Newbie seeking help!

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J

JOTR

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 10, 2012
9
0
0
Singapore
Hey guys, I'm rather new to fish keeping and I was wondering what kind of fish would be good for me to keep? I have about a thousand and one questions to ask about fish keeping and so I should start with these.

1)What kind of fish should I keep? I enjoy watching fish eat so I guess I would like a predatory fish. This then makes me wonder if I should be at PFK instead.

2)How big a tank should I get? Is a 2 feet tank considered big?

3)Whats needed in setting up a tank? (E.g. pumps and stuff)

4)What are some good brands to purchase the equipment in (3) from?
 
Hello; I would suggest that you read some of the articles on fish keeping on the various fish keeping forums. there is a lot of good imformation already organized in them and may be easier to work thru than random forum posts. I would also suggest that you consider keeping the smaller more hardy types of aquarium fish for a year or so untill you get the hang of fishkeeping. Mistakes will likely be made and problems show up with a good chance of fish loss while you are learning. The predatory types are often larger, more expensive and more difficult to keep.
A two foot tank is not considered large for many of the predatory species, but would be fine for many of the smaller species. It would also be a handy hospital or quarantine tank later on.
 
a55 gallon tank might be aplace to start ,aqua clear filters are good .convict cichlids are a hardy predator type fish for a55 (no more than 2-3)synodontis cats might work as well. good luck ....PS..research these fish and equipment +anything else that catches your attention
 
If you want predatory fish you could always do an Oscar, they need atleast a 4'x18" tank though 75gallons+. Then in your 2ft tank you could do convicts, get a mated pair then feed the fry after they grow a little bit to the Oscar. Both Oscars and Convicts are pretty hardy fish so they would do well for a first fish aslong as you read up on keeping fish before hand.
 
suggestions:
larger tanks are easier to learn on and are more forgiving.
buy a larger filter than you think you need at least 1.5 times what the tank size actually is, over filtration makes life better
start with cheap fish.
 
Hello and welcome! First off, I agree with starting with something small and hardy if tank size is an issue. Convicts can be a great starter fish/cichlid as they stay small are feisty and are very tolerant to less than pristine conditions.

Generally speaking the largest tank you can afford is how you should begin. More wiggle room for errors regarding water quality, and eventually you'll want to add fish so extra space is never a bad thing. As far as equipment goes, the more simple and straightforward the better. Tank, stand, heater, filter and light are the basics and as you grow more comfortable with fish keeping you can advance with any of the above.

Unless you have plumbing skills, Id avoid a canister filter for awhile. Don't get me wrong here. They are great, but take a bit of understanding both in setup and maintenance. Id start .with a good hob(hang on back) style of filter, like an aquaclear or emperor. Basically plug and play filters that are very easy to maintain. Elaborate filtration systems are more for the fish keeper than the fish so the more basic you can keep it, the better off you'll be till you get your "legs" under you.

But mostly, read as much a possible. The stickies in each forum have loads of great info as to fish behavior, diet, tank requirements that will help take a lot of guesswork out of the equation. And don't be afraid to ask a lot of questions along the way. The only stupid question is the one not asked.
 
Woah, I love the community here! Thanks for the help guys! Really appreciate it! Well, I live in Singapore where it's warm everyday, so would I still need a heater? I intend to keep tropical fish such as catfish or oscars and one day I would like an Indo Tiger! Well now I have even more questions in mind.

1) I sorta have limited space for my fish tanks, making me wonder if fish keeping is the hobby for me.

2)How many gallons are in a 2ft tank? And is there a way to calculate it?

3)What are convicts? Is it a species of cichlid?

4)Is a stand necessary? I have a ledge next to my bed but it's wooden, so should I still buy the stand or place it on my ledge?

5)Is a fish tank really heavy? Because I'm 16 and I don't have a car, hence I'll have to transport it back home by bus.
 
Hello; I will try a couple of your questions.
A total of three dimensions are needed to calculate the volume of a fish tank. Length, width and height. So the other two dimensions will be needed. If two feet is the long measure, a guess is that it could be around 20 to 30 gallons depending on the others.
Aquariums are heavy. Water is around eight and one half pounds per gallon. To this will be added the weight of the tank, stand, gravel, lights and all. I use a rough guide of ten pounds per gallon for smaller tanks and twelve pounds per gallon for larger tanks. A 20 gallon tank can weigh around 200 pounds. A 55 gallon can weigh 550 pounds or more.
Hope this helps.
 
^^ agree

tank is probably a 20 gallon and empty it's not heavy at all, but filled it could be to heavy for your ledge. 200 pounds of water crashing down is never a good thing, so I'd make sure it can hold that kind of weight.

A 20 gallon tank is a great tank to start with if space is limited. I still own and probably will always have at least one 20 gallon hang in around
 
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