need advice before investing...

[new2tanks]

hello all,

i have done a bit of reading and asking around at other forums and would appreciate your advice.

I have heard that a bigger tank is easier for upkeep etc..but i am in the dark as to how big a tank i should get for me. i dont have a lot of space in my room so it cant be much bigger than say 15 or 20 gallons (max).(pl keep in mind i am a student on a budget).would it be okay to go with a 10g?

also what is the best type of filter to use for that size? i have heard contradictory information about undergravel filters...

how often will water changes (i am assuming 30 to 50% from what i have read) and gravel cleaning be done?

also, i am interested in neon tetras.i know they thrive in schools...how many tetras can i have in this kind of tank?also can anyone suggest other types of tetras/or any other similar sized fish that can live in the same environment and peacefully with tetras?what about shrimp and snails?

finally, whats the best place to buy equipment and fish from? (im in canada)

thanks all,
(sorry for the lengthy post).
newbie!

 

[joephys]

I am a student on a budget too, so I know where you are comming from.

The bigger the better for exactly why you read. Also, your less likely to overstock your tank if it is bigger. My recomendation is a 29 gallon. It is the same length as a 20 long, just a bit taller. If you don't want to spend that much a 20 would be ok. I would suggest the long verson over the tall because there is more surface for oxygen exchange. I wouldn't start out with an undergravel filter, they require a little more work to maintain. I would use a hang on back power filter. I like aquaclear. Good quality and fairly low price compared to some others.

At a minimum I would change 20% a week. The more you change water the better. I do 50% once a week and if I have time I do another 20% change halfway through the week. I clean half the gravel once a week.

As far as stocking goes, any small tetra should be ok with neons.

If you were going to have just neons I would say you could put about 12 in a 20 gallon tank.

If you want more than just those I would suggest,

6 neons,
4 cory cats (Dwarf or pygmy cory cats would match their size better, but any type would be fine.)
6 of any other small tetra, just look up some of the profiles and find one you like that stay small.

I think this may be pushing the limits of a 20 gallon tank but it should be do able. Just make sure you cycle the tank before you add all the fish.

As for equipment, big al's has good prices. I know they have stores in Canada, but they have a website too, the US site is www.bigalsonline.com. They have a link to the Canadian site with store locations.

As far as buying fish, you have to shop around for the store with the best fish. Look for fish that look like they are happy, fins fully extended, and not gasping near the surface. If you see tanks with dead fish, fish with clamped fins, or just hanging out near the surface not moving much stay away from those.

 

[rrkss]

I'd reccommed a 29 gallon as a minimum also. My 29 gallon tank with a stand cost me about $120. This tank came with a light, a hood and the glass tank. Then I paid another $30 for my filter (Pengiun 200), $40 for gravel and decorations, $1.29 for some ammonia to cycle the tank, $30 for a heater, $1.89 for water conditioner and another $50-60 for fish when the cycle was complete.

Overall it cost me about $290 to set up. I am giving you the price just to give you an idea of the type of money you will be spending. A 10 gallon tank might cost $40 less to totally setup but it will still run up into the $200 range unless you buy one of those beginner kits where you might get everything setup for $140ish. Just know that any tank larger than 10 gallons will need a stand to go along with it.

Edit: The figures I am giving you are for rather bare bones tanks. If you want to go planted expect your costs to go up by another $100 since you will need to upgrade lighting, buy plants, supplements ...

 

[new2tanks]

If you want more than just those I would suggest,

6 neons,
4 cory cats (Dwarf or pygmy cory cats would match their size better, but any type would be fine.)
6 of any other small tetra, just look up some of the profiles and find one you like that stay small.

I think this may be pushing the limits of a 20 gallon tank but it should be do able.

how about 6 neons , 4 pygmy corys, 4 ghost shrimp and some snails?

i have no clue as to which type of snails to get...but would this arrangment be comfy for a 20g?

thanks to all who replied.

 

[lucas68]

The bigger the better for exactly why you read. Also, you’re less likely to overstock your tank if it is bigger. My recommendation is a 29-gallon.

6 neons
4 cory cats (Dwarf or pygmy cory cats would match their size better, but any type would be fine.)
6 of any other small tetra, just look up some of the profiles and find one you like that stay small.

Very good recommendations.
I like the julii corys myself and would only go with 2

I'd reccommed a 29 gallon as a minimum also. My 29 gallon tank with a stand cost me about $120. This tank came with a light, a hood and the glass tank. Then I paid another $30 for my filter (Pengiun 200), $40 for gravel and decorations, $1.29 for some ammonia to cycle the tank, $30 for a heater, $1.89 for water conditioner and another $50-60 for fish when the cycle was complete.

