i need a design for an easy to maintain home fish tank?

Answer 1

The irony is bowls are harder to keep than a small tank. I had 2 male bettas in 2 gallon bowls, and a 30 gallon tank. I spent more time maintaining the 2 bowls than my 30 gallon tank. So bought them each a 5 gallon hex with an integrated filter. It's much easier and the bettas are happier. (At least as much as you can say a fish is happy, but they certainly are more active.)


And ideal setup would involve a tank like the eclipse guys make. With a tank like that you only need
1)One 2.5 to 5 gallon tank with built in filter
2)One 25 watt heater
3)One thermometer.
4)Gravel or marbles for the bottom of the tank.
5)A cheap plastic gravel vacuum.

For larger tanks I'd recommend getting starter kit which should come with a standard 3-stage power filter that does mechanical, biological (provides lots of surface area for bacteria to break down waste), and chemical (some sort of active carbon). This will reduce the amount of water you'll need to change.

Answer 2

here is a couple pointers. read / research the "biological cycle of freshwater aquarium" also known as "nitrogen cycle" or "new tank syndrome". ONce you have done that, it will make setting up the tank and understanding what it will go through in the first mnth a heck of a lot easier. 1. easy to maintain fish will be schooling fish like tetras, they are hardy and long lived and many types and colors to choose from, exceptions to hardyness is neons and cardinal tetras they are fragile. 2. the bigger the tank the easier to maintain. the more water mass the slower the chemistry shifts in the water allowing more time for the fish to adapt and for you to catch problems before its to late. 3. Filtration dont skimp on filters, go with a top of the line filtration like Marineland's bio-wheel filters also called penquin filters. The bio wheels make a huge differance. Also im a beliver in uber filtration and i usually have either two filters or one filter that is rated for a much larger tank. With those things covered it will make setting up a tank easier, of course there are other things you will obviously need aside from the filter.,heaters, gravel, temp gauge and such, but most important is learn about the biological cycle, learn which fish to start off with and dont over stock the tank , Learn which fish should not be introduced into a new tank for the first month (catfish, algae eaters, or any scaless fish,crustations, ect.)

Answer 3

i did a project for AP Bio where i had to make my own environment. It would probably be your best bet. Take a regular fish bowl or tank, whatever you want to use and put rocks in the bottom and fill with water. Then leave it sit for a couple of days. Add Elodea plants and make sure they are anchored in the rocks. Then go to the nearest petshop and buy a top feeder, a bottom feeder, and 2 snails. for the bottom feeder your best bet is a ****** fish. he is long and usually attaches himself to the side of the tank. After you add all of the fish put Saran wrap over the opening and secure it with a rubber band. Then just put it where it can get some sunlight. There is no need to feed the fish, change the water or anything because you will have a balanced environment so you can just put it together and leave it go.

Answer 4

lilblueangel is wrong, that will not work. It will not stay balanced.

The only thing the bottom feeder or algae eater that she described does is eat algae (the Elodea plant and any algae that grows from the light). The snail eats algae as well.

But the ammonia created in the water has nothing to balance it out completely.

The easiest would be to go get a small aquarium and buy a Betta and decorate it as you like. Many stores sell cute little decorations. You could do pirate theme, titanic, sponge-bob, Rome... ext. Anything you want really. I personally like the natural look. I have brown gravel, real look plants and fake driftwood in one of my tanks.

If you want something a little more then that you can buy a 10 gallon starter kit at Pet smart For $50 (this comes with everything you need except decorations.) and you could buy a variety of community fish. Small colorful and pretty easy to take care of.

Tropical Community fish I like are:

1) Mickey Mouse Platy : They have a picture of mickey mouse on their tail. (picture: http://www.bayfish.com.au/images/mickey_mouse_platy_sml.jpg )
2) Mollies: They have black, white, orange, Dalmatians. These are nice fish. (can get 3 inches) (Pic of Dalmatian: http://www.aquariumfish.net/images_01/dalmatian_molly_w270.jpg )
3) Male guppies - beautiful lovely long tails and come in a huge variety of colors. And only get 1.5 inches as well.
(Guppy: http://www.totalfishkeeping.com/images/guppies.jpg )

Answer 5

if i had a bioorb, i'd promote it on ebay and purchase a genuine tank. hehe. tropical and freshwater are an same element, the tropical/coldwater refers back to the temperature of the tank, the freshwater/saltwater/brackish refers back to the quantity of salt contained in the water, actual. yet 60l bowl formed tank will no longer be sufficient for a good number of "coldwater" fish (maximum, except goldfish (which advance too large for a 60l) are sub-tropical and in no way strictly coldwater). and in case you do not have a heated biorb, the fluctuating temperatures of an unregulated tank often is the death of many different more effective comfortable fish. (no longer to prepare the crappy filtration in a bioorb and the very actuality you are able to in undemanding words inventory mid-swimming fish because the bottom and proper of the tanks are too slender and small for fish that occupy those factors, and fish "disappear" and die contained in the unusual substrate of biorbs) i save tropicals, there is more effective variety accessible contained in the shops, and the in undemanding words actual distinction is a heater. the different accepted upkeep is an same.

Answer 6

A mini version of your bedroom or living room.

Answer 7

a Tupperware container with a beta in it
:D

Answer 8

a rectangular glass tank would be the best ...