Newbie Question

[SirJeepALot]

Hi, I apologize for this basic question, but I'm new to aquariums, and I don't want to make a mistake. I'm thinking of getting a 55 Gallon acquarium. I noticed at PetSmart that they have a Top Fin starter kit. It has:

Top Fin Filter
Top Fin heater
Top Fin Aquarium
Top Fin Thermometer (one of those cheap sticky kinds for the outside of the tank)
Top Fin hood and light (flourescent)
Net

The kit is about $150.00 is this a good deal, and is Top Fin a decent product? I know I could go out there and spend 4-5x that amount, but I'm on a budget. Also, what other products do I need. I figure I need:

Water Testing Kit
Rocks
Plants
Better Thermometer?
Decorations

Any advice is greatly appreciated. BTW, I want the 55 gallon because it's all I have room for, and I've heard that the larger tanks are more stable.

[O-man21]

I've had abd things happen with top fins. I had a heater get broken by a hatchet fish when it jumped and knocked it over the back of the tank. I think they make bad products, especially the heaters, there..ummm..unstable..

just my 2 cents

[famman]

Top Fin isn't the greatest, but for $150 it doesn't sound like you can go too wrong. 55 gal is a great size to start with, but I don't like the hex tanks, not enough surface area at the water surface or at the bottom.
Get the smallest grain of gravel you can find. You can even use silica sand from hardware store. Don't forget a stand, you can build one from cinder blocks and whatnot, search in the DIY section. 55 gal tank weighs a good 500lbs or so.
Do yourself a gigantic favor and set up the tank and fishless cycle it before you buy fish.
You'll want to know the pH, gh and kh of your tap water before you pick out your fish.
good luck
:)

[thom336]

well, im not familier with the company 'Top Fin'....
but i just want to say:
dont put down those stick-on thermometers! they are easy to read and fairly accurate, dont take up space in the tank...and have big writing for those of us that cant see too well (not meaning me...but those of us who cant...).
well, from what ive read, maybe the Top Fin ones arent as great as the Hagen ones.

[val]

Jeep, to Aquaria Central, home of the most 55g tanks on the internet:)

Glad to see you are just starting out and willing to start with a 55g. they are more stable environments, you'll get more fish to begin with, and they are easily more striking than a 29 or 37 gallon tank.

Seems like a decent enough price to me. $150 for an aquarium and hood is what I'd expect to pay new, so if the filter, heater and stuff are no good, you're not overpaying. Here's what I'd suggest, though, is check out the classifieds. There's always someone leaving this hobby or moving. See what you can pick up that way. You could also put up a couple of "wanted" posters at the supermarket and such, because there is always someone whose spouse wants that tank out of the house....

(One thought while I'm writing here, if the hood on the tank is a double tube strip, then this would be a very good price. A single tube on a 55g tank will give you a 40w bulb, which will not be enough light if you ever want to try plants. If you are happy with plastic, and the average artificial plant is pretty good these days, then a single tube strip will be OK.)

HTH

Val

[SirJeepALot]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I have a few more questions.

Okay, sorry for all the newbie questions (I'm on expert on Jeeps, just not fish, lol). Anyway, I was telling a guy at work that I was thinking of purchasing an aquarium. As it turns out his sister is selling hers because she is 8 months pregnant, and they will no longer have room for the aquarium (it sits in the future nursery). That said, she is willing to sell it to me for $250.00. Here is what's included:
55 Gallon Tank (Glass)
Solid Wood Base
Solid Wood Canopy
Magnum Filtration System
Gravel
6 Large Rocks
Artifical Plants
Bubble Wand w/ Air Filter
Gravel Vacuum
Heater

These fish come with it too:
1 Large Blood Parrot
2 Placostomas (8-9" long)

Here's a picture of it (It's the one on the left):
http://www.planetpet.com/images/aquariumjan20031.jpg

Given I know nothing about aquariums, can any of you tell me what kind of deal this is? Is a magnum filtration system any good? What is a bubble wand w/ air filter? What type of fish would work well with the three that are already in there?

TIA!

[famman]

That's a pretty good deal.
good luck
:)

[O-man21]

get the girls deal.
The magnum is a filter made by Marineland, and it's a hang on back model. It has pretty gods filtration, but the biggest I would keep it on as the only filter would be a 30 gallon tank with tetras. The fish that it comes with can (and are) get pretty messy. I would add a smaller Fluval or an Emperor 400.
I don't know about the air filter but that will get answered soon enough.

[pinballqueen]

Yank the girl's arm off before she can change her mind. I paid nearly $700 for my 55 gallon tank setup (by the time you add in the filter system, which was overkill, and the custom laquer stand, plus the deco... the tank and hood by itself was over 200...)

I'd also concur that more filtration is in order for this setup if you plan to keep a moderate to heavily stocked tank (which is the tendency of most beginners). My tank, for example, had an Emperor 380 (the predecessor to the 400, nearly the exact same filter from what I can tell, just not as pretty...), a Fluval 303 (I would suggest a 404, as the 304, the new version of what I had, is on the spare end of being able to handle 50 gallons, in my opinion), and a UGF (shrieks in terror at her ignorance....).

More filtration is better than less. Always remember that. Also, the bubble wand doesn't do much other than aesthetics. It increases the surface agitation *slightly* but not enough to make a difference in a tropical aquarium. It would be different if you wanted a true coldwater tank, as cold water can hold more dissolved oxygen than warmer water.... but that's not a beginner thing, I don't think. Overall, though, I like the look of bubbles in the tank, and my fish have always enjoyed playing in them, so it's up to you whether you think it's worth the extra electricity to run the air pump.

Hope this helps!

[thom336]

next time i buy a tank, im coming to you...
you seem to a an eye for these deals!

[thom336]

one last thing...
i spent over £500 on my 55G and i still have more modifications to get for it...i think thats over $1000, anyone know the convertions better than me?

[swinneyw]

check walmarts price on 55g i did and i got pets mart to match their price pets mart went down $20.00 also they stand by top fin products I dropped my hood in the tank and ruined the ballast I took it back and told them what happened and they replaced it with no problem i've always liked doing business with them

[SMinNC]

Get the friends, sisters tank.

Sounds like a great deal!

I would imagine the Magnum is the 350 magnum. Which is a great filter.
350 Magnum > http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3579+3595&pcatid=3595
250 H.O.T. Magnum > http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3579+3580+3597&pcatid=3597

You might want to concider getting rid of the plecos. They're on their way to being twice that size.

[Slappy*McFish]

Um, this thread is over 6 yrs old, folks.

[SMinNC]

Dangit, and I thought I was getting good at checking dates.

[Carla G]

Um, this thread is over 6 yrs old, folks.
:lol:

I'm glad you spotted that before I added my 2 cents!