Newbie Needs Reality Check - Buying First Tank (Acrylic)

wow 500 to 1000 dollars? read about SW with the money your talking you got enough to start a nice SW tank ;) plus your kids will go crazy when they see "nemo"

but you seem to have your knowledge on FW at the moment so id stick with your original plan. i dk im just a salty guy and with a price range like that it would be well worth it to read about saltwater and start it up and i wouldn't necessarily say you need to start with fresh to go into salt either.. i completely impulse bought a saltwater tank one day and its doing very good. JUST A THOUGHT! (let the bashing begin)

good luck though
 
Last edited:
Progress Report

I just wanted to give everyone an update and thank everyone again for their comments.

Tank

I just ordered the 30 Gallon Show Acrylic SeaClear aquarium. It is 36 Long" X 12 Deep" X 16 High with Blue background. List at Petco.com was $199, but was on sale for $173. Petco had sent me two promotions, so was $138.40 +tax, with free shipping. There is a local store by me if I have any problems.

http://www.petco.com/product/109955...how-Aquarium-Combos.aspx?CoreCat=OnSiteSearch

Stand/Canopy

I am still leaning toward this stand, but have not yet bought it. It is the Red Oak 30L stand:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3731+16781&pcatid=16781

The retailer responded to an e-mail I sent and told me it is rated for both glass and acrylic tanks.

I decided not to get the canopy. If I decide the tank doesn't look good enough, I can always buy it later for a little more. Evaporation should not be a problem, or fish jumping.

Carpet Concern

I wrote the SeaClear manufacturer with some questions about putting it on carpet, but got no reply and could find no on-line documentation addressing carpet. I checked 3 other acrylic manufacturers' on-line documents and got mixed recommendations.

I'll make sure it is level, and may be asking shimmy questions if it is not.

Live Plants/Substrate

As far as substrate and live plants, I am still researching that. I have 25 pounds of blue gravel I bought before I realized what I was getting into. I also have some plastic plants and small caves. I will decide if to try to re-use them or if I should just start from scratch based on comments here. I will stick with freshwater.

Floor Strength

I am noy worried about my floor anymore being striong enough after what other posters here wrote and reading this:

http://badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article28.html

"Aquariums up to 55 gallons can be placed almost anywhere without much worry at all."

My aquarium will be by the main internal load-bearing wall of my house on the first floor, perpendicular to the joists. So I see no worries here at all.

Filter/Heater/Etc

I decided to worry about the filter and heater after the aquarium arrives. I am getting too overloaded mentally otherwise. I'll then know the dimensions of the openings. I'll buy locally to make sure it'll fit before buying, and will re-read the comments here. I will buy one of those python things.

Fish/Cycling

Oh yeah, I plan on getting fish as well eventually! That'll be the fun part. My wife doesn't like them, but am thinking of starting with 2 Zebra Danios, then add one every few weeks. I plan to seriuosly under-stock the tank until I am better at this and know I can keep a maintenance schedule.

I've read five methods of cycling the tank:

1. Put one or two zebra danios in tank, but change frequently until cycled.

2. Use a dead shrimp. But I heard this gets smelly, especially for a living room tank.

3. Use amonia before fish, and let it cycle.

4. Use a agent with the bacteria people can buy.

5. Get bacteria from existing tanks. I don't kniow anyone locally.

Still deciding... but won't do #2, and will do #1 only if I can do it without overstressing the fish. Still researching.... for a 30 gallon tank, would 2 danios handle it reasonably well? or would I be cruel?
 
It is my opinion that using fish to cycle a tank is cruel. I would vote for number 3.

Also be sure to get a good liquid test kit that measures ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate (test strips are VERY unreliable and often give a false reading).
 
Naught said:
Fish/Cycling

Oh yeah, I plan on getting fish as well eventually! That'll be the fun part. My wife doesn't like them, but am thinking of starting with 2 Zebra Danios, then add one every few weeks. I plan to seriuosly under-stock the tank until I am better at this and know I can keep a maintenance schedule.

I've read five methods of cycling the tank:

1. Put one or two zebra danios in tank, but change frequently until cycled.

2. Use a dead shrimp. But I heard this gets smelly, especially for a living room tank.

3. Use amonia before fish, and let it cycle.

4. Use a agent with the bacteria people can buy.

5. Get bacteria from existing tanks. I don't kniow anyone locally.

Still deciding... but won't do #2, and will do #1 only if I can do it without overstressing the fish. Still researching.... for a 30 gallon tank, would 2 danios handle it reasonably well? or would I be cruel?
Click to expand...

I did the dead shrimp in my 29 gall in my living room with absolutely no smell problems. And I live in a tiny house.
 
sounds great so far WELCOME to the addiction that will soon follow 1 tank leads to 17 LOL
 
No need to buy a Python, you can spend a lot less money by buying a hose and a faucet adapter. It works the same way for about $30 less. I would also do live plants. I definitely wouldn't worry about the weight. I have a 75 on floor with no help and have had no problems to speak of. For filter I would just get a HOB, canisters are typically more expensive and even though it may say to change out the cartridges you really don't have too unless they're falling apart, you just need to clean them (with tank water). As for cycling, I would do method #3. I agree that Kensfish is a GREAT place to buy supplies.
 
Thanks everyone.

I just ordered the stand. So here is hoping it is as good as the picture looks! This is one thing I would have preferred to see in person.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom