Hey guys,

I'd really like to have an aquarium, and I want to make sure I do it right. This will be for my home, not for my team (I asked for help on that earlier). It will also be my first "real" aquarium-- you know, fully researched and thought out, completely set up and cycled before adding fish, all that jazz.

Basically, I don't have a ton of money or a ton of space, but I want to do the best I can with what I can afford. I don't have much of anything yet; I figured I'd come here first and learn all I can before I even start buying things.

Because I'm a beginner, I'd like to keep it simple, if possible. I'd also like to keep it small so I can keep it in my dorm room/apartment (when I get one). I think ten gallons is my max, but I'd prefer to stick to 5. Freshwater, of course, but I'm willing to do either cold water or tropical (although cold water might be easier). I obviously don't want too many fish, but I'd like at least 2 or 3 if possible.

So, yeah. Any suggestions would be wonderful!
Thanks!

I would suggest going with a bigger tank. The bigger the tank the more forgiving the water will be as far as PH, Ammonia, Nitrites and nitrates go. Also, you will be able to get more in it obviously. If money is tight then check Craigslist for tanks and stands. There are really great deals on there a lot of times and you can get a 20 gallon tank for around $50-$60 most times(at least in my area). I would suggest going with a fishless cycle to start because they finish a lot faster and are easier to deal with. Planted tanks are also very fulfilling as well. I can't think of anything else ATM. Good luck.

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75 Gallon Planted

I am with type on this one. I would go with minimally a 10 gallon tank. I started with a 3 gallon and just made more work for myself. Read up on fishless cycling The Fishless Cycle

Cold water isn't necessarily easier, just because you don't need a heater doesn't mean the fish is easier to take care of. Petco and Petsmart usually have pretty good deals on combos for tanks (usually combos at petco and petsmart are tank + hood, wit basic lighting).

I would suggest to get a 10 gallon, do a fishless cycle, get a heater and get the temp up to 78 degrees Fahrenheit, and then get a school of tetras. They are bright colorful and easy for beginners.

Another option is to go the route I am taking with my new 10 gal and to get white cloud minnows. They are a hardy fish and like temps from 64 - 72 degrees Fahrenheit which can eliminate the need for a heater. They can also survive in temperatures as cold as 41 degrees Fahrenheit and up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit for SHORT periods of time. I still have a heater on my 3 gallon tank (that currently holds the fish) as a just in case, especially with a mystery snail in the tank.

I looked up tanks on petsmart and you have many options.

This one is a bit more expensive, but comes with everything you need

SeaClear 10 Gallon Flat Back Hexagon Aquarium Starter Kit - Gift Shop - Fish - PetSmart

This one is less expensive, but you will need to buy food (which isn't expensive at all)

Marineland® Bio-Wheel® LED 10 Gallon Aquarium Kit - Gift Shop - Fish - PetSmart

diff company, but basically the same as the one above

Top Fin&#0174 10 Gallon Aquarium Starter Kit - Gift Shop - Fish - PetSmart

Just the aquarium and hood so you get to choose your filter

Top Fin® 10 Gallon Aquarium Hood Combo - Gift Shop - Fish - PetSmart

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The only reason I was thinking a 5 or 10 gallon was because my dorm will only allow me to have up to 10 gallons. However, I think I can wait another 5 months until I have an apartment and then see how big I can go. I may be able to find room for a 20 gallon. If not, I'll probably take your suggestions for a 10 gallon.

Oh. I just thought of something-- could I do 5 or 10 gallons and have lots of plants and a single betta? Or are bettas difficult?

If you are planning on moving in 5 months then I would suggest waiting to get a tank. Once you have an established tank you more or less have to kinda start over. Plus if you wait the 5 months you will have more time to save up the $$ to get a better set up and more fish and deco.

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75 Gallon Planted

In a heated/air conditions room the simplist thing to do is a beaslbob build

But then what would you expect me to say.

but seriously look that up.

my .02

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fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden

Well, suggest you to go with the 10 gals. planted and got 2 Bettas 1 male 1 female they will help you in your studies,cause they could work for you as a relaxer.

