Tank Size for a Beginner?
- Thread starter Opicana
- Start date
Wishful said:If you're going for a planted tank, half rounds are pretty challanging to plant with good view lines and I've seldomly seem them fit well in the flow pattern of a room for good access and viewing. Otherise, yeah, they look cool.
Hex tanks are interesting to look at, but not so great for looking INTO.
Peek at the corner of a regular tank and see how it distorts your view. Now multiple that. A big fish might be hard to see in one shot with smaller slanted panels. On the otherhand, if you're keeping huge schools of smaller fish, the distortions can make it look like you have more fish than you do.
The classic aquarium is a long rectangle for a very good reason--it gives the best surface area for the amount of water, is easily worked into/onto
furniture along walls, provides a long area for mounting equipment along the back and gives a large flat viewing surface.
Very good points...I think I will just stick with a classic...
i think a 55g would be a good choice. especially since you have some expirience already. in my area i just found a 55 with a stand for $150, so they're not super expensive either. they allow a good sized space for most fish, and have enough room to give you plenty of options on stocking, large enough to keep water quality stable, and small enough to not get overwhelming with mantinence.
well, I think a 10g tank is the best for beginners. yes, a newbie could easily overstock them, but the cost is smaller, it is more mobile if you move a lot, like me(anyone ever seen someone moving a 55g cross-country?), and a newbies should get very few fish as their starters, so as not to be overwhelmed with all the fish to take care of. it all comes down to what fish you wanna get and how many, though.
I got a 29 gallon and I think thats a perfect size, thi was 6 months ago when i started the hobby. Now I want a 75 gallon community but thats not happening for awhile. The 29 allows you stock a good amount of fish, you can carry it (most men can at least), and you can make minor mistakes without killing all your fish.
Does anyone know how you keep the temperature stable when filling with the Python? Its a good invention but isnt it more important to have a close temp to whats in the tank? When you run water from the tap, the temp can flucuate like 6 degrees in like 10 seconds.
Does anyone know how you keep the temperature stable when filling with the Python? Its a good invention but isnt it more important to have a close temp to whats in the tank? When you run water from the tap, the temp can flucuate like 6 degrees in like 10 seconds.
I started with a 20g and I would have loved to go with a bigger one if I could have. I agree that if you can, go for the 55g. :thm:
I agree with Debaric on the 29 gallon. It's a pretty standard size so it's easy to walk into a pet shop and get help (replacement lights, filters, decorations...). I started with a betta bowl ($25) , moved to a ten ($50) then onto a 29 (I think $150 with the stand from Wal Mart). So that's $225 before I came here and everyone said bigger is better. Once i was fully hooked I upgraded to a pretty pricey 36 gallon tank ($400 total with custom stand and loving it!). As far as cost goes you can walk into most big box stores and get a 29g for what $100-$150 or so with a filter and heater and what not, maybe a stand sold seperate. You might want to replace the filter and heater at some point, but for a beginner they'll do for the short term. You never know you may or may not get into this hobby at least you have everything you need out of the box and you will have room to grow before you commit to bigger and better setups. After all if you decide fish aren't your thing, a 29 whould be great for a mouse, hamster or a small reptile. With afew modifications of course.
-Neo Sithlord
-Neo Sithlord
My partner and I had each had aquariums as kids and second hand (roomies and such) experience as young adults, so we figured we'd jump in with a 20 gallon as a starter tank, just to get our proverbial feet wet.
It would allow us a reasonably safe margin on water quality, allow a range of fish, let us test out equipment and re-learn how to deal with various problems. Two filters, three covers, two substrates, two gravel vacs, several plant purchases, a medication run, and two smaller tanks later (for overflow fish and a quarantine tank), we're ready to jump to the next one with a bit more confidence.
I like a 20-30 gallon tank as starter for about anyone cause it's easy to work with physically and transitions nicely as a backup tank for when you're ready for the next tank. And if the beginner decides they're fine where they are for awhile, it's big enough to hold a nice range of plants and fish.
It would allow us a reasonably safe margin on water quality, allow a range of fish, let us test out equipment and re-learn how to deal with various problems. Two filters, three covers, two substrates, two gravel vacs, several plant purchases, a medication run, and two smaller tanks later (for overflow fish and a quarantine tank), we're ready to jump to the next one with a bit more confidence.
I like a 20-30 gallon tank as starter for about anyone cause it's easy to work with physically and transitions nicely as a backup tank for when you're ready for the next tank. And if the beginner decides they're fine where they are for awhile, it's big enough to hold a nice range of plants and fish.
first..
Thats really cool I met a girl once at school who wanted to do that.. seems like it would be a very fun job for sure.
I would go with something larger than a 20.... A 29 or 55 would be great i think. Try checking ebay
too. I've seen 55 gallon tanks with stands going for around $100 there. You have to find auctions in your area since most of them are pickup-only, but even then i would prefer driving a couple hours perhaps than paying some large amount of shipping costs
also if its your first time setting up an aquarium it might be worthwhile picking up a book.. A Simple Guide To Freshwater Aquariums is one i would recomend. (and incidentally, the author of that book also recommends a 55 gallon as the ideal tank for the new aquarist).
gl !
Keith
Thats really cool
I met a girl once at school who wanted to do that.. seems like it would be a very fun job for sure.I would go with something larger than a 20.... A 29 or 55 would be great i think. Try checking ebay
too. I've seen 55 gallon tanks with stands going for around $100 there. You have to find auctions in your area since most of them are pickup-only, but even then i would prefer driving a couple hours perhaps than paying some large amount of shipping costs
also if its your first time setting up an aquarium it might be worthwhile picking up a book.. A Simple Guide To Freshwater Aquariums is one i would recomend. (and incidentally, the author of that book also recommends a 55 gallon as the ideal tank for the new aquarist).
gl !
Keith
