New To Hobby...about To Quit And Severely Disappoint Child

So this past weekend, I picked up my first aquarium with my 10-year-old son at the local Petsmart. I have no experience with the hobby, but I've been promising him a pet and thought this would be a good way to give him some responsibility and have some fun. We've been reading about tank setup, the nitrogen cycle, etc. over the past few weeks and felt we were ready.

We honed in on the Marineland 29 gallon starter kit - tank, biowheel Pelican filter, hood/LED, heater. I had no reason for picking this tank other than the brief recommendation from the salesgirl that "Marineland is a good brand".

Since the moment I set it up, I've been unable to ease the fear that the tank is going to rupture or leak. We stationed it in the dining area on a very heavy sofa table. It's rock-solid and level. It's on a very high quality wood floor in a brand new home and a leak of 29 gallons of water would be a disaster to say the least.

My downfall started when I read the reviews on the tank (after purchase). A couple of reviewers spoke of spontaneous release of their tanks shortly after setup. Not to mention the LED light on the hood that gets wet and fails. Then I did more searching and found countless stories of tank failures. Maybe it's not a common thing, but it's something I hadn't even thought was possible before purchase (save for the accidental knocking over or impact).

I've been examining it non-stop (I do have a bit of OCD). So far I've noticed two things that concern me:

• The long sides of the tank bow slightly when full. I measure about 3/16" total bow at the center of the tank when compared to the measurements along the edges. I've read mixed opinions online of whether or not slight bowing on a 29 gal tank (without center brace) is significant.
• There is an imperfection in the silicone seal at the bottom of the right, front corner of the seam. I have also read some mixed opinions about imperfections and bubbles in the silicone seals. But the one thing that seems consistent is that I should not see anything but silicone where the two panes of glass meet. See the attached picture. The purple arrow points to what looks like an air bubble in the cove of silicone on the inside of the tank. The red arrows point to what looks like voids in the silicone right at the seam where the two panes of glass meet.

It's full and we've been letting it cycle. My son keeps asking when we're going to get the fish... I've been holding off to give the tank time to cycle, but also because I don't know that I'm going to be able to overcome my fear to let us keep it. I'm at risk of the "father of the year" award if I return this tank.

Please give me your opinion on the two observations I've made on the tank. And any reassurance about my concern for leaks would be appreciated as well.

Thanks in advance.

 

Id return it and get a replacement. If this is just a start upgrade stuff later as you feel necessary. But id return that and get a replacement. That corner has some issues.

 

I grew up with a passion for fish keeping and got my first tank for my fourth birthday. Over the years I have had 10+ fish tanks and many of them had eventually gotten marks, scratches, etc. However, never once have I had a tank leak or collapse. Although the your chance of having a broken tank is extremely unlikely, the corner does look like an issue that quality control may have overlooked. My suggestion would be to send that photo to the manufacturers and see what they think. If it truly is damaged you will be able to get a replacement (I am pretty sure that brand's tanks are under warranty).

I Hope I Helped And Enjoy Your New Tank!
Varkie444

 

Yes get a replacement and start again it's worth it, I promise. You'll have peace of mind and your kid will be happy. For what it's worth I've owned tanks for 10 yrs and haven't had any major failures *knock on wood*

 

Mooch, relax...... You are correct to watch a new, or used, tank when first filling it. That is why many of us keep 100% silicone on hand! If you notice any leak, then return it to the store. Unless you have knocked the edges on something hard and cracked it yourself, things should be fine. Regarding "accidentally knocking it over", the filled 29 gal. will be near 200 lbs! So it's not likely that will happen unless you bowl in your house! (My son washed a bowling ball in the sink when he was about 7. It slipped out of his hands and rolled off the counter and dropped onto the toilet. Yeah, the toilet itself no longer held water.) True story. I can laugh about it now. Just glad he called me at work to tell me what had happened. It gave me 20 miles to calm and choose the right words to use during this "learning opportunity".

Things don't have to be "perfect" for your child to enjoy this activity. Learn together! Start small and simple. Lights are for live plants and for our viewing pleasure, not for the fish anyway. Pray about it instead of being anxious about it. You will enjoy it more that way.

