Attention fish keepers

[Morcs]

Im thinking about getting some more tropical fish. Havent had any in over 3 years and would love to get back into it.
My knowledge is pretty good, but one thing is bugging me.

Not sure what size tank to get...

what size tanks do you guys have?

I have oodles of space, but dont want to go hugely hardcore - its more electricity, more cleaning etc... even 80L is a lot of water to somehow get down the stairs and backup again when doing full water changes...

was thinking around the 150L mark...

chur.

[Skunk]

We have a 200L tank with two 200L tank pumps. Makes for a stable, easy care tank. Clean the gravel every six months to one year. Never done a full water change in five years - 20L max.

[Stirts]

I have oodles of space, but dont want to go hugely hardcore - its more electricity, more cleaning etc... even 80L is a lot of water to somehow get down the stairs and backup again when doing full water changes...

Go with one of these tanks! They say fish are very soothing, what better place than in the loo when you have a hard poo poo to push out!

And when you flush it cleans the tank!!!

[Squiggles]

http://www.fnzas.org.nz/
I dont keep fish, the olds do, and the tanks (13 at one point) took over the shed where i used to park the bikes...

Got this one to contend with when im watching tv... tv:http://s134.photobucket.com/albums/q...lltank3aug.jpg

[Xile]

At least 150l i would say..
It's easier to create a proper, stable ecosystem in the tank and if you get some cleaner fish/special snails/that kind of stuff it would be even better

(and the bigger the tank, the more fish or the bigger fish you can have)
Hope it'll help...

[Hitcher]

I don't get the fascination some people have with tropical fish. I'd rather watch the lawn grow, or get people to jab my eyelids with burning needles.

[Swoop]

Two fish in a tank.
One says to the other "You drive, I'll fire the gun!".

[alley cat]

150 is a great size. Never done a full water change, maybe 40 liters at a time.
Im a fish geek with 5 tanks running and i might spend an hr a week on them. When you have a good set up the work is F.A.

[klingon]

I agree with everyone who says a big, stable tank is the best option.

Within reason, the bigger the tank the easier it is to look after. You have a stable, self-sustaining ecosystem with plenty of plants to use up the nutrients and create oxygen for the fish - everything in harmony.

My tank is around 200 litres (four feet long) - mainly because it's the biggest tank I can fit in the room. I would love to have something bigger. I change 20 litres of water once a week (that's a single bucketful). In summer I use the old water to water my plants. In winter I just syphon the water straight out the window.

Sometimes I don't change any water for weeks at a time, and when I go away on holiday I don't get anyone to come and feed the fish. The lights are on timers and everything else just looks after itself.

As long as you have a decent filter (I use two Eheim Pro II 2026s), you don't over-stock with big fish, and you make sure your plants are thriving, you hardly need to do any maintenance. I don't do gravel vacs and I haven't touched the filters since I set them up six months ago. All I do is feed the fish and trim the plants.

What fish are you thinking of keeping? Personally I like colourful schooling fish that move around the tank together. I have a school each of cardinal tetras (red & blue) gold barbs (gold, obviously), cherry barbs (bright red males, striped orange females), clown loaches (gold & black bands) and a few small algae-eaters (black bristlenoses and black & white siamensis)

IMO for a low-maintenance tank you need to resist the temptation to get big and/or carniverous fish. They create heaps of waste and you would spend half your life cleaning filters and carting water!

Hope that helps - and be sure to let us know what you get!

[klingon]

http://www.fnzas.org.nz/
I dont keep fish, the olds do, and the tanks (13 at one point) took over the shed where i used to park the bikes...

Got this one to contend with when im watching tv... tv:http://s134.photobucket.com/albums/q...lltank3aug.jpg

Oooh nice tank Squiggles! I would rather look at that tank than a TV any day!

[hayd3n]

if there any fish you dont want my turtles will deal to them!!!
200 l tank 28 degrees clean out every 4-5 days cost 20 a week to feed atm andthey r getin a 400l tank 4 xmas wahoo and some fish for xmas lunch

[turtleman]

if there any fish you dont want my turtles will deal to them!!!
200 l tank 28 degrees clean out every 4-5 days cost 20 a week to feed atm andthey r getin a 400l tank 4 xmas wahoo and some fish for xmas lunch

Yup - pretty hard to co-habitate turtles and fish together - but can be done. I don't bother.
2 x 200L tanks here with red-ear and snake neck turtles and 1x 350l tank with a mixture of tropical fish (tetras, barbs, loaches and bristlenose) and a heap of snails. I don't feed the fish to the turtles though - I buy goldfish for that ...

[Skunk]

I don't get the fascination some people have with tropical fish. I'd rather watch the lawn grow, or get people to jab my eyelids with burning needles.

That's helpful

[Usarka]

I keep tropical fish in my under pants.



Ullo John gotta new motor?

[Morcs]

Wasnt planning on using live plants.

A couple of plecos at full size will rip them out...

was going to let the missus choose most of the fish, and ill just make sure they all can live in the same conditions etc..

then might try breeding. probably start with breeding tetras then see how that goes