mrhoyo
Member
Hello all,
Sorry, it has turned in to a bit of an essay. I'm new to all this and there are loads of tanks on here that look amazing so it seems the place to ask for help.
I've been interested in getting in to fish again for a while but have been put off by our past experience.
Years ago we were sold a Fluval Edge 23L by our LFS along with some of the 'quick start' stuff and an instruction to return in a week for the fish. As complete beginners with a tiny tank they sold us 3 pearl scale goldfish and a nice little anubias(?) on a log. The tank started getting a lot of algae so they then sold us a magnetic scraper and bristle nose pleco, followed by 3 or 5 male guppies.
Unsurprisingly (although we didn't know better at the time) it all ended terribly and they eventually all died off within a couple of months. Since then we've put it down to us just being bad with fish but my research over the last month or two has opened my eyes to what we weren't told e.g. nitrogen cycling, biological filtration, PH, GH, KH etc.
Eventually I'd love a nice 100-200l aquascaped tank in my living room but it's a huge chunk of money in case it all goes wrong.
I decided to set something smaller up in my reptile room so I can see if this is a hobby for me.
I've done a fair bit of research lately and have just received a Dennerle 70l scaper's tank, Seachem Tidal 55 filter and have a Lumini Asta 20 light due (although I may need another by the sounds of things).
Fish I like the idea of at the moment (not together) include guppies, chilli rasbora and pea puffers although I'm not sure how they are for beginners and open to options. I really want to try my hand at plants but don't think I'm ready for CO2 and flashy lights yet so open to suggestions and any advice. The wife likes the clean look of iwagumi and I'm probably more that way inclined than Dutch or Jungle style but quite like Tropica layouts 111, 115, 106 and 33 to give you an idea. Not a clue how to do it though!
Aside from plants, substrate and eventually livestock what else do I need?
The plan is to fill 2" tomorrow and leave a while to test for leaks. Then 1/3 full, then to the top and then I'll empty again.
I'm thinking:
API master kit
API KH and GH kit
Water conditioner
Substrate
Plants
Hardscape
Then test water every few days and change regularly until cycled and no ammonia or nitrite.
Then shrimp.
Then wait a while for test to clear and then fish.
Sorry, it has turned in to a bit of an essay. I'm new to all this and there are loads of tanks on here that look amazing so it seems the place to ask for help.
I've been interested in getting in to fish again for a while but have been put off by our past experience.
Years ago we were sold a Fluval Edge 23L by our LFS along with some of the 'quick start' stuff and an instruction to return in a week for the fish. As complete beginners with a tiny tank they sold us 3 pearl scale goldfish and a nice little anubias(?) on a log. The tank started getting a lot of algae so they then sold us a magnetic scraper and bristle nose pleco, followed by 3 or 5 male guppies.
Unsurprisingly (although we didn't know better at the time) it all ended terribly and they eventually all died off within a couple of months. Since then we've put it down to us just being bad with fish but my research over the last month or two has opened my eyes to what we weren't told e.g. nitrogen cycling, biological filtration, PH, GH, KH etc.
Eventually I'd love a nice 100-200l aquascaped tank in my living room but it's a huge chunk of money in case it all goes wrong.
I decided to set something smaller up in my reptile room so I can see if this is a hobby for me.
I've done a fair bit of research lately and have just received a Dennerle 70l scaper's tank, Seachem Tidal 55 filter and have a Lumini Asta 20 light due (although I may need another by the sounds of things).
Fish I like the idea of at the moment (not together) include guppies, chilli rasbora and pea puffers although I'm not sure how they are for beginners and open to options. I really want to try my hand at plants but don't think I'm ready for CO2 and flashy lights yet so open to suggestions and any advice. The wife likes the clean look of iwagumi and I'm probably more that way inclined than Dutch or Jungle style but quite like Tropica layouts 111, 115, 106 and 33 to give you an idea. Not a clue how to do it though!
Aside from plants, substrate and eventually livestock what else do I need?
The plan is to fill 2" tomorrow and leave a while to test for leaks. Then 1/3 full, then to the top and then I'll empty again.
I'm thinking:
API master kit
API KH and GH kit
Water conditioner
Substrate
Plants
Hardscape
Then test water every few days and change regularly until cycled and no ammonia or nitrite.
Then shrimp.
Then wait a while for test to clear and then fish.