Buying a fish tank for Dummies?

Question

Ok.....I need help. I'm buying a fish tank from somone who posted it in the local classifieds....I've always wanted a fish tank but am not knowledgable at all about them. The tank is 55 gallons, comes with the top, stand and pumps...whats necessary to complete the tank that I didn't mention?(besides the fish for all you jokesters)....what should I be looking for? what should I be worried about? Any insight, fair warnings or wellwishing will be appreciated!

WOW.....you all made it really hard to choose a best answer...Thank You all SO SO much. I've taken ALOT from what you have all mentioned and am Very thankful today for Yahoo answers. I was not aware of the detail it will take to have a beautiful and successful fish tank but I think I'm willing to accept the challenge. I'm going to pick it up today ;)

Answer 1

ok be ready to spend a lot of money! this question really needs a longer answer than there is room on here -- here are some things i would get.

in basics you will need water conditioner/dechlorinator, a beneficial bacteria (its in a bottle usually right next to the conditioner -- don't use it like it says -- use it only once when you get the tank set up and full of water and all the equipment running and your first fish in it -- then dump it in once and only once) , filter cartridges that fit your filter (check walmart first -- pet shops are twice the price -- do you know the brand of filter, size etc?) a heater if you are keeping tropicals. a few fish like goldfish and minnows don't need heaters.

you will need decor, gravel, all that stuff. i use very little gravel. check to make sure you have biological filtration (does your filter have a wheel in it?) if you have biological filtration go with minimal gravel. i do about 1/4-1/2". this is a lot less than the pet store will try to sell you. i think thats about 6-8 bags for a 55 gallon. if you don't have biological filtration you are going to need at least twice that. you have to grow "beneficial" bacteria -- what that is are little guys that are great and devouring fish waste. if your filter has a wheel the wheel acts like an inucabator for them. if not you need about 2" of gravel for them to live in.

you need to study a volumes and volumes --

you need to learn about cycling your tank. this invovles getting your tank through the ammonia cycle that is very hard on introductory fish. i don't advocate fishless cycling if you know what you want in a 55 gallon then pick a couple of the smallest hardiest fish and keep them in by themselves for a month and they will cycle it for you and be fine. your first month will be cycling your tank though. a little shorter if you have biological filtration. after your are done its still better to just add a couple fish at a time.

you need to learn your fish -- most pet stores know nothing about what mixes with what -- there are lots of websites on it -- its really easier to find out what is available in your local pet shops -- then research what you saw you liked and then go back and buy. it might seem like a lot of travel but an average fish if cared for will live about 4-5 years -- pick wisely!

you need to learn how to clean! weekly maintance of about an hour with a gravel vaccuum and 20% water change will keep you clean and healthy and happy.

most people are going to recommend water testing for ammonia, nitrates, and nitrates. if you follow weekly cleaning rituals and don't overfeed your fish you won't need it. being a newbie you might one to pick one up -- its usually better to be safe than sorry.

DON'T mess with the ph -- bad idea. no ph tests necessary-- no ph anything is necessary. its good to have your fish adapt to your ph. ph rollercoasters are bad for fish.

ok thats about all the essay i can write for now -- good luck!

Answer 2

I'd stick with either guppies or tetras and with guppies I'd stick with just males as they will reproduce like crazy which will lead to an overstocked tank. 5-6 guppies would be fine in a 10 gallon tank. Smaller tetras like ember tetras would be ok but many other tetras (neon tetras, cardinal tetras) need 20+ gallons. Both require a heater set to 75-82F. If you don't want to buy a heater white cloud minnows will do fine with out one. For a 10 gallon tank 5-6 white cloud is fully stocked. Air pumps are optional but you do need a filter. You'll also need to do research on the nitrogen cycle. This takes 4-8 weeks and should ideally be done before getting fish. For this you can use either fish food or pure bottled ammonia (no soap). Grab a test kit too so you know how the cycle is going. Once finished cycling ammonia should be 0ppm, nitrite 0ppm and nitrate above 20 but not over 40ppm. You can go with live plants though you'll need special lighting. Fake plants would be ok and don't require lighting.

Answer 3

You got a lot of answers here to think about, and some of them are right online. However, prior to ANYTHING, the #1 thing you should do is make sure the tank DOES NOT LEAK!! Fill it up (outside or in bathtub) and let it sit to make sure you don't have any leaks. While you're at it, give the inside a little wash with plain paper towels to clean it out. Then after you are sure it doesn't leak, you can move on. IF it does leak, you can get sealant for it and you'll be fine.

