Newbie

lopezbmx86

AC Members
Aug 28, 2006
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Okay, honeslty I know very little about all this stuff, but it sounds super interesting and I'd like to make this a hobby of mine...

Hopefully with a little bit of help from you gurus I can have a successful tank of my own...

supplies i have...
1. 30gallon tank
2. whisper filter
3. air pump, hose and bubble wand.
4. decorations (gravel, plants and a cave rock).
5. Water Conditioner and Bacteria Supplement.

Feel free to make recommendations... please.

Now I need fish!

I would like to get (and this is probably horribly wrong.)
1. Black Ghostknife
2. Black-finned Shark
3. Pictus catfish
4. Synodontis eupterus
5. and any thing that will help with algae...
 
Ghost knife needs 180Gallons and get massive. Commons get 20+inches BFS get huge and are nasty
 
pictus is a no too, most synodonas species is a no no too
 
You have made the right first step into the hobby, which is doing your research before you buy. I'm sure most of us here started out wanting fish that we later found out would not be suitable for our tanks or for each other. So cycle your tank and do your research and I hope you come to enjoy this hobby as much as we do!

Remember to look at the max size of the fish when you consider whether it will fit in your tank--and don't think that they wont live that long, as some fish grow very fast, and that is just setting yourself up for failure.
 
here is what i suggest:

Go to petsmart.com and find the "freshwater Master Test Kit" which costs around 13.99. Print that out and bring it to the store and grab the kit (costs 26-28 bucks in store and they will match the 13.99). you just got half off it and it contains what you need to get started.

Test your pH of your tapwater, if it is really high naturally, look for species (check species profile on this site) that naturally come from waters with that ph. STAY AWAY FROM PRODUCTS THAT CLAIM TO LOWER/RAISE PH.

If somewhere down the line you want a planted tank, i would opt for a good cannister filter too, they are very efficient and wont agitate your water surface. For a 30g you could pick up a Rena Filstar Xp1 or XP2 (again think about half off with a online petsmart price match).

the only bacterial supplement you should use is something called BIOSPIRA. If you are waiting out a cycle you dont need a bacterial supplement.

print out the cheapest online prices you can find and get your butt to petsmart and buy everything you need, you will thank me/others here in the long run for that advice.
 
hmm

I would say no to the synodotis eureptus. It will reach 10 inches, way too small for a 30 gallon.

You might be able to stick a raphael cat in there. but most synos are gonna be too big.
 
Not only do most species of Knifefish get very large, but due to their temperament and living habits should usually be kept in tanks by themselves.
 
debaric said:
here is what i suggest:

Go to petsmart.com and find the "freshwater Master Test Kit" which costs around 13.99. Print that out and bring it to the store and grab the kit (costs 26-28 bucks in store and they will match the 13.99). you just got half off it and it contains what you need to get started.
Just to let people know, at the moment petsmart.com has no fish stuff...they took it all down. :huh:
 
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