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Please comment on this aquarium

30 replies
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EauRouge · 05/02/2013 15:11

Too small, sorry :( Also v overpriced for what you get. Something around 60 litres is a good size for a beginner. 45 litres is really the bare minimum unless you just want a couple of shrimps.

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sweetestB · 05/02/2013 18:36

oh hello.
really?
too small for any kind of fish at all?

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NatashaBee · 05/02/2013 18:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EauRouge · 05/02/2013 18:47

Yes, definitely too small for any fish at all. The RSPCA recommends 45 litres as a minimum. There are no restrictions on what can be sold as a fish tank so just because something is packaged, labelled and covered in fancy marketing blurb, doesn't mean it's suitable for keeping fish in. It's a bloody minefield!!

Small tanks are often marketed for beginners but bigger tanks are actually easier to maintain because they are more forgiving of rookie mistakes.

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sweetestB · 05/02/2013 18:50

it's a shame this market is so misleading.
thanks again, I will ask for more opinions soon

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EauRouge · 05/02/2013 18:51

Sorry, that should have been potential rookie mistakes- they don't always happen!

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EauRouge · 05/02/2013 20:20

Well you need some dechlorinater (there are others, that's the one I use) and a water test kit. That's all the chemicals you need, don't bother with any of the filter boost stuff. You just need to wait Grin

You could use household ammonia to cycle the tank- this method is easiest because you have more control over the amount of ammonia- or you could just use fish food.

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sweetestB · 05/02/2013 20:30

Wow that water test kit is pricey

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EauRouge · 05/02/2013 20:34

It'll probably be cheaper on Ebay. It works out better value than the dipstick ones because it lasts much longer.

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sweetestB · 05/02/2013 20:48

Should I get some real plants?

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EauRouge · 05/02/2013 20:51

It's up to you. There are some very easy to keep plants that need minimal lighting and fertiliser. They cost a bit to start with but they spread so you don't need to buy tons. You'd need a fertiliser like this kind of thing to go underneath the sand/gravel.

You could try freecycle for aquarium plants, I'm always freecycling my spares. Just make sure you give them a good wash first.

Silk plants are OK, fish much prefer real ones though. Plastic ones are generally to be avoided as they sometimes have sharp edges that can tear fins.

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sweetestB · 05/02/2013 20:53

Water test kit is £3 cheaper on EBay

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sweetestB · 05/02/2013 21:01

You know what? I better not think about plants for now

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sweetestB · 05/02/2013 21:32

Last question before I check out: if I buy the water conditioner, do I need to buy the safe tablets and clear tablets?

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sweetestB · 05/02/2013 21:55

Done

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EauRouge · 05/02/2013 22:27

Nope, you only need the dechlorinater.

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sweetestB · 08/02/2013 12:14

So hopefully my Jewell Korall 60 Tropical Aquarium will arrive tomorrow. I forgot to order gravel....how much I need? How much decoration.?
I'm going to the pet shop to buy stuff and want to have a look at the fish, so how many fish and what type I can use in this tank?
I will just look at the fish I won't buy any

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EauRouge · 08/02/2013 19:02

Hmm, probably about 7kg of gravel? I can never remember. You'll need enough to cover the bottom and be about 3cm deep. If it's too deep then you get patches of anaerobic bacteria, if it's too shallow then plants can't root. If you were thinking of getting some little catfish then sand is a better choice than gravel, which can injure their barbels.

Decor depends on what fish you have and what your personal preference is. You could get bogwood (there are some plants that will grow on it that look really nice and are easy to grow), rocks (be careful what sort, some can alter the pH of the water), ornaments etc. Real plants or silk ones are fine, avoid plastic ones as some of them can have sharp edges. If you go for real ones then get something that stays fairly small. Crypts are a good bet. Real plants will need a planting substrate to go under the gravel.

There are lots of species that will live happily in a 60 litre. What is your tap water hardness and pH? If it's around neutral then you have loads of options but if it is very alkaline or acidic then that will limit your choices a bit more. Let me know once you've tested and I can recommend some fish.

I wouldn't go for anything that gets bigger than 2 inches (there are still exceptions) and I'd stick to just one shoal of one species or possibly 2 species if you were to have a shoal of catfish and a single specimen or pair of gouramis for example. But once you know your water type then I can start being more specific.

Hope that helps, happy browsing :)

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sweetestB · 09/02/2013 19:23

Thanks for that, EauRouge, actually I just realised that I haven't ordered the tropical aquarium but the goldfish one, so ideally how many fish can I have in there and can I mix different types of cold water fish and how many?
Also, I will use silk plants won't mess about with real ones for now.
I have bought some gravel but not decoration, I will wait for the tank to arrive.

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sweetestB · 09/02/2013 19:29

I am worried now because I ordered the tank on Tuesday evening, the seapets website didn't tell me when they will deliver but I have read somewhere it was 3 days delivery.
They didn't reply to my email (I sent on Wednesday) asking about the delivery, and in fact I haven't received a confirmation email about the order but it appears on my account on the website.
I will call them on Monday depending on their call fees.

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sweetestB · 09/02/2013 19:32

Oh, will also check on the type of water overhere, I have no idea.
Also can you give me your opinion on those fake jelly fish you can put in the aquarium and background?
I'm not keen on the backgrounds but I guess I need to set up the aquarium and see...

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EauRouge · 09/02/2013 21:05

Coldwater limits your options again. Pretty much your only option is white cloud mountain minnows, but they are lovely little fish; very pretty and easy to look after. They'll be OK unless your water is really acidic.

You don't have to have a background, I haven't bothered with my tank. Lots of tall plants at the back will look fine.

Not seen the fake jelly fish. If it's plastic or resin then it shouldn't change the pH, as long as it doesn't have any sharp edges then it should be OK. A lot of decor is just down to personal preference.

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EauRouge · 10/02/2013 20:26

If you wanted to get tropical fish then all you'd have to do is add a heater, you can get one for about a tenner.

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sweetestB · 11/02/2013 09:20

I saw at someone's house a cold water silver fish with a red/orange patch on the top of the head, they didn't know what kind of fish it is, do you have any idea?

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