Total Beginner help
- Thread starter Avogel
- Start date
Live plants definitely, I'm pretty sure shrimp have very specific care requirements though and aren't for beginners unfortunately.
Please do research on any specie of fish suggested. Also did you do research on the nitrifying cycle which is critical again this will the most important for success in fish keeping.
The reason I told him to stay away from these types of fish is because it's frustrating to come home to see your fish killed or ate another fish. It's even worse when you are just getting into the hobby. I was in shock the first time I saw a tail hanging out of the mouth of another fish.
Hello; Here are some links about the nitrogen cycle in an aquarium often called "cycling" in this forum.
Aquarium cycling links
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/nitrogen_cycle.html
https://www.petcha.com/controlling-ammonia-in-a-fish-aquarium/
http://www.bioconlabs.com/nitribactfacts.html
"Cycling" involves getting groups of naturally occurring bacteria to become established in the aquarium. These bacteria are usually called "beneficial bacteria" (bb). The bb take some of the bad toxins found in the water and convert them into less bad toxins. These less bad toxins are then diluted by the fish keepers (us) doing partial water changes (WC).
To your other questions. I agree with setting up the larger tank for regular use and using one of the smaller tanks as a hospital tank or quarantine tank (QT).
I have used both sand and gravel in the last 50+ years. I now use only gravel.
Start out with some of the smaller and less costly fish. If you are lucky they will do well, but many new fish keepers make some mistakes and lose the first fish. I think the zebra danioes are good first fish.
For the most part do not depend on any advice from clerks at a fish shop. A few know what they talk about but you will not have the background knowledge to know good advice from the common BS.
Do not buy the cute small fish at the local fish shop (lfs) without finding out what it can grow into. For example, baby Oscars are cute but will outgrow every one of the tanks you listed.
Good luck
Aquarium cycling links
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/nitrogen_cycle.html
https://www.petcha.com/controlling-ammonia-in-a-fish-aquarium/
http://www.bioconlabs.com/nitribactfacts.html
"Cycling" involves getting groups of naturally occurring bacteria to become established in the aquarium. These bacteria are usually called "beneficial bacteria" (bb). The bb take some of the bad toxins found in the water and convert them into less bad toxins. These less bad toxins are then diluted by the fish keepers (us) doing partial water changes (WC).
To your other questions. I agree with setting up the larger tank for regular use and using one of the smaller tanks as a hospital tank or quarantine tank (QT).
I have used both sand and gravel in the last 50+ years. I now use only gravel.
Start out with some of the smaller and less costly fish. If you are lucky they will do well, but many new fish keepers make some mistakes and lose the first fish. I think the zebra danioes are good first fish.
For the most part do not depend on any advice from clerks at a fish shop. A few know what they talk about but you will not have the background knowledge to know good advice from the common BS.
Do not buy the cute small fish at the local fish shop (lfs) without finding out what it can grow into. For example, baby Oscars are cute but will outgrow every one of the tanks you listed.
Good luck
As an ornamental shrimp keeper, i will say yes you can, but only after around 3-6+ Months of the tank running, since shrimp tend to need well established tanks to work out long term, and even then a lot of planning needs to be considered...
Hello; These fish can be kept but have some serious complicating issues. I also do not think this set of fish can be kept together in even your largest tank. These are not my idea of starter fish.
live plants are a good plan. If you decide to use sand there will be an issue with rooted plants. Rooted plants do much better in a gravel substrate in my experience. Be forewarned that live plants are likely to bring snails into a tank. I like snails myself.
Yes been there and done that can be very frustrating. At the time I was introduced into fish keeping hobby did not have the Internet so made lots of mistakes killed lots of beautiful inexpensive and expensive fish.
