New fish in tank beginners 🐠

[Smile3]

Hello the children have been wanting fish for a long time and a friend of a friend was getting rid of a tank and we gladly took it. Now I'm planning on ringing pet shop to book a appointment to buy our new fish. What do I need to do to prep the tank? Do I need to buy anything before hand? Help pls...p.s we wont forget about them and let them die, just want to get it right for the kids. Thanks

[CodMouth]

Read all you can. Google “cycling a tank” if you don’t like clicking links.

fishlab.com/how-to-cycle-aquarium/

[Smile3]

Oh wow thank you,Lots to learn!
I knew it wasn't as simple as filling the bowl with water like my parents did when I was little no wonder they didn't last long

[kittymamma]

Thanks for this information @CodMouth. Not my thread but I knew Mumsnet would have the answer when I came looking today!

Got new fish a few weeks ago, we lost one already and it seems I have been Fish-in-cycle already but not removing enough water. The people in the aquatics shops have been full of bad advice so far. Telling me I am changing the water too often and stopping the bacteria growing, but when the amoinia/nitrite level matches that with the skull and cross, I'm not sure what else they expect at that point. Seems I was right to keep changing and keep adding the bacteria until it gets to the right levels. The amonia problem is fixed, just working on the nitrites now.

[CeliaJ]

I'm a complete novice at fish keeping and read all I could on the internet. There is conflicting advice, which is obviously confusing. I didn't know it was all so scientific!
I have 6 tiny fish and one shrimp, (the others were sucked into the filter). So far everything is looking ok. I have put the toe of a pair of tights over the filter, so hopefully I won't lose my one remaining shrimp, and I'm hoping to get some more.

[bunnygeek]

Sorry you lost some of the shrimp @CeliaJ what style filter is it? Sometimes the filters in smaller tanks are a bit over powered but shrimp should be able to keep away from them.