I highly recommend the Pengiun 200 for a 29-Gallon tank, that’s what I have on mine (paid $27.99 and worth every penny).

I “jump-started” my 29-Gallon tank with an extra filter that I had on another tank, so I didn’t need to buy all the stuff to get it cycled. I also went with live plants. You will need to get a bulb ($14.99 Flora-GLO at my LFS) that is good for plants in a 29-Gallon tank. The regular florescent bulb did not have the right light to keep the plants alive. You can’t use an under gravel filter (UGF) with live plants (Ok, there are ways to do it, but it’s more work than it’s worth). I also built my own stand for the tank (another thing I would not recommend). If you’re on a tight budget, I would recommend getting the 29-gallon with a hood and a stand. Save up for the filter (first and start running water through it), gravel, lighting, plants, a test kit, and other tank stuff before you think about the fish. Once the levels are right (because you bought a good test kit before you dumped fish into the tank), I would then get the fish for your tank.

I have 4 tanks running right now and the 29-Gallon-tall tank is still the favorite of the house. It gives a beautiful view of the fish. I don’t have neons in mine, but they would look great in that tank (except for the fact that the other fish in it would eat them).

 

[lucas68]

I forgot to mention the snails.
If you buy live plants, you will probably end up with some free snails. When I’m looking to get a new plant, I always ask for one with snails on it.

 

[new2tanks]

I forgot to mention the snails.
If you buy live plants, you will probably end up with some free snails. When I’m looking to get a new plant, I always ask for one with snails on it.

which type of snails are these? are they the mystery snails?

 

[mishi8]

I'd reccommed a 29 gallon as a minimum also. My 29 gallon tank with a stand cost me about $120. This tank came with a light, a hood and the glass tank. Then I paid another $30 for my filter (Pengiun 200), $40 for gravel and decorations, $1.29 for some ammonia to cycle the tank, $30 for a heater, $1.89 for water conditioner and another $50-60 for fish when the cycle was complete.

Overall it cost me about $290 to set up. I am giving you the price just to give you an idea of the type of money you will be spending. A 10 gallon tank might cost $40 less to totally setup but it will still run up into the $200 range unless you buy one of those beginner kits where you might get everything setup for $140ish. Just know that any tank larger than 10 gallons will need a stand to go along with it.

Edit: The figures I am giving you are for rather bare bones tanks. If you want to go planted expect your costs to go up by another $100 since you will need to upgrade lighting, buy plants, supplements ...

Those prices seem really good. I'm assuming you bought it all new? Are those Canadian dollars? The Penguin Biowheel filter from Big Al's in Canada is closer to $40.00, and I would assume that the prices for the other products could be higher as well.

I bought a 20 gal high kit from my local Big Al's for about $120. It included the glass tank, hood with flourescent lighting, a Penguin Biowheel filter, a Dual Temp heater (not my favourite heater, as it limits you to two temp settings, but it is very accurate,) and, of course, food and conditioner samples. Plus Big Al's added one decoration and a full bottle of their staple flake food and a small bottle of their conditioner. I had to supply gravel and the rest of the decorations myself. At the time, I think their 29 gallon kit was closer to $200.

 

[lucas68]

which type of snails are these? are they the mystery snails?

It is definitely a mystery as to what type of snails these are when I get the plants. When I get the plants, it’s a little hard to tell what type of snail is on it. I’ve ended up with some pouch snails, some trumpet snails, and some standard pond snails. If I don’t want the snails, I put the plant in my 29-gallon tank and let the black shark clean it for me. If I let the plant stay in there for a day, he will eat all the little snails and the eggs. At least I think he’s eating the eggs. It could be one of the other fish, but I always see him grooming the plants I toss in his tank.

 

[new2tanks]

I bought a 20 gal high kit from my local Big Al's for about $120. It included the glass tank, hood with flourescent lighting, a Penguin Biowheel filter, a Dual Temp heater (not my favourite heater, as it limits you to two temp settings, but it is very accurate,) and, of course, food and conditioner samples. Plus Big Al's added one decoration and a full bottle of their staple flake food and a small bottle of their conditioner. I had to supply gravel and the rest of the decorations myself. At the time, I think their 29 gallon kit was closer to $200.

u know what, i think that is a good deal u got .

pjs pet store (which i absolutely abhor bcoz of where they get their puppies from...) was selling the same thing minus the heater. oh they were throwing in the stand too but anything with a cabinet be a stand? im gonna check ikea since im on a budget...

what have you stocked your 20g with?

thanks.