Freshwater Beginner Looking For Info

I've decided to go with freshwater fish because it seems easier but I just want any info you can give me before I go to the store and get me a fish

It seems like it should be Pretty easy but yeah any info would be nice here from experienced people


What would be ideal is to have a couple or one small fish in a nice sized bowl or tank and just manage them simply but I've never had a fish before so that's why I'm posting


Sorry to be such a noob

Thanks

 

Don't do anything smaller than a 5gallon, the bigger, the more option you have for fish. Research the fishes needs before you buy. Study the nitrogen cycle and cycle the tank before putting fish in

 

First I think you should get the biggest tank you can afford/fit, many people think if it's big it's hard but the opposite is true the bigger the tank the more forgiving it is of mistakes as there is more water to compensate. This will also give you a larger range of fish you can keep.

So first thing is work out your budget and go from there

 

Let us know if you have a specific fish in mind and we can help you with info on it too

 

NEVER put a live fish in a bowl. All fish, no matter tank size need filtration. Most need a heater, too.

 

Yes, get a filter and a heater

 

Imo a good beginner tank is a 29g. Most of the time people who are new to fishkeeping want to stock and keep stocking and in a 5 or 10 gallon your really limited in options, also the more water the harder it is to get parameters out of whack.

If you wanted something small as u mentioned "bowl" then a 5 gallon aquarium with a Betta but you'll need a filter and a heater.

 

A 29 or a 20 long is the best beginner tank. I like the 20 long more though. No particular reason, I just do.

 

I've decided to go with freshwater fish because it seems easier but I just want any info you can give me before I go to the store and get me a fish

It seems like it should be Pretty easy but yeah any info would be nice here from experienced people


What would be ideal is to have a couple or one small fish in a nice sized bowl or tank and just manage them simply but I've never had a fish before so that's why I'm posting


Sorry to be such a noob

Thanks

I would personally recommend a 10 gallon tank for a beginner tank if you want something other than a betta (which you can keep in a 5). They are small enough to keep on a desk and clean, but you still have some options for fish. Also, you can even find some 10 gallon kits (tank, light, hood, filter, and maybe a heater or some other basic stuff) starting as low as $30 for a more basic one at Walmart.

Some beginner fish you could get:
- a few live bearers (platies, guppies, -maybe mollies-, endlers)
- a small school of tetras

If you want to get a little more advanced
-pea puffers (they require either live food or frozen food so they are harder to feed, they sometimes have aggression issues, and can be on the messier side, prefer live plants)
- African dwarf frogs (pretty easy but they like frozen bloodworms or other foods and can be hard to feed, need hiding spaces)
- shrimp (these can live with other fish -but may get eaten- and in different tank sizes but they are sensitive to water quality and need live plants and a source of food be it algae or other wise)



What you need:
- a plan for how you are going to complete the nitrogen cycle
- tank
- heater
- filter
- gravel/substrate/sand (I guess this is optional)
- dechlorinate
- fish
- fish food
- thermometer
- test kits for pH, ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites

Option stuff
- live plants (in general highly recommend)
-light needed
- decorations (some fish really like these for hiding spots depending on what you get)
- bubbler


And more which I know I'm forgetting but you get the point. I know this looks like A LOT, but it really isn't that much. I just included everything I could think of/ wish I knew before getting a tank. Like I said, I'm probably forgetting stuff so the import thing is to do RESEARCH (preferably before starting the tank).

Hope this helped (and didn't scare you because honestly having your own fish tank is so much fun and so worth and kind of addicting).

 

I started with a one gallon home for a betta because of my grandgirl. The problem is, as you think of the needs of your fish and if you are into watching a quiet watery world, then you get either BTS (bigger tank syndrome) or MTS (multiple tank syndrome). So, get the biggest tank you can afford and have room for if that is what you are going for.

If you start with a small tank, a 5 or 5.5 is good for a betta with a snail and or a handful of the small shrimp such as red cherry or any of the colored variants. Bettas can be active, so live or silk plants around the back and sides, some kind of decoration for him to explore/hide/sleep in.

If you get a larger tank, say a 10, you have more fish options but the basics remain the same.

But before you get any fish, get the tank and equipment you will need, learn about the nitrogen cycle, get your tank cycled. This will lessen the stress on your fishy friend and on you. Also, learn about different fish needs, for example, bettas like it warm. Which usually means a heater unless you live in the tropics. Corys like it a bit cooler, but you will still need that heater for them. If you get a bigger tank, and end up going with a community, learn the temps of the different fish so you can match them. Living your life too hot or too cold is miserable.

Decide on what kind of fishy world you want to slip into and go from there. Let us know which direction you go in and we love pictures!!

 

Looks like you've already had a lot of information thrown at you, but a few pointers/summary of what I think is important:

- don't get anything smaller that a 5 gallon tank, and if want to keep more than 1 fish, I would recommend a 20 gallon (you have many options)

- learn about the nitrogen cycle/cycling your tank (cycling your filter). When first setting up, either get cycled filter media from someone else, or ghost feed your tank for a month before adding any fish.

- avoid impulse buys. Research and plan your stock before adding fish to your tank. Even though fish are "freshwater tropical," many fish can be territorial/predatory/aggressive, some are schooling fish and need others of the same species, and others inhabit only certain regions of your tank and you don't want to overcrowd them.

- make sure you have lots of decor and hiding spots so your fish don't feel stressed. You think see them as often, but their colors will be more vibrant, they will be more active, etc so it pays off (not to mention the fish's health). In terms of live plants vs artificial... live plants benefit the water quality, but if you have a brown thumb then start with artificial (don't want an added worry when starting out)

- if worst comes to worst, then you will be able to tell something is wrong from looking at your fish. Disfiguration, discoloration, or change in appetite/behavior means something is up and needs fixing.

Hope this helps

 

SO glad I found this forum!
I just purchased my first tank (75 Gallon)
I'm a research freak, so the information on this site has been HUGE!

(I'm just getting started on my bio-cycle, no fish or plants yet.)

Just wanted to jot down a quick tanks to all the contributors!

 

What are you planning on stocking? Also welcome to the forum!

 

Welcome to the forum!

 

Welcome aboard!

 

Hello and welcome to fishlore! Glad your here and this site has been helpful to you!

 

Welcome to fishlore!

 

Just wanted to jot down a quick tanks to all the contributors!

Pun intended?

 

Pun intended?

Lol I was wondering that too

 

Lol I was wondering that too

hah, very much intended..... Puns are how eye roll!

What are you planning on stocking? Also welcome to the forum!

That't the million dollar question at this point.
My mom always had fish (I've found through all this research, she was a horrible fishkeeper)

It's for sure going to be a community tank. I have two boys (8 and 10) and a wife who likes bright colored fish.
I'm a guppy fan. A LOT of research still before we buy anything.

Right now, I'm just trying to get the tank cycled.
Then I think I'll add plants.
Then Fish.

No rush, it's a gorgeous tank even without the fish lol

 

May I push you in the direction of dwarf gouramis? They're readily available in common pet stores and conveniently my favorite freshwater fish

 

May I push you in the direction of dwarf gouramis? They're readily available in common pet stores and conveniently my favorite freshwater fish

Those are gorgeous!
I was reading though that brightly colored fish can cause the males to become aggressive?
My wife has her heart set on some glofish. I wonder if this would trigger them?

 

Those are gorgeous!
I was reading though that brightly colored fish can cause the males to become aggressive?
My wife has her heart set on some glofish. I wonder if this would trigger them?

Oh; yes, the glofish most likely would.

However, a 75 gallon would leave plenty of room for both as long as there are adequate hiding spots. Do you plan on heavily planting your tank? Or leaving it wide and spacious?

 

Welcome to fishlore!

 

Hello! I'm new in the forum and I have some questions!
I set up a 10 gal tank with sponge filter and a heater at 75,2 degrees! In the last month I add a tetra pond pellet every day! Rigth now I only can mesure the NO2 and its at high range so the cycle goes well! When I test 0 NO2 the cycle will be finish! I will put a plakat betta in this tank! And here comes the questions!
1- when the cycle finish do I need to to a 100% water change?
2-its my first tank and fish! Can I do the quarantine in the main tank?
3- I don't have an NO3 test rigth now! So how I can calculate the amount of the water change?
Really tanks for all your help!
Greetings from Costa Rica!