 

You can also use some stuff called Tetra Safe Start to speed up your cycle.

 

Hello and welcome to Fishlore.
Please don't give up, we have all been where you are. There is a learning curve, but this is a wonderful hobby, and if you stick with it, you will be well rewarded, and I bet you that within a year, you will have two tanks running...maybe more. MTS IS a serious disease.
Now..what I'm gonna suggest is my opinion, and it just may frustrate you. First, you did a good job by getting a larger tank for a beginner. It will be easier to maintain, and you will have a much better choice of fish you can stock.
I don't like kits, but understand why people buy them. I would suggest taking it back and buy everything seperate, this way you you can get quality equipment. It will be expensive at first, but in the long run cheaper, when you don't have to upgrade equipment, and you have less to worry about from the cheaper equipment from kits.
You have little to fear from tanks leaking, and bowing from the glass is natural, and since your tank was designed without a center brace, it's strong enough to take the pressure. I have a 75 that is over 20 years old that I recently resealed, water tested, it has no center brace, with a slight bow, and not one leak, and I have no fear of a leak.
Looking at your picture, I see the concern that you have with the silicone. Does the silicone rub off easy if you rub it, or brittle, dry or craked? If yes to any question...return it asap. Just by the looks, I would return it, but that's my opinion just looking at a picture.
I know the idea of returning the tank and disappointing your son, but it's best that you disappoint him now, than later.

 

You might need to return this particular tank due to the silicone in the corner, however you are WAY overthinking this. Remember it is suppose to be something for you and your son to do together and that should take priority over your worries.

Worst case you get a leak, turn it over to home owners ins., get it fixed and move on.

 

Look at it this way. Your teaching you son PATIENCE. Mine learned some (I say this sparingly) waiting for the right female bn for his tank. Replwcing is the best option. It a weak point. It may never leak but I don't like to take chances like that.

 

More like 300 lbs with all the decor! If it makes you feel any better, I've only seen one tank leak out of all the tanks I've known, mine and others', and it was in a tank that was pretty much an antique and had been purchased in a second hand store. Could it happen? Yes. Is it likely to happen? No

If you have any doubts about the tank you purchased there should be no problem taking it back and demanding a replacement. It looks from the picture that the seal (to the left of the blue arrow) is intact, but the red arrows seem to be pointing at a glass edge that's been crushed slightly. Again, probably nothing to worry about (I have used tanks with actual chunks of glass taken out of the corners! <not condoning this btw) but if you don't want to take the risk it's understandable. I would talk to a professional aquarium place that does custom builds and repairs and see what they say about the bowing. It is possible to add an aftermarket brace, even when the tank is full.

Did you know that you can get water sensor alarms that will tell you if there's moisture present?

And LA58, people wash bowling balls?

 

If I do return this tank based on the defect I posted and your advice, I may have an opportunity for a little re-start. I have to admit, I paid quite a premium for this "starter kit" and wondered if I would have just been better off buying individual higher quality items.

Can I get some recommendations from you all if I chose to go this route?

First consideration: I went 29 gal because I saw it was a recommended size for beginners. I'm wondering if 20 gal would also be a decent beginner size. It won't resolve my fear of breakage/leakage, but it would give me some more flexibility in location. Though length and width are very similar, I do believe I could find a better space for the tank in our family room (as opposed to dining area) if it were a little smaller. Plus I could put it on a dedicated stand.

How about some other recommendations for quality individual components. Is there a best style/brand of tank, filter, heater, light, etc. that I should consider? Website reviews always seem a bit mixed...

Thanks again for all of your thoughts so far.

 

I think you're gunna be alright! As others said, it's common when you first get a huge glass thing full of water to closely watch it. I bet a lot of the bad reviews were from people who had them shipped by UPS or something, that's when things break and leak. How are you cycling the tank?

