Hello everyone!
So, I'm not completely new to the whole aquarium thing... I have owned an Eclipse 3g tank for a few years, and I have killed a series of goldfish in it. In my defense, I was going by the 1 gallon per inch of fish rule and did not know that a) that rule is bogus, especially for goldfish, and b) that it's really really bad for them. No wonder 'Fish' was sick all of the time.
Now that I know my error, I feel a bit guilty and I'm determined to do things right this time around.
After doing some research, I have decided that my tank is best suited for a single betta. I thought bettas were ugly and boring because I had only ever seen them wallowing in the tiny cups at the pet store. However, after I found a youtube video of a white halfmoon named "Milk" I realized I was wrong... and that a betta is a very active fish in the right conditions... and now I'm obsessed. I want one NOW!
The tank has been sitting empty/dry for a while, and because I had a nasty algae problem AND my last goldfish was chronically ill, I opted to clean it and the decor with a bleach solution and then rinse it all like eighty times. The old biowheel was thrown away, so when I set this tank up on Tuesday (when I get home from Christmas) it will basically be an entirely squeaky-clean new tank.
I have a lot of questions about setting it up for a betta. I have some starter drops and such, but I don't know that those can substitute for having actual fish in there. I hear the term letting a tank "cycle," and I don't know what that means. Can the biowheel get established in an empty tank, or does there have to be a fish in there? I don't want to kill a more expensive betta by dunking it in a new tank, but I don't want to buy a fish I don't really like with the assumption that it could likely die. Basically, how do I set up a new tank well enough that it won't kill whatever pretty halfmoon betta I buy?
The plan for now is to set up the tank, add water and some kind of starter drops, let it run for a week or so, and THEN go get a fish. Is that reasonable? I just feel like I'm flying blind. They all say you have to "cycle" a tank, but I've read very little that goes into much detail about what "cycling" actually means.
As per decor, I've got a couple plastic plants and a rock, but I've read some things that claim that real plants are better for the fish and the tank. Is that true? I've never had real plants in the aquarium before... are they high maintenance? Is the benefit worth the hassle?
Also, I've had a lot of problems with algae in the past, and I worry that it will become an issue again. I know I need to keep the tank out of direct sunlight, but even doing that, I still seem to have problems. Should algae arise again, what would be the best method for keeping it down? A snail?
Lastly, where is the best place to purchase a fancier betta? I've never seen anything other than dark-colored veil tails in my local pet store. I've found online suppliers that carry the bright yellow or opaque white halfmoons that I think are so pretty... but those are $30 for the fish, and another $30 for shipping... I can't afford that. Do the aquarium-only stores tend to have a bigger variety than the generic PETCO? I'm on Long Island, and I think there are a couple of those sorts of stores near me. Would supplies (like filter cartridges, or a submersible 10 watt heater) be any cheaper there than online?
I can't tell you how excited I am about all of this. I've been totally obsessing since I got my tank back on Monday. I'm like a little kid! I can't wait to get a pretty betta. hehehe
I know I've asked a lot of questions. I'll keep searching the internet and the forums for answers, but if you feel inclined to help me with anything I've asked about, I'll be very grateful. Thanks for reading!
So, I'm not completely new to the whole aquarium thing... I have owned an Eclipse 3g tank for a few years, and I have killed a series of goldfish in it. In my defense, I was going by the 1 gallon per inch of fish rule and did not know that a) that rule is bogus, especially for goldfish, and b) that it's really really bad for them. No wonder 'Fish' was sick all of the time.
Now that I know my error, I feel a bit guilty and I'm determined to do things right this time around.After doing some research, I have decided that my tank is best suited for a single betta. I thought bettas were ugly and boring because I had only ever seen them wallowing in the tiny cups at the pet store. However, after I found a youtube video of a white halfmoon named "Milk" I realized I was wrong... and that a betta is a very active fish in the right conditions... and now I'm obsessed. I want one NOW!
The tank has been sitting empty/dry for a while, and because I had a nasty algae problem AND my last goldfish was chronically ill, I opted to clean it and the decor with a bleach solution and then rinse it all like eighty times. The old biowheel was thrown away, so when I set this tank up on Tuesday (when I get home from Christmas) it will basically be an entirely squeaky-clean new tank.
I have a lot of questions about setting it up for a betta. I have some starter drops and such, but I don't know that those can substitute for having actual fish in there. I hear the term letting a tank "cycle," and I don't know what that means. Can the biowheel get established in an empty tank, or does there have to be a fish in there? I don't want to kill a more expensive betta by dunking it in a new tank, but I don't want to buy a fish I don't really like with the assumption that it could likely die. Basically, how do I set up a new tank well enough that it won't kill whatever pretty halfmoon betta I buy?
The plan for now is to set up the tank, add water and some kind of starter drops, let it run for a week or so, and THEN go get a fish. Is that reasonable? I just feel like I'm flying blind. They all say you have to "cycle" a tank, but I've read very little that goes into much detail about what "cycling" actually means.
As per decor, I've got a couple plastic plants and a rock, but I've read some things that claim that real plants are better for the fish and the tank. Is that true? I've never had real plants in the aquarium before... are they high maintenance? Is the benefit worth the hassle?
Also, I've had a lot of problems with algae in the past, and I worry that it will become an issue again. I know I need to keep the tank out of direct sunlight, but even doing that, I still seem to have problems. Should algae arise again, what would be the best method for keeping it down? A snail?
Lastly, where is the best place to purchase a fancier betta? I've never seen anything other than dark-colored veil tails in my local pet store. I've found online suppliers that carry the bright yellow or opaque white halfmoons that I think are so pretty... but those are $30 for the fish, and another $30 for shipping... I can't afford that. Do the aquarium-only stores tend to have a bigger variety than the generic PETCO? I'm on Long Island, and I think there are a couple of those sorts of stores near me. Would supplies (like filter cartridges, or a submersible 10 watt heater) be any cheaper there than online?
I can't tell you how excited I am about all of this. I've been totally obsessing since I got my tank back on Monday. I'm like a little kid! I can't wait to get a pretty betta. hehehe
I know I've asked a lot of questions. I'll keep searching the internet and the forums for answers, but if you feel inclined to help me with anything I've asked about, I'll be very grateful. Thanks for reading!