 

Welcome to fish and to the forum. To answer your questions you don’t need to do a 100 percent water change after the cycling process is complete. As for the quarantine, if you only get the betta, you’ll be ok letting them be in the main tank. I only say this because you don’ t have anything that could be damaged in the main tank. However, make sure you look for anything off. This way, if you do have a fish with a desiese, you can treat it. You can’t really calculate the amount of water change needed without a NO3 test. If you can, get on as soon as possible.

 

Hello welcome to fishlore and the fishy world!

1 no unless you want to start your whole cycle over again
2 unless you have other fish in the main tank you don't need to do a quartine you do need to accumulate though that means you need to float your new buddy in his cup/bag for an hour is and add new water ever 15 minutes then add him in he'll be fine

3 I don't know if this will work for you but you can bring a sample of your water into your localnletsmart and they'll do it for you I recommend getting the API master test kit

Also 75 is a little cold for a betta they do better at 79-82 other than that your doing great!

 

Welcome to fish and to the forum. To answer your questions you don’t need to do a 100 percent water change after the cycling process is complete. As for the quarantine, if you only get the betta, you’ll be ok letting them be in the main tank. I only say this because you don’ t have anything that could be damaged in the main tank. However, make sure you look for anything off. This way, if you do have a fish with a desiese, you can treat it. You can’t really calculate the amount of water change needed without a NO3 test. If you can, get on as soon as possible.

Really Thanks I will follow all the advices!

Hello welcome to fishlore and the fishy world!

1 no unless you want to start your whole cycle over again
2 unless you have other fish in the main tank you don't need to do a quartine you do need to accumulate though that means you need to float your new buddy in his cup/bag for an hour is and add new water ever 15 minutes then add him in he'll be fine

3 I don't know if this will work for you but you can bring a sample of your water into your localnletsmart and they'll do it for you I recommend getting the API master test kit

Also 75 is a little cold for a betta they do better at 79-82 other than that your doing great!

Thanks iverg1 I will follow all you're advices!

 

Make sure when you add him to the tank you net him in, don't dump the water from the fish store into your tank.

 

Make sure when you add him to the tank you net him in, don't dump the water from the fish store into your tank.

Ohhhhhhhh man. I second this so hard. Treat the fish store water like a disease. *hissssss* CLEANSE THE TANK OF FISH STORE WATER. Lol but seriously... avoid getting any of the fish store water in your own tank. It may contain bacteria or parasites that aren't welcome.

 

Make sure when you add him to the tank you net him in, don't dump the water from the fish store into your tank.

interesting! I will do it! Thanks PhillyKev

Ohhhhhhhh man. I second this so hard. Treat the fish store water like a disease. *hissssss* CLEANSE THE TANK OF FISH STORE WATER. Lol but seriously... avoid getting any of the fish store water in your own tank. It may contain bacteria or parasites that aren't welcome.

Hahaha yeah I will treat the aquarium water like a disease hahaha! Thanks man!

 

Hahaha yeah I will treat the aquarium water like a disease hahaha! Thanks man!

Yeye no problem

 

Hello welcome to fishlore and the fishy world!

1 no unless you want to start your whole cycle over again

Beneficial bacteria does NOT live in the water column
It lives in your filter your case in your sponge filter will harbour the bb substrate plants ornaments etc but not your water column! so your fine to do 70-80% change after cycle don't think you need 100% wc
And it WONT restart your cycle

Fish in is fine as its only one qt isn't warranted but to as more different story
Grab a bottle of prime and apI master test kit

 

Beneficial bacteria does NOT live in the water column
It lives in your filter your case in your sponge filter will harbour the bb substrate plants ornaments etc but not your water column! so your fine to do 70-80% change after cycle don't think you need 100% wc
And it WONT restart your cycle

Fish in is fine as its only one qt isn't warranted but to as more different story
Grab a bottle of prime and apI master test kit

Really thanks 83jase! I think I will be wait a little bit more until I get an apI master test kit! Thanks for your help!

 

No worries Prime and apI master test kit is all you need to be armed with

 

Hey, Gabriel C, welcome! I don't have any advice for you. I'm a beginner, too. Just saying hi. If you ever have any questions, this is the place to ask them. My best to you!

 

Hey, Gabriel C, welcome! I don't have any advice for you. I'm a beginner, too. Just saying hi. If you ever have any questions, this is the place to ask them. My best to you!

Really thanks Georgie Girl!