 

I don't have a recommendation but is there any particular fish you or your family want? Type of fish is a big consideration in tank size and maybe with a few ideas of what you guys like will help tank size recommendations too. Just a thought though

 

You can try aTop Fin, All Glass, and Aqueon. I will definitely suggest that you check out Craigslist for some sales.
I suggest that whatever size you get, remember that longer is better than taller. So if you decide to get a 20, get a 20 long instead of a 20 high.
When it comes to lights, Led is the way to go, I suggest you checkout Finnex, and Satellite. With filters, I prefer canisters over Hang on Back (HOB), filters. Checkout Aquatop/SunSun, Eheim, Fluval, Marineland, and Cascade. Subtrate, I would suggest Black Diamond Blasting Sand(BDBS), pool sand, or playground sand. Black substrate with a dark background with show the fishes color better.
Heaters you can go with Eheim Jager.
Please tell us how, and what you are using to cycle your tank, and any other products you have. Make sure that you pick up the API Master test kit, get it from Amazon, it may be cheaper than the local fish store (LFS).

 

I'd return it. It would give you piece of mind so that you can get something that both you and your child can enjoy. You are never going to stop worrying over it and that stress just isn't worth it. Petco is having their $1 per gallon sale right now, I've purchased several this sale and they look pretty good. But first, I'd research the fish you and your child want and go from there. If you want a HOB filter, I really like the Aquaclear ones and the prices are good on Amazon. If you like the looks of the versa top (glass covers) they are cheapest at Drs. Foster and Smith.

 

I would return as on all of my tanks this is not a problem. I highly reccommned a aqueon tank as all of my tanks are aqueon. I have had my tanks for 4 years and no problems. While I was at school one day my dad even moved the fish tank with half the water still in it and ir still works fine.

 

Petsmart was very quick to let me return a tank and stand this summer when I had a leak in a marineland kit.

 

following

 

I have a ten year old tank (it has tempered glass, so when I dropped a piece of decor on it it didn't give or anything thankfully), but the seals are all beautifully intact even after a decade. But the seals on this look iffy, I would return it for your own piece of mind - and if you want a 20 i'd go with a long (I have everything from aqueon tanks to marineland and even an oceanic), make sure it is an aquarium tank and not a reptile tank as the glass thickness they use is different, as there are a number of smaller colorful fish that can go in a 20 gallon (like neon tetra and cory catfish). while it may bum your son out to have to return the tank, just say you are getting another one because the other was unsafe.
Tetra safe start is used to cycle a tank quicker, but you would need to read the bottle to get all instruction for what to do with it.

 

I agree with the others, I would not use this tank. I have two Marineland tanks, but they don't have silicone that looks like that.
Your child may be disappointed, but they will be happy again when they get to pick the fish. Definitely still get that dad of the year award. I personally enjoy my marineland canister filters, and for HOB (hang on back) I prefer the Fluval/Aquaclear filters. LED is great for lighting.

 

If this is a standard 29 gallon and you replace it with a 20 long the foot prI t will be the same tank will just be shorter. I recommend getting a tank from petco during the dpg sale you'll pay a dollar per gallon. I have 7 or eight of these tanks and like them all. As for heaters lights and filters it depends on what you want to spend. For anything under 40 g a hob filter would be fine imo. Aquaclear is a good brand for hob. Canisters always have more option and sun sun canisters are the cheapest younwill find. (When buying filters keep gph in mind hob filter 8 to 10 times, Canister 5 to 7 times volume) for example a 20 gallon tank 20 x 10 =200 gph filter

Cheap led light brand is beamworks. It does good with low to medium light plants. I got a 72 inch led light bar for my 150 for around 80 dollars.


Heaters don't go with the cheapest. Aqeon pro is a good choice. Eheim jager is another good option. Fluval also makes good heaters. Youll want 3 to 4 watts per gallon when choosing wattage amount. (Following heaters by tank size isn't always best) look for shatter resistan or shatter proof

 

I spent a lot of time late last night researching some options. Here's a setup I'm contemplating; all of the items get fairly good reviews on the pet store/Amazon websites. if I shop around, I see myself spending just a touch LESS than what I have tied up in the Marineland kit (the kit I bought was not on sale):

• Aqueon 20 gal tank - Petco has their $1/gal sale going on until later this month.
• Aqueon/Versatop glass lid
• Eheim Jaeger 100-125W heater
• Fluval/Aquaclear HOB 200gph filter
• Aqueon modular LED light fixture

The LED fixture is the most expensive item in the bunch, and I think there are alternatives, but it got late and I ran out of time researching them.

