Crow

Hi
I am somewhat new to aquariums. I grew up with a few tanks helped mainly by my father. Now some 25 years on I am getting back into it. I have never been anything of a guru and I like to do things right. So I have joined up with hope to be able to access experienced brains to ensure this. I have an 8x2x2 tank just starting so set up. Not usually a beginners tank I know but right opportunity and price and everything just all came together. I couldn't resist. I will be setting it up as centre piece display in living room. Thats my short story. Would be very appreciative of any help anyone can offer at anytime and hopefully I can reciprocate in some way.
Thankyou and hello to all.

Jim

hey crow, welcome to fishlore...
OK, to begin with, before yo do anything, read these 2 pages:
http://www.fishlore.com/FirstTankSetup.htm
and
http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm
These will give you all the info you need to get set-up. If you have any questions, just ask... everyone here is very helpful and friendly

sgould

Welcome!

Stradius011

Welcome to Fishlore! Seems like Jim already gave you some good advice.

Crow

Thankyou Jim
I will read all thoroughly.

tan.b

sounds like fun getting that set-up.....i love choosing and planning what to put in! any ideas yet on what fish you're having? any questions, just ask!! - hope we get photos of it! sounds fab!
tan

COBettaCouple

Welcome to fishlore and congrats on getting a great starting tank.

Jim's link should get you off to a good start.

For water conditioner, I'd definitely recommend Prime or NovAqua+.
For a testing kit, I'd recommend the API master freshwater kit.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/ - Here's a great online store for supplies.

What kind of fish do you want to put into your tank?

Crow

Looking to set up general community tank - lots of plants ,driftwood,5mm gravel. Favourites to include are clown loaches,silver sharks,dwarf gouramis,various tetras,neons,angels. My son wants a siamise fighter - will this be ok with others?. haven't decided on catfish yet. I like many of corys and brislenose though. Would be happy to hear any suggestions across the board on selections.
Thanks everyone for welcome. Let me know anytime I can assist anyone with anything.
Thanks all

Jim

they should be OK together, but be careful not to overstock the tank. You're talking a lot of fish here. I don't know how many gallons yur tank is, but remember the 1" to a gallon rule.
Also, a betta (siamese fighting fish) should get along with the others. They generally only fight other male bettas. NEVER put 2 males together in a tank...

Crow

Thanks Jim
I would like to put female Betta in if possible. Tank is 850litre - 200 gallons

COBettaCouple

I'd recommend checking the fish you want to get here: http://www.fishlore.com/TropicalFishProfiles.htm. This way you can see the adult size of each fish, along with how aggressive it is and if it likes to have company of it's own kind, how big a tank, etc.

If you have cichlids, barbs, gourami or other fish that can be aggressive in the tank, I'm not sure if a female Betta would lead to conflict or not. That's a big tank and with lots of hiding places (safe decorations, plants, etc.) it should be ok, just something to keep an eye on. What might work best would be a theme - like cichlids or gourami or livebearers.. cichlids or gourami can get bigger but are beautiful fish.. livebearers (platys, guppys, mollys, swordtails, etc) have a lot of varieties and are generally peaceful and smaller, but EASILY breed unless you have all males.. so many choices, it's really up to you what you want, but those profiles should help and you'll always get answers to any questions you have so I'm sure you'll end up with a great tank.

Jim

Crow, also read the section on this site (somewhere) on breeding Betta's. I've never done it, but I guess there's a trick to having a male and female beta together...

COBettaCouple

Yea, it's a ton of work for months and would be best if an entire room could be devoted to it along with probably $1000+ in supplies, tanks, food, meds, etc. We've been collecting lots of information on it and it's definitely not for the faint of heart. Maybe one day we will, but short on space & money to do it now.

Neville

hi crow, welcome to fishlore!!!

Gwenz

Welcome to fishlore! hope you enjoy it here.

Gwenz

Crow

Thankyou again everyone

Thanks for advice. Any breeding programs will be down the track a bit but it is something I would like to try. I am just getting gravel cleaned. 80 litres is a lot of gravel. I got it straight from landscape supplies yard and it is filthy. I am doing it in small lots and it is taking about 6 or 7 wash,soak and rinse cycles to clean. I am pacing myself and it seems never ending. So here's to continued back ache and see you again soon.
Thanks

COBettaCouple

ugh.. i hate the gravel cleaning.. even the stuff you get at the LPS seems to take ages to clean.. good luck with it and hope you'll be on to the more fun parts of setting up your aquarium.

Isabella

Welcome to Fish Lore Crow You'll have lots of fun with your tank Good Luck!

Crow

Hi
Thanks everyone for invaluable inputs and warm welcomes.

Still going on gravel. It just does not want to get clean. I soak it - overnight. Then rinse in bucket, drain bucket, repeat and then have large tub of water which I then use stainer to sift and agitate it in, then back in bucket for another rinse and it still produces water with a caramel/cream discolouration. 7 or 8 times now through this process and still going. The gravel has come from a landscape supply yard is 5-7mm and seems to have come from some sort of clay type environment. It is a really nice gravel and will suit my setup with latex-rock 3d background. Just getting impatient with how long it is taking. Anyone with any speedy processes?

Thanks
Crow (with an empty tank)

COBettaCouple

Crow - that stinks.. i wish i had an answer for you, but we just kept getting dust from gravel we bought in the aquarium aisle at walmart - honestly, that was part of what drove us to flat marbles.. we were doing a similiar process to you, just not soaking overnight.

I hope one of the longtime fish keepers has a process to really get gravel clean. are you using hot or cold water?

EDIT: i forgot to ask, but did you post a question about your gravel problem in the beginners & misc forums? You might get more responses there.

Crow

I have used both hot and cold water washes. I will post question on beginners.
Thanks

atmmachine816

Welcome to fishlore

susitna-flower

Crow

Hi All

Ploughing through still. I am slowly winning my battles. It is just going to take a little longer than I would have preferred, but end result is my goal and I will get there. Thanks susitna for plant site. Just took a quick look and have logged it in favourites to have thorough read later.
I too was in landscape business for a while until bad health. Now on disability. It literally gives me great pain and fatigue to do a lot of things so believe me, gravel is a real trial. However nothing I have'nt become accustomed to. Keeps me slow now and perhaps the roses smell sweeter with spare time.
Look forward to filling tank soon (maybe). I will post pics when I finally have all things up and running - sometime in May.
Bye All
& take care.

susitna-flower

:) It's a small world! Sorry to hear your plight. I think it is a bit natural for landscape folks to get into aquariums. A manageable landscape in a box, made out of glass and submerged in water! Watch out though, if you are like the rest of us, you might become an aquaholic! It strikes when you least expect, it could happen when you are perusing the internet or LFS, you will just HAVE to have a fish that needs its own tank, or like me get livebarers and want to breed them. However it happens, you will end up with tanks all over your house. The only thing for it are lots of meetings here on the forum! You will never be cured, just feel better about your condition.

See you around the forum.

Land of the Midnight Sun 8)