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55 Gals. Plants Anubias,Amazon Swords and more. Tetras: 6 Sarpaes.4 Red Eyes,5 Black Skirts,4 Giant Danios,2 Lemons, 2 Emerald Cory,4 German Blue.
10 gals. tank : Plants, Full of Guppies; 20 Gals. Tank planted Full of Guppies: 1 gal tank filled with Guppies

FWIW I did a test tank with peat moss, soilmaster select (no longer available) in a 1-2 gallon jar. With micro sword, anacharis, and bacopa plants. A neon tetra lived in that jar for over two years.

I would use peat moss, play sand , and pc select doing it today.

But for a dorm tank where you will probably be moving it sometime that would be an idea.
see: Self-contained Microcosm

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fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden

unless you are going with wild bettas (not suggested for beginners) DO NOT get multiple bettas in the same tank! Unless it's divided, both sexes can get mean and attack, if not kill each other...I would just wait on the tank, get it all cycled, and planted if you are so inclined (plants are fairly easy actually) and then get maybe one betta and a small school of tetras.

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Lead me not to temptation...I can make it there myself just fine, thank you

Why deprive yourself of a couple of roommates for 5 months!... I suggest getting the tenG and placing it atop a small piece of plywood.. say about 24 inches long. (this will give ya a little 2" extension from the end of the tank... Hold your fish food!... Plus when ya move, drain it to about 3 inches of water and it's much easier to transport on the plywood and provide good support.. Total weight at 3" would be about 40 lbs. You fish can even live in that depth for a period of time.
Cycling... Fish present cycling is quite a bit faster than fishless. I again suggest you beg borrow or steal some established media from a tank you trust. Either substrate or filter media. Grab some tiger or cherry barbs (2) and use them in the cycle. Once you've a stable tank, give em away. I feel they are basically carp and are notorious fin nippers. Grab some plants... Crypts (2).. vals (4).. cabomba and a few dwarf sags.. At 10G with those plants and a decent filter you could stock it as such: 5 Cardinal Tetra's.. then for an off contrast.. maybe lemon tets or diamond tets. Each will school independently. I'd add 2 or three of the smaller cory's to finish it off. Some will say you're overstocked but i think that the volume of plants will combat that issue. Bill in va.

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12 Tanks, 900 gallons. Discus/Angels/Malawi/Lake Victorias. Just added a 135 & 2 - 29's..

A much easier plant substrate to use for such a small tank would be to get a $5 bag of safe-t-sorb from Tractor Supply Company. You won't need but a little bit of it, but you're only out the 5 dollars and done 30-40 minutes later. Above info is a little off, a fishless cycle can take as little time as 1wk, while one with fish will take much longer. Although if you find it difficult to follow directions, maybe it is harder. Either way can be sped up with established media from another tank. If you plant heavy first, wait about a week and add 1 fish per week. Not opposed to using fish, but am opposed to using fish and then getting rid of them somehow, but that is just me.

Just to chime in:

The larger the tank, the more room for error you have. Those combo packs at the big box stores are about my least favorite things in the world, but they are pretty cost effective. My local Petco has a 15 gallon combo on sale for $40 right now. Not sure if that's a nationwide deal though.

If your combo pack doesn't contain something to make tap water safe, you should get something. Amquel works well.

A lot of live plants are going to frustrate you if you're not set up to keep them alive. Some easy beginner plants include Java Fern, and Java Moss. They don't need a lot of light or fertilizing. And, to be honest, they are about the only things that you'll have long term success with just using an aquarium combo pack.

Bettas are good beginner fish. They are tolerant of pretty crappy water, so you'll be alright if you forget a couple water changes. Just don't put more than 1 in a tank. They are very territorial. I like cherry barbs a lot for starter fish. They're active, pretty, hardy, and should cost you less than $2 per fish. Start with about 5 of them for a 10 gallon tank and then you could add some more in a week or 2 after your tank cycles.

If you tape a piece of black construction paper, or black fabric or something to the back of the tank it can really make your fish look great. Especially if you go with cherry barbs.

-Clay

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Clay Turville
Southern Oak Aquatics

JR.. here is the proposed schedule for a fish-less cycle...
FISHLESS CYCLING:
Day 1 - dose ammonia to 3 ppm
Days 5, 8, 11, 14 (every 3 days) - measure ammonia and nitrite
When both are gone add more ammonia to 3 ppm.
Now measure every 2 days - when both are gone add more ammonia
Now measure every day - when both are gone add more ammonia
Continue to measure every day - when both gone and you add more ammonia and both ammonia and nitrite are 0 in 24 hours you're done!
Do a partial water change and add some fish!

