So I had a question I was hoping you guys 'n' gals could help me with. I thinking about the best way to ease friends into fishkeeping. So imagine you have a clueless friend with a limited budget, an old 20g high that he used to keep goldfish in, and nothing else. What would you advise him/her to do with the tank. (assume they want to keep fish in the tak and not use it for a sump!).
So I was thinking of a few combinations that might work:
No plants, too much cost and maintenance.
standard heater and hob filter, minimize cost.
Some gravel, rocks, fake plants and driftwood (have to make it look nice to keep them in the hoby)
As for stocking:
5 Danio for movement at the top of the tank
5 swordfish (breeding livebearers always interest beginners)
1 bristlenosed plec (help with maintenance by keeping down algae)
2 Kribs (intro to chichlids to give them ideas for the future).
I was thinking dwarf puffers, but they're not for everyone. And at least this way there is exposure to chichlids and possibly breeding.
So do any of you have ideas, what do you think is the ideal starter tank for a newbie? It's an interesting part of the hobby, and one that is rarely discussed on the boards, but we all had to start somewhere.
So I was thinking of a few combinations that might work:
No plants, too much cost and maintenance.
standard heater and hob filter, minimize cost.
Some gravel, rocks, fake plants and driftwood (have to make it look nice to keep them in the hoby)
As for stocking:
5 Danio for movement at the top of the tank
5 swordfish (breeding livebearers always interest beginners)
1 bristlenosed plec (help with maintenance by keeping down algae)
2 Kribs (intro to chichlids to give them ideas for the future).
I was thinking dwarf puffers, but they're not for everyone. And at least this way there is exposure to chichlids and possibly breeding.
So do any of you have ideas, what do you think is the ideal starter tank for a newbie? It's an interesting part of the hobby, and one that is rarely discussed on the boards, but we all had to start somewhere.
...anyways now i'm an owner of an oscar.... and then i told him to go back with community fish... he got african ciclids... and i was like dude thats too many for a 20 they are going to grow like the oscar.... and finally he's back with community... but wants to upgrade... but he lives on the upstairs apartment and is afraid to get a 55g+ tank... he's addicted...