One thing I'm having trouble finding is a decent, basic stand for the 20 gal long tank. The room I'd place it in has a combination of semi-gloss white built-ins and maple/oak tables. I was hoping for something like a simple square tubular steel stand (I'd rather go with something that's going to be a complete contrast to the existing furniture, rather than something that looks like a bad match), but none get really good reviews. Really coming up empty on finding a simple stand I like and this will be a critical piece. Any thoughts here?

To also answer one of the earlier questions in the thread: We are looking at some of the smaller, tropical, community fish. Haven't decided on the mix, but we're not going to press our luck with anything aggressive or anything livebearing at this point.

Draining and rinsing the 29 gal to return it is going to be fun...

 

Good job on the research. Like I mentioned above beamworks makes fairly cheap led lights.
As for stand I build my own but I have seen some metal stands for 20 gallon o ljne at petsmart or petco I think. Most tank stands are going to be made of pressed osb. Not really quality materials.

 

Tank stands from the big box pet stores will be made of pressboard, and will not fare well
getting wet a lot. I have one, and it's built to hold the tank weight, but its narrow depth makes
it wobbly, so I put strap from the back of the tank to a stud in the wall to minimize the wobble.
(It's something you won't want to be moving around a lot, so get it in the right place the 1st time!)

When I do water changes, I put a towel down across the floor right up against the base of the stand
to keep water from getting under the 'feet' and into the bare pressboard. Otherwise the stand does
it's job, looks nice, and stores all 'schtuff' I need to feed/maintain the tank, and holds the canister filter.

Best thing can I say about tank shopping is look at it like you would a car... no dings, no scratches, be
persistent about it, use your OCD!! I looked at (3) tanks in the store, before I settled on the 4th. Remember that
shipping and handling can be rough on just about anything, especially glass!

Aquariums are hugely rewarding, the work you put into pays out exponentially. My 60 gallon tank takes
about an hour and a half a week of maintenance 'work'... and it's a labor of love, so it's all good!

 

I wouldn't worry about rinsing it too much, like they told me, they can't sell it again.

I know it's osb but I got my stand from Wal-Mart for right around$40 and I've been very happy with it. It's not fancy but it's been sturdy. I never shop there but I couldn't find anything around here.

 

Tanks sometimes leak, but in 50 years of fishkeeping, I have not heard of a 20 gallon under 25 years old going. The 25 inch base ones are solid. The 30 inch ones even more so.
My kit 20 long I bought when I was 16 cracked when I was 52. It is a good basic size. The trouble generally comes with 10s using thin glass, and large tanks with no center braces.
3 footers without center braces do make me a little nervous.

 

I'm not an expert, so please, folks, step in and correct me if this is bad advice - if the OP returns the tank, couldn't he remove the water and put it in a clean bucket, and then take out the décor, substrate, and whatever is in the filter right now (floss or whatever) and add that... then go straight out and return the defective tank and then put the original stuff and water right back in (into the NEW tank, that is)? Would that at least mitigate the bacterial disruption, so he wouldn't have to start at step #1 of the cycling process?