BEFORE you buy any fish, PLEASE read up on how to properly "cycle" your tank. This is something that people so often overlook and then can't understand "why their fish died". This is perhaps the most important thing you can do for your tank. Here is a website that can help guide you through proper cycling: http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php.
Everyone here, as you can see, has their own opinions on what is necessary for you, and what is "right and wrong". So take what you read and let it point you in the right direction, then it's really up to you to do the final research and decide what is "right" for you. If you are planning to get tropical fish, please research your options for "beginner" fish (these are more hardy and are more forgiving with water problems), i.e. mollys, platys, danios, guppys and others. Goldfish are really NOT a good choice of fish for beginners. They are very messy fish and they produce a LOT of waste, and can get very big. The more knowledge you have of your hobby, the better off you AND your fish will be. You will have time while your tank is cycling, so take that time to thoroughly research things. I hope this helped. Good luck!! ;o)

Answer 4

Well reading the other answers i think your pretty much coverd.
you are missing a heater (the heater will need to be at least 200 watts) and a filter.(for that sized tank i would recommend a canister filter)
I would recomend an air stone and pump for your tank, while many people say they are unessosary, i didnt have one for a few weeks when i set up my tank and the fish started breathing very fast becouse there was no oxeygen in the water.
air stones oxeygenate the water by breaking the waters surface with its little bubbles.
and i would recommend a ph test kit they are very cheap and can save you a lot of money in the long run.
depending on what fish you get will decide your optimun ph levels.
my advise to you would be reseach reseach research!!! the fish you want to buy now, and the fish you plan on buying later.
you need to decide weather your going to have a community tank or a speices tank .
alot of fish dont mix well with others (cichlids etc..) so be careful with your choices.
you dont really need lights, all they do is make the tank look good
and your plants grow like crazy.
i would recomend you buy fake plants for starters, until you know what breed of fish your getting.
i learnt the hard way having lots of expensive plants and my scats making short work of em.
They would eat a hole plant over night.
55 gal that would be a 4 foot tank check for leaks and make sure its not an old reptile tank, as they can only be filled half way. (not as stong construction)
check out www.thetropicaltank.co.uk they have a good tropical fish index.oh and if your planing on buying marine, forget about it learn about tropicals first as there is much more to learn with marine.
good luck

Answer 5

If the top is a hood with florescent lighting then you are fine there. You said it comes with pumps. Does this mean air pumps or filters? Air pumps can provide extra aeration in the tank, and it might look nice, but it's not necessary. You will definately need a filter though. Also, you should buy a heater, a bottle of dechlorinator if you are planning on using water straight from the tap, gravel, decorations if you want them and some food. Make sure you cycle the tank properly first before getting any fish. You need the beneficial bacteria to convert the ammonia that will naturally occur in any new setup. If you need more info about cycling, you can read about it in the link:

http://faq.thekrib.com/begin-cycling.html

Good luck!

Answer 6

Okay. I really hate to say it, and this is no joke really, but the fish. The biggest decision for you now is to decide what fish you'd like to keep and do some research on what you need to do to maintain them.

I suggest freshwater fish as a first tank. A saltwater tank, although beautiful, may be a bit much as a starter tank. Find a species that you like and ask questions. Try local freshwater fish societies or clubs. There are some good ones online that are fish specific with breeders and hobbyists that really know their fish.

Try: www.freshwater-aquarium-fish.com

This site is a great place to start.

Also try Dr. Fosters and Smith online for fish keeping 101. You can look at a great variety of fish, compatibility charts, and what you need to set up a healthy tank.

Fair Warnings:
Buy only healthy fish from your pet-store or breeder. If the tanks are dirty or if there are any dead fish in the tank - steer clear and find another store. Buying healthy fish will save you $$ and a headache in the end.

Look for knowledgeable salespeople. I've not had any luck at PetSmart or PetCo. Again Dr. Fosters and Smith have a fantastic and extremely knowledgeable customer service department. If you have an Aquarium Adventure store in your area, visit them. The tanks are always clean and they have a phenomenal selection of healthy fish.

They're at: www.drsfostersmith.com and www.aquariumadventure.com

Keeping fish is a great hobby and very rewarding. Enjoy the experience, have fun and the very best of luck to you.

Answer 7

i just set up a fish tank the other day for my son, and what i have found that is useful is make sure you have a net (for floaters) and get some water conditioner (takes the chemicals out of the tap water) and the fish love their rocks and plants so make sure you have some of those and a good bulb to keep the light burning during night. When you have that then go pick some fish and have at it. Oh also.. walmart has a 90 day fish warranty.. lol if it dies take the dead fish back for a refund or exchange. ~Happy Fishing~

Answer 8

well, since you're buying a used tank, i would check if the light's in the hood work, if the filter is working properly, and if it has a heater, check that one as well

The most important part though to check is, if it has any leaks or any cracks




Hope that helps
Good luck


EB

Answer 9

Lights and a heater would also be needed. Also water ;)

Answer 10

Go to www.aquariumfish.net. It's a great website!