Your current Fish tank Setups!

[robfosters]

I recommended API as it's an easy all round solution and I think the levels are not that far off as I have compared them numerous times to Salifert kits for ammonia and nitrite.

But, I do use Saliferts most for my ammonia and nitrite. I think the colour chart is easier to read as well. It's just that a full set of ammonia, nitrate, nitrite and maybe PH can cost near in £50. That may put the more general hobbyist off. Better they use a slightly less accurate kit than none at all.

However, for PH, you are better off buying a PH pen and a packet of buffer solution to calibrate it. Not complicated or expensive at all and gives a bang on reading as long as it's calibrated properly.

 

[arc@css]

I recommended API as it's an easy all round solution and I think the levels are not that far off as I have compared them numerous times to Salifert kits for ammonia and nitrite.

But, I do use Saliferts most for my ammonia and nitrite. I think the colour chart is easier to read as well. It's just that a full set of ammonia, nitrate, nitrite and maybe PH can cost near in £50. That may put the more general hobbyist off. Better they use a slightly less accurate kit than none at all.

However, for PH, you are better off buying a PH pen and a packet of buffer solution to calibrate it. Not complicated or expensive at all and gives a bang on reading as long as it's calibrated properly.

Cheers for the info, Rob. I think my API kit cost around £30, so for not much more it should make sense to consider getting something from the Salifert range.

I'll look into the pH pen / buffer solution; that's something I know nothing about at all.

 

[arc@css]

Anyone know where to purchase the Salifert range from?

So far, I've only found this site :

http://www.aquatics-online.co.uk/searchresults.asp?a=s&s=test&p=1


Also, what are the Seachem products like?

 

[King4aDay]

Wait til you start talking to water scientists with access to £100,000 lab equipment who still can't get reliable nitrate readings. All test kits are going to be hit and miss. Trust what your fish and plants are telling you over any of them. The only thing I regularly measure is conductivity, because it's the only thing you can reliably measure. It isn't terribly useful but it will give you a rough idea if there's a build up of 'stuff' which means you should be doing more water changes. I occasionally check pH if I've just calibrated my probe to check it's roughly where I expect it to be, but otherwise basing your fish keeping regime on test kits isn't a great idea as they're just as likely to be feeding you misinformation as helping. Disclaimer: I'm refering to freshwater stuff here, I have no experience with marine.

Trimar. It's an award winning shop based in Cornwall. I've ordered a couple of marine specimens from there and they were great. Well packaged, good communication.

http://www.tropicalfish.org.uk/

The website is still naff but honestly don't let it put you off. Ring them up as they have fish that are not on the stocklists.

Personally I'd avoid Trimar. They have a massively over-hyped reputation because they give away copies of PFK to anyone who'll vote for them in the annual reader awards. They're local to me so I have a pretty good idea about their ethics and quality of stock and I no longer buy any fish from them if I can possibly help it.

If you want good mail order fish then try Wildwoods, Pier, Rare, Kesgrave or Sweet Knowle.

 

[BigBruiserAl]

However, for PH, you are better off buying a PH pen and a packet of buffer solution to calibrate it. Not complicated or expensive at all and gives a bang on reading as long as it's calibrated properly.

PH pens are next to useless IMO unless your going to cailbrate every single time which end up costing for solution. I thrown away more made in china ph pens then i care to admit i aslo got a very expensive one which i sold becuase if your doing things right you will be fine with a normal £10 test kit. ( this in very genral expensive fish and advanced tanks are diff ofc )

Anyone know where to purchase the Salifert range from?


Also, what are the Seachem products like?
most od seachem stuff is good but like everything some of there potions are unessery what you thinking about ?

Good ol fle bay mate

Wait til you start talking to water scientists with access to £100,000 lab equipment who still can't get reliable nitrate readings. All test kits are going to be hit and miss. Trust what your fish and plants are telling you over any of them.

Spot on you can pay £100 for them to test you water and send you a detailed report compare it what ever you use and its going to be wayyy out. As a hobby it finding the best we can afford

I once got told dont learn to keep fish, learn how to keep water if you can master keeping water then your fish will bloom and look great. This to me is very true

 

[King4aDay]

I didn't realise getting a goldfish was so complicated!

Goldfish are difficult fish to keep long term. They need an enormous tank (preferably a pond) and can live 20-30 years.

makes me wonder what happens to all those that people win at the fair stalls.

They die.

 

[rs1800]

So I am now looking at the Fluval Edge 46l as suggested. Are tetras and shrimps as also suggested earlier relatively easy to keep? Any other suggestions?

What else would I need for a beginer other than what comes with the tank?

 

[arc@css]

So I am now looking at the Fluval Edge 46l as suggested. Are tetras and shrimps as also suggested earlier relatively easy to keep? Any other suggestions?

