I am a complete newb beyond having done some research, but I am starting to formulate my plans so the time has come to post in search of specific info. Today, I stopped by walmart and petco to take a look at what they have. I pretty much had concluded that buying the hardware local was the way to go so wanted to see what my options were. Anyway, they had a number of the complete starter kits (I forget the maker, Aquaclear maybe? I searched but couldn't find a picture of the box and their websites were worthless. blue box versions in i think 10, 20, 29 and 55) and I was wondering how good they were and how decent the standard stands were. Walmart was defintly NOT the place to look for knowledge or live fish, but petco seems to have potentiol.
I am pretty much sold right now on a 29 or 30 due to size/space/weight/newness considerations but also wanting to go as big as possible to have room to play and not feel like I have few options. My immediate thought on seeing a "starter kit" at big chain stores is that I probably should run away, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing an oppertunity here.
My desire is to go freshwater with live plant heavy ( planted is the term?)and a mix of species (more on that elsewhere, but I do plan to include a bottomfeeder or two. I expect that I'll probably be pushing the limits on overloaded before I am done in either the 1 inch per gallon or the actual bioload.). I've seen pictures from the aquascaping contest, and thats the type of thing I've always liked when seeing an aquarium, I really dislike plastic plants (ag/env studies degree working in the ag/conservation field, I tend to prefer natrual), Even though I now it makes things more difficult. I am guessing flat out the light source for these kits is way too little so that will have to be replaced.
How about the rest of it? better to start from scratch and build for quality or is there enough there to make it work?
I am pretty much sold right now on a 29 or 30 due to size/space/weight/newness considerations but also wanting to go as big as possible to have room to play and not feel like I have few options. My immediate thought on seeing a "starter kit" at big chain stores is that I probably should run away, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing an oppertunity here.
My desire is to go freshwater with live plant heavy ( planted is the term?)and a mix of species (more on that elsewhere, but I do plan to include a bottomfeeder or two. I expect that I'll probably be pushing the limits on overloaded before I am done in either the 1 inch per gallon or the actual bioload.). I've seen pictures from the aquascaping contest, and thats the type of thing I've always liked when seeing an aquarium, I really dislike plastic plants (ag/env studies degree working in the ag/conservation field, I tend to prefer natrual), Even though I now it makes things more difficult. I am guessing flat out the light source for these kits is way too little so that will have to be replaced.
How about the rest of it? better to start from scratch and build for quality or is there enough there to make it work?
. In my experience, the heaters in those kits are unreliable, and you will probably get another hood and light, anyway. With filters, it's hit and miss. If you want to go the "heavily planted" route, you will probably buy a canister filter at some point. If you stick to power filters, it's hit and miss with starter kits. At least the "All-Glass" kits change brands all the time, and sometimes you get an Aquaclear with it, which is nice.
