a good pet store-preferably one that's fish only-with staff that know what they are talking about! If you are in Queens, there's a great fish store on Northern Blvd. (near Franny Lew)...I believe it's called Fish Town.

Let me know if you have any questions!!

I have a tank with goldfish!
I have 6 of them and they actually have personalities!!
Its really easy and so far I have them for over a year (although 2 died along the way).

My dad has a HUGE saltwater tank & even breeds rare fish! He is awesome with fish!

Goldfish are so cute & easy to maintain!

FM

SS2002~We don't have anything except the tank!!
We live in Mass. Park, any good aqaurium stores in the area?
What kind of filters are good? How much does a good one cost? What are some good starter fish? I've been looking online a little bit, it seems so complicated!!

Jenn-your dad sounds like my dad

Star-I don't know of any fish stores on LI...I'll check with dad.

For our freshwater, I always used Whisper or Millenium filters. I don't know how big your tank is-let the fish store person know so that they'll recommend the right filter. Should be about $ 20-$ 25.

A heater should be about $ 10 - $ 20.

Gravel's pretty inexpensive, as is flake food.

Is there a light in the hood of the tank?

Good starter fish? I'd stick with barbs or danios or tetras. Again, let the fish store know you need some hardy fish to cycle the tank and tell them the tank size. I'd steer clear of goldfish or any dyed/painted fish.

Goldfish are cool if that's all you'll put in the tank. They tend to like the tank cooler than most tropical fish. They also get big-which means they need more oxygen and make lots of fish poopie.

Does this help? Do a search for setting up a freshwater aquarium. Lots of websites and forums.

Yes, that helps. What about catfish for cleaning the bottom? It's a pretty big tank.
DH feels that he has too many 'house projects' going on and that the fish is going to be mine.

Also ask for airstones.

---

Posted by ss2002

Jenn-your dad sounds like my dad

---

I will FM you what he has & what he is breeding

x

I must say im really curious to know how large the tank is. Is there any way you get get us some mesurements so we can pin point a gallon size? just mesure the length, hight, and width.
I can give you more specifics once I know the size

Ive been keeping aquariums for about 15 years now more than half my life, but I wont get into my crudentials thats not important.
whats important is you get the correct info.

anyways

I assume you going for freshwater, its easier for a firstime aquarist, this size as mentioned above is acutally better larger (more stable)

things to check before you do anything:

does the tank have a hood preferably a flourecent hood. if so how many bulbs.

is the tank made of acrylic?

is it made of glass?

if it made of glass then how does the silicon look on the edges, is it cracked or dry or discolored?

are there scratches in the glass or acrylic?

are there cracks or are the seams coming apart?

the above is a checklist to make sure your not gonna have problems down the road with the tank leaking or breaking or proper cleaning procedures.

I have 1 DO NOT
DO NOT CLEAN THE TANK WITH ANY TYPE OF SOAP DETERGENT WINDEX OR SOLVENTS.
please juts use hot water and a little elbow greese. your fish will thank you later


I stand by aquaclear filtration
they are a brand of outboard filters (hang on tank) that hagen puts out. they mount easily to the back of the tank and cascade water into the aquarium at x gallons per hour

I dont want to make this complicated for you because aquarium fishkeeping is supposed to be fun and not a science experiment.

your in mass park, there are several aquariums on hempstead turpk that are 'decent' you can go anywhere you like but there are a few I dont recommend, if you want those Ill fm them to you. I dont like to bad mouth.

go to an aquarium or two sometime this week
look at the fishys and decide what kinds you would like to keep. pick 3 fish. from this you may have to pic only one and that will give you your grouping of fish you can choose from.

fish come from all areas of the world and it would be better suited for them to be with fish that they are comonly found with in the wild. this way youll have only one water type you going for and alot less deaths.

it also matters to the fish what kind of gravel you put in there. first pick the kind of fish then the gravel.

aquarium fish keeping is one of the most rewarding hobbies ever. I love it and I know many many people who love it and succeed with it.

so whenever you get back to us with that info then we can start planning out your tank.

aquaclear filters are great, they have never failed me. you can get them here http://www.drsfostersmith.com/
along with other supplies online for really cheap