Craigs List find - new 30 gallon tank

Welcome to AC, tonirae!

A lot will depend on the type of fish you'd want to keep. Assuming a community tank with no special requiremens, I think you should be OK with what you have. I don't have much experience with UG filters, but other than that you should be fine.

I would get test kits especially for the beginning as you'll need to know the water parameters when you cycle (with or w/out fish). A good basic one is the API freshwater master kit. Another thing you'll need is a gravel vacuum.

Also some decorations/plants (plastic is fine) - for the fish, not just you - they'll feel safer and better.

You can get pea gravel or sand from a hardware store - many people have done that.

Read the sticky posts on this forum - especially about cycling your tank. That will answer the question about how long it will be before you can add fish...

Google - try "setting up freshwater aquarium" to get tons of results like this
http://www.fishlore.com/FirstTankSetup.htm - and this is just a random one.

(just note that they won't always agree about cycling - a lot of debate about fishy/fishless).

Good luck and happy mother's day!

add a HOB filter(hang on back ) in addition to the ugf.

also if you are ordering online I would suggest you look at http://www.drsfostersmith.com/



they are an online supplier and have very good products and they have terrific service.

I do not order fish from tham as shipping is expensive.

Another thing I forgot is water conditioner - you'll need to treat the water you put in the tank.

I use Prime, there are other brands on the market.
http://www.seachem.com/products/product_pages/Prime.html

use a canister filter if you want good filtration and the tank flush against the wall, the ugf, well its debateable i guess, some people dont like them at all since they clog and you need to clean them once every 6 months, now cleaning isnt easy.....

Things you need: buckets for water changes, Fish net, cycle or stress zyme to help kick off the biological filter I found cycle worked great just follow directions on bottle for use, Aquaplus water conditioner, aquarium salt I used it when cycling my tanks it helped alot to prevent ich and helped keep the fish stress free. I did a fishy cycle if you plan to do a fish cycle do it with danios or white clouds they tolerate the water conditions of a cycle really well and I had no problems. I had no idea how to do a fishless cycle. Gravel vac with siphon is a must, liquid tests Api for ph, nitrite,nitrate and ammonia. I used plastic and silk plants I have no idea how to care for a planted tank and added decorations. I also have an airstone and shipwreck bubbler to get extra oxygen in my tank for the fish. I have a 36g with a penguin hob filter it works great see my sig with description of my other tanks.If you plan to do a fishless cycle once you are cycled in regards to aquarium salt you have to see which fish tolerate it and which ones don't I know for sure that cories don't like it so I no longer add it to my 36g.. Happy fish keeping!