I've been spending the last 1/2 hour or so googling - I'm going to stop now before I irritate my hubby too much! I've discovered that there is such a thing as "seamless, curved-corner" aquariums, that are supposed to be less likely to leak than the traditional square corner tanks... what I've seen so far is pricey and most seem to be the "kit" variety that folks are (rightly) advising you against (with light, filter, etc. built in) - so I haven't seen anything link worthy so far. However, if this sounds intriguing, you might want to do some searching yourself. HOWEVER, I have no experience with such tanks - my old fashioned traditional glass tank has been sitting in a built-into-the-wall, between two rooms set-up since 2007 with no issues - the only leaks I've experienced were from the Marineland Magnum 350 filter (once when we put it back together incorrectly, and a second time earlier this week when the O-ring needed replacement) - my hubby did set up an arrangement with grooves and tubes on the supporting surface of the stand that will direct any possible leaks into 5 gallon pails under the stand, just in case... he's a bit OCD, too. I'll try to post pix if you're curious. If anyone actually owns one of these mythical "seamless" tanks, hopefully they'll speak up and let you know what they think - the PICTURES look good. I will post a video of a custom-made version that someone made in their garage - it's beautiful, though not commercially available - at least it will give you an idea of possibilities...

 

I'm not an expert, so please, folks, step in and correct me if this is bad advice - if the OP returns the tank, couldn't he remove the water and put it in a clean bucket, and then take out the décor, substrate, and whatever is in the filter right now (floss or whatever) and add that... then go straight out and return the defective tank and then put the original stuff and water right back in (into the NEW tank, that is)? Would that at least mitigate the bacterial disruption, so he wouldn't have to start at step #1 of the cycling process?

There would be no reason to keep the water except to keep the substrates moist. Water doesn't cycle - it just gets dirty. There was an old theory of cycled water that keeps returning, but the major part of the cycle's in the filter, which goes back with the kit.

 

There would be no reason to keep the water except to keep the substrates moist. Water doesn't cycle - it just gets dirty. There was an old theory of cycled water that keeps returning, but the major part of the cycle's in the filter, which goes back with the kit.

Ah... I still have old "knowledge" stuck in my head - thank you for the correction!

 

Return the tank.
I'd take some tank water and take the cartridge out of the filter and keep it wet with tank water.

As for buying individual pieces and saving money, you may pay more initially, but you'll save money over time.
Why? I bought a Marineland 10 gallon kit 2 months ago.
I've already bought a different filter for it, the heater is not accurate, so that will need to be replaced.
The hood and LED light are ok so far, but that will likely be replaced eventually with a glass top and light bar.
The only thing that will stay original is the tank.

 

If you're handy you can Diy many things for your aquarium, maybe even make them father-son projects. You can make pretty rocking diy filters pretty easily, play sand/ pool filter sand makes a great substrate, and for lighting you can use a cfl bulb or a desk lamp, a stand can be made from wood or even stacked concrete blocks. You can even cut out the heater and go with rosy reds or white cloud minnows or similar coldwater fish

 

Just a little advise for Petco - at least here in central Connecticut, Petco will price match to the Dr. Fosters and Smith website. I was in there the other night to set up a new canister SunSun and needed all the media, saved $67! The people in line behind me were not happy but I know I saw at least 2 of them pull up the site to see if what they were purchasing was also reduced online.

Petco is really good about returns, I have never had an issue.

 

Doesn't Petco own Drs Foster & Smith's as its own online retailer? They are matching their own prices.

It's an aside on the main thread, but I find a lot of the company reps who post are bringing back the old water idea, as the slot type filter inserts kill the filter every time they are replaced. As hobbyists began to see the new technology was a step backwards in terms of filtration efficiency (but a major cost), there was a sudden flurry of posts on most forums about the cycle being all over the tank, and no longer being the reason we have biological filters.
That was also about the time that heavy reliance on test kits took over, as hobbyists tried to cope with the ups and downs of the disturbed cycle.
Now we are getting a push to add unnecessary bacterial supplements on a weekly or monthly basis. One of the problems (from the industry point of view) with avoiding kit aquariums and buying separate quality units is that you might get a filter with media good for ten years before replacement (A problem for companies that could sell you $200 to $300 in inserts in that time).
You may spend a little more initially, but you can also sidestep some longer term costs if you shop carefully.

 

If you want a pretty cheap simple, contrasting stand....wrought iron is the way to go.
When you are ready for fish, take your time. Look at what your LFS has, write down what you like, post it here. There are some very good people here that is very good with stocking advice.

 

The Brooklyn stand is metal. I like a black stand, it goes with the black plastic rI'm of the tank.
My husband built a stand for me that I stained black and waxed to make waterproof.
If you are handy, you could build a stand yourself.