Fish cycle in my experience works like this...
Add water and dose with Prime (fixes the Chlorine, Chloramine and Ammonia from your tap). Wait a couple of hours and add seasoned media.
Add two fish the next day.. small barbs..
Now you've got ammonia, and both bacteria needed to create nitrites and nitrates.
Elapsed time? 24 hrs.
Monitor your water chemistry daily for the first week.
I've done it with Discus, Angels and a number of Tetras...
My lampeye tets (same school of 6) have cycled about a dozen tanks..
Fishless cycles can take up to 6 weeks dependent upon a number of factors.
Bill in Va.

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12 Tanks, 900 gallons. Discus/Angels/Malawi/Lake Victorias. Just added a 135 & 2 - 29's..

JR.. I have Safe-T-Sorb in one of my 155's.. 80 lbs of it.. Love the look, love how my plants react to it... 40 lbs for 4.50 dollars from Tractor Supply. It does require a ton of rinsing.. Lotsa dust in it. Pool Filter Sand is pretty good too.. and that's going for $10.00 for 50lbs.. enough to do 10 - 10G tanks!!!!...1/4th the rinsing effort over STS. With a 10G.. not much of a consideration. Bill in Va.

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12 Tanks, 900 gallons. Discus/Angels/Malawi/Lake Victorias. Just added a 135 & 2 - 29's..

You mean you can't add seasoned media to a fishless cycle? In your method just a couple of fish will take at least a few days to build any sort of ammonia, and a fishless I can do it in seconds.

Anything you can do with a fish cycle can be done with a fishless. Unless you are adding gobs of "seasoned media", and I mean like pounds of it, there is not very much of the beneficial bacteria you have transferred to the tank. Much of what is needed to stabalize a tank will still have to be grown. Your method is very fragile with only a tad of what will be needed to make the tank safe - not a cycled tank in my mind. If it has worked for you, great. However, most people might not have the amount of seasoned material you have to utilize to cycle their tank. I didn't have back when I was doing my first tank with fish. And a tank cycled with fish can take up to 10wks.

Like I said, I don't have anything against a fish cycle as long as it is done with care and the importance is saving the fish and not the cycle, but to each their own.

I know household ammonia isn't really considered a chemical but in my humble opinion I just hate adding anything to the water column, from the bottle, that nature doesn't provide. As gross as it might appear.. it's not unheard of for an ammonia injection to be supplied by human urine....ewwwww.....

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12 Tanks, 900 gallons. Discus/Angels/Malawi/Lake Victorias. Just added a 135 & 2 - 29's..

Thanks everyone for your wonderful advice!

I'm 99% sure that I'm going to wait until summer to start this project so I can have time to gather everything up (and save up some cash!)

Based on advice, I've decided:
-the tank will be cycled without fish (pure ammonia method, probably)
-I will thoroughly research any potential fish to make sure I have everything I need
-I will plant the tank (according to the type of fish I want), and I might poke around on the forums for some advice on how to do so

Here's where I could use advice: single male betta or a few (how many?) tetras? Where is a good place to buy fish? (I don't really know if I can trust the big-name pet stores)

Thanks!

From what I hear male bettas don't really do well with other fish like tetras. The betta gets picked on by the faster moving fish.

I would go all out and fully planted. Live plants stop the ammoniam,nitrIte spikes because they actually prefer to consume any ammonia present before the final nitrates. So you can add just a fish and then not add food for a week, and that fish will never experience any ammonia spike. Plus the plants will be consuming its carbon dioxide and return oxygen as well.



Still just my .02

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fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden

Clarification: single male betta OR a few tetras.
I think I'll start with a species tank; it just seems like it might be a bit easier.

I also plan on doing a fully planted aquarium; I want it to look and feel as natural as possible.

I was poking around on the internet today...

Appearance-wise, I like bettas better than tetras, so I'd rather go with a betta.

However, I also came across the otocinclus catfish, and I think it is just absolutely adorable. One site suggested keeping a betta and an oto in the same tank (>5 gal). Would that be a feasible option for me?