What else would I need for a beginer other than what comes with the tank?

A water testing kit which tests for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH and GH (general hardness) is essential. Shrimps have a practically non existent bioload, which is a great advantage for such a small tank. Like all fish, some tetras will be harder to keep than others / requirements will vary, etc. The best thing you can do is to educate yourself by reading up on various topics.

http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwsubwebindex.htm

 

[Skidder]

What are the recent marine all in ones like in terms of simplicity / maintenance etc.? Something like the red sea max 250?

I am tempted to set up a tank in my home office (brick built / insulated). I've been out of fish keeping for approx 8 years but had tropical fish for years.

I am thinking a reef tank with a few fish but interested in keeping corals. Any thoughts on good kit? any good books or guides?

Thanks

 

[BigBruiserAl]

So I am now looking at the Fluval Edge 46l as suggested. Are tetras and shrimps as also suggested earlier relatively easy to keep? Any other suggestions?

What else would I need for a beginer other than what comes with the tank?

Shrimp(red cherry shrimp) are very easy to keep great fun to watch very cheap but.......you can wipe the tank out over night. To avoid this you want a stable tank with no ammonia left after 12 hr cycle. IMO set up the tank with a fish less cycle, get the decor, lights and plants in, keep a few fish in tetra/cardinals leave for approx for a month for chemistry to settle, then add the shrimp all should be well 1

What are the recent marine all in ones like in terms of simplicity / maintenance etc.? Something like the red sea max 250?

I am tempted to set up a tank in my home office (brick built / insulated). I've been out of fish keeping for approx 8 years but had tropical fish for years.

I am thinking a reef tank with a few fish but interested in keeping corals. Any thoughts on good kit? any good books or guides?

Thanks

Cant stress how much to stay away from ready made marine tanks they are a nighmare built on the cheapest junk sold at max profit. I looked after a £4000 ready made tank for a friend and he had no end of problem my tank came to £1800 and was no where near the bother. Take a look at ND aqatics there good value IMO

 

[iamtheoneneo]

What are the recent marine all in ones like in terms of simplicity / maintenance etc.? Something like the red sea max 250?

As above dont bother. I know a few peps that went and got the Fluval Marine tanks - utter waste of cash as you end up replacing everything in it anyway.
The only good thing is that they have a sump section but really for the cash you might as well get a Jewel Rio or Lido and convert it to marine (which is easy) and have a much better setup as a result even with no sump.

 

[Rybo89]

Had a male Dwarf Gourami in my tank for about 2 months now and started noticing my guppys tails are disappearing lately.

Can see the Gourami chasing and nipping at the most colourful guppy right now... Should i get a female to try calm him down or just get rid of him?

 

[hamesy]

Had a male Dwarf Gourami in my tank for about 2 months now and started noticing my guppys tails are disappearing lately.

Can see the Gourami chasing and nipping at the most colourful guppy right now... Should i get a female to try calm him down or just get rid of him?

Had a similar issue with my Dwarf Gourami a few years back, chasing the other fish that they wouldn't come out of hiding. A female calmed him right down.

 

[Huggie86]

As above dont bother. I know a few peps that went and got the Fluval Marine tanks - utter waste of cash as you end up replacing everything in it anyway.
The only good thing is that they have a sump section but really for the cash you might as well get a Jewel Rio or Lido and convert it to marine (which is easy) and have a much better setup as a result even with no sump.

The TMC signature tanks are fantastic. Well impressed with mine.

 

[TBirdUK]

Does anyone want some small Plecos - don't know the exact type but my two have had a load of babies and my tank wont be big enough soon! I have about 18 to re-home.

 

[Matutu]

Update on my little Ocean .

 

[Rybo89]

Had a similar issue with my Dwarf Gourami a few years back, chasing the other fish that they wouldn't come out of hiding. A female calmed him right down.

Nipped down to PAH straight after i made the post. Unfortunately had a dead Gourami in their tank so i decided against getting one. Will grab a female tomorrow from another store.

Really not happy with this gourami though, he has properly ruined this guppies tale. Use to be a huge yellow tail, pretty much nothing now.... This has only happened over the last 2 days.

Seen him go for the sword tale to, but the sword tale wasn't having any of it and just turned around and chased the Gourami into hiding.

Update on my little Ocean .

http://i58.tinypic.com/dw8j5x.jpgMG][/QUOTE]

That is just amazing.

 

[BigBruiserAl]

Update on my little Ocean .

Lovely tank there mate, a few dangerous corals there I spot be carful mate, we nearly lost my father in law over his tank due to not understanding the toxicity of some corals and or fish

 

[hamesy]

Update on my little Ocean .

That's an amazing tank. There's something I love about marine tanks, shame I haven't got the room for one

 

[arc@css]

Lovely pic, Matutu.

One day I hope to take my first step into marine fish keeping.