The 29 gal and 20 gal long have the same footprint, 30 in. long.

For draining the tank, get a gravel vaccuum. You'll need it later for cleaning anyway.
I also recommend getting a few 5 gal buckets from Home Depot, very convenient for water changes.


P.S. As for waiting too long for fish and being disappointed (your kid), a lot of the fun of setting up an aquarium is research, and decorating the tank as well. I suggest getting your kid involved in research and the chemistry (nitrogen cycle) as well. I prepared about 6 months before setting up my aquarium (that was because of a vacation coming up though) and enjoyed learning about different fish and the mystery of keeping an aquarium

 

I like that Brooklyn stand at Petco, but (1) I don't know if it's available any longer and (2) it gets some bad reviews because the top brace is not flush around the perimeter. From what I understand, the tank ends up being supported on only the sides/corners and not along the long sides (front and back). I don't know if this is a defect in some stands, or by design, but it doesn't inspire a lot of confidence. I saw it in person when I was at Petco last week.

 

I like that Brooklyn stand at Petco, but (1) I don't know if it's available any longer and (2) it gets some bad reviews because the top brace is not flush around the perimeter. From what I understand, the tank ends up being supported on only the sides/corners and not along the long sides (front and back). I don't know if this is a defect in some stands, or by design, but it doesn't inspire a lot of confidence. I saw it in person when I was at Petco last week.

Yeah, there are mixed reviews out there. I had asked here at the forum and lots of people loved it. That's why hubby made the stand with the same measurements

 

If your handy, you can always build yourself a stand out of wood and come away with a great stand at a better price. Look up Joey in YouTube called king of Diy and you'll see how it's done and how easy!

 

Looking at one of two stands at the moment:





Neither is perfect for my taste. I like the shape/design of the Caitec better, but the Aqueon seems to get better ratings overall.

I also picked an Aqueon modular LED light. I looked hard at some of the others, including the multiple Beamswork models, but the reviews were just too mixed. The bad reviews were really bad on some, hinting at electrical issues, etc.

I'm halfway done draining the tank now - siphoning it out an adjacent window. Planning to take it back tomorrow and pick up a 20 gal Aqueon at Petsmart. I've got an Amazon order on the way with the light, heater, and filter. I'll see if Petco has the glass lid, else I'll just order it at Drs. Foster and Smith.

My son has been coming around to the change, though he's still upset we're moving to a smaller tank...

 

I spent a lot of time late last night researching some options. Here's a setup I'm contemplating; all of the items get fairly good reviews on the pet store/Amazon websites. if I shop around, I see myself spending just a touch LESS than what I have tied up in the Marineland kit (the kit I bought was not on sale):

• Aqueon 20 gal tank - Petco has their $1/gal sale going on until later this month.
• Aqueon/Versatop glass lid
• Eheim Jaeger 100-125W heater
• Fluval/Aquaclear HOB 200gph filter
• Aqueon modular LED light fixture

The LED fixture is the most expensive item in the bunch, and I think there are alternatives, but it got late and I ran out of time researching them.

One thing I'm having trouble finding is a decent, basic stand for the 20 gal long tank. The room I'd place it in has a combination of semi-gloss white built-ins and maple/oak tables. I was hoping for something like a simple square tubular steel stand (I'd rather go with something that's going to be a complete contrast to the existing furniture, rather than something that looks like a bad match), but none get really good reviews. Really coming up empty on finding a simple stand I like and this will be a critical piece. Any thoughts here?

To also answer one of the earlier questions in the thread: We are looking at some of the smaller, tropical, community fish. Haven't decided on the mix, but we're not going to press our luck with anything aggressive or anything livebearing at this point.

Draining and rinsing the 29 gal to return it is going to be fun...

If you're going with a HOB filter I would recommend going with an aqua clear or modifying the one you planned on getting. Look up how to modify a hob filter on YouTube. Youtube is your friend. You can also look up diy light fixtures and stands. You may enjoy building your aquarium.