Help me with aquarium plan?

Question

I want to get an aquarium, any ideas how much it would all cost? list of stuff i would have to do and have? Any problems with different Fish? Cat problem, he doesn't do much but sleep is he a problem?

Answer 1

Well, the price will depend on the size of the tank you get, and the larger the tank, the larger the equipment that you'll need for it.

I would suggest getting at least a 20 gallon, or a 29, since these will give you more room (and let you get more, or larger types of fish). You'll also need a filter, gravel, lights, and maybe a heater, depending on the types of fish you want. If you look in WalMart, they have aquarium kits in a variety of sizes, and these include a tank, light, and filter for less than you'd get them separately (or in a pet store). You'll also have to consider the price of water treatment to remove chlorine/chloramine (find out which your water provider uses, so you buy the right product), a net, a gravel vacuum, fish food, and, of course, the fish and any decorations you want for the tank.

To see some ideas of what types of fish can go together and if they need a heater or not, see the "community" suggestions in this link: http://www.elmersaquarium.com/h701elmers_freshwater_handbook.htm - note that some fish should be kept in groups of their own kind (even though there might be other fish in their tank), or in a tank with only the one species.

Here's another two links with information about keeping an aquarium and what you'll need to do to set it up and maintain it: http://www.fishlore.com/
http://www.firsttankguide.net/

Answer 2

I'd get a book on the subject if I were you. There is no way anybody is going to be able to do justice to a wide ranging question like that in the space available.

There is also the problem that experienced aquarist often have widely differing view about what should be done and whereas they are probably all perfectly correct, they would know what to do if something goes wrong.

Some fish will live quite happily in a community tank, others won't but giving you a complete list of which is which is an impossibility.

As for the cat, provided the tank is covered and is sited securely enough not to get knocked over, it shouldn't be a problem.

Answer 3

Your plan sounds OK except for the Ghost Knife Fish and the mussels. The Ghost Knife gets too grows to at least 20 inches, too big for a four-foot tank. The mussels would be eaten by your other fish, especially the Ghost Knife and the Peacock Eel. Both of these are large predatory fishes when full-grown. The Ghost Knife and Peacock Eel would probably also eat the freshwater soles and, eventually, the African buttery fish. For plant aesthetics, consider using a smaller number of species, but multiple individuals of each species. The overall composition will look more harmonious this way. You didn't say what kind of lighting you are planning, but I'd say the "power compact" flourescents, set in a good reflector, would work well with this set-up. Are you thinking of using CO2 injection? There are advantages to using CO2, especially since you are planning on a quite densely planted tank. The main disadvantage is that CO2 in water produces carbonic acid, which makes the pH drop. So it may be necessary to use either buffers or a pH controller together with the CO2 source.

Answer 4

We just set up a small tropical fish tank. It cost us about £100, that includes the tank (including heater and lights), water treatments (stress coat, stress zyme, tap water conditioner, water test kit), plants, food and 9 fish.

We have 3 guppies, which are really easy to take care of, an Albino Cory, which is at bottom, a pygmy cory (we lost 2, 3 days after getting), 4 cardinal tetra and a siamese fighting fish. All the fish get along well.

The Siamese stays mostly at top of tank, the tetra in middle, the corys on bottom and guppies are all over.

Hope that helps.

Answer 5

i bought a 60L elite style from pets at home not too long ago. It cost me £100- with the stand- or £70 alone. It came with a plastic decoration,thermometer, lighting, heater, and stingray filter. so all you need to add is gravel and some more decorations/plants. Although i agree with everyone else about getting the biggest tank you can afford or fit in your room.
As for what fish you can put into it- really depends on what type of tank setup you want- just make sure you research before buying into how big they get when they reach adult size, its amazing how fast and big some of them can grow!
for mine I've got some guppies, neon's, a harlequin rasbora,a rummy nose and a panda corydoras. Hope it helps you a bit. :)

Answer 6

I bought a fluval uno 800. It is 96litres/ 21gallons.
It come with:

Heater £25.00
Light £12.00
Food £ 2.00
Plant food £4.00
Aqua plus (dechlorinator) £4.00
Cycle (Hosts beneficial bacteria) £4.00
Filter £20.00
Media £5.00
3 PLastic plants £5.00
96l/ 21g tank £xx.xx

If you work it out you get the tank for £19.00 which is very cheap for the size.


It was on offer for £100 the stand was £70

You wil need to buy gravel, fish, plants, net, siphon, bowl/bucket for water, test kit, air pump, decorations.

I bought a fluval 105 external filter just because it looks neater in the tank but the original works fine.

It costs me £80.00 electic bill a year
probably £15.00 max for food
dechlorinator, plant food (if you have live plants), cycle (optional) are the 3 dearest things to keep up unless you only have dechlorinator.

Hope this helps, don't forget to let it cycle, your tank will look good when you set it up!

Her are some pictures

http://www.petcentreonline.co.uk/ecommerce/ProdImages/A3740.gif

http://www.ukpetsupplies.com/images/products/hagen/aquatics/a3740_sm.jpg

PS. I think they have just brought out a new design

Answer 7

FInd a decent aquarium stockist and get the full answers there!

However, we have a 10 litre aquarium that houses 20 White Cloud Mountain Minnows.

Cost 25 quid for aqaurium
50pence per fish
30 quid for pump
2 quid for gravel
3 quid per year for chlorine removal stuff
5 quid per year for plants
10 quid per year for food

Less than 120 quid set up costs (200 dollars)
Annual costs 20 quid (38 dollars)

Hope this helps

Cat no problem if tank has lid

Answer 8

I have two aquariums and 13 cats and no problem, they like to sleep on top of it coz it's warm.

Make sure you get the biggest tank you can afford, coz you will want a bigger one soon if you get a small one.

cost will depend on where you are, look on ebay for second hand set ups.

your local aquarist shop should be able to give you advice on what sort of fish are good, dependong on what you want, as a beginner a community tank with a variety of peaceful fish would be good.

Answer 9

Go into a pet shop to find the cost of one set up.Tropical.Therm
heater.Hood with light.Filter.Gravel.Plants.Choose the fish you
like.Or look in your local paper(free one's are good)and see if
any are being sold.You should get one from shop for £50+.It
depends what size you want.Cat is no trouble.Top is covered
and with water in is to heavy to knock over.You will also need the
liquids to make tap water safe.Take your time looking.Don't jump in.

Answer 10

just 20 galleon. cause it shoulndt be like a hell expensive. and since its biggest for th efilter i use which is quite small and affordable (aqua clear mini) small 20 galleon is most for it. but with a 20 galleon tank u can fit quite a few fish in it.