Aquarium as a gift

[treaclepumpkin]

So, my husband has always wanted an aquarium and I wanted to get him some fish for his birthday next month, but don't have the foggiest idea where to start.

We have a sideboard in our dining room and I'm thinking the tank could go on top of that - could be maybe 60/70cm wide - probably a bit bigger.

Would really be grateful if someone could point me in the direction of a reputable online supplier and/or advise as to what kind of tank to get and what sort of fish are good fish for a beginner. I'm thinking something with pretty colours - but I literally have zero clue.

Also, have no idea on prices - willing to spend maybe £300-£500 for everything (if necessary).

Also, I'm guess it's perhaps best to buy the tank first and get comfortable with how it works, before actually getting the fish - is that right? I'm thinking maybe I get the tank sorted for the day itself, then fish to arrive a couple of days later.

Though key question to all this is - can fish even be delivered?

Sorry, a lot of questions there - grateful for input on any of them.

TIA

Hi - I'm not an expert (I can on this forum with a query myself) , but I do know that on the whole tropical fish are easier than fancy goldfish. Ordinary goldfish are pretty hardy - but they get HUGE, and a tank is rarely appropriate for them. Even the fancy fish get big if they are properly looked after, and most tanks would only accommodate one or two. The bigger the tank you can accommodate, the better - not only does it house more fish, but it is kinder to them and gives them more room, and also reduces the chances of the bioload (waste products) making them unwell.

I would recommend that you get a freshwater tropical tank . . .I assume that you want a community tank (several different varieties rather than just one type of fish) but . . . You can't set up a tank and put fish in a couple of days later. It will take at least a month for the water to reach an appropriate pH/nitrate and nitrite balance ("cycling").

You need to set up your tank (with live plants) and then allow everything to develop into a sustainable little ecosystem. I helped ours along by putting a few pinches of fish food in to rot down and start the cycle off. Some people put in a couple of "expendable" fish that they area prepared to allow to die, but this is cruel- even if they survive, their little bodies are under great stress.

You'll need some way of testing the water - you can buy kits for this at most aquarists. They're worth investing in.

When your pH etc levels are ok, then get some hardy fish to further establish the tank (eg glowlight tetras) and you can take it from there.

I know the above sounds a right faff - but honestly, it IS worth it.

Fish not only look beautiful but it's a very rewarding hobby - and believe it or not, they have their own little characters and personalities.

Thank you - I really appreciate the advice @SchadenfreudePersonified. Whilst it does admittedly sound like more work than I had realised, I'm happy to do whatever it takes to do it "right".

I think the plan is to get a few different kinds in the tank, for now I think the gift will have to be the tank itself - as getting the fish in is not as straightforward as I thought. And I really don't want to go down the expendable fish route - that sounds so awful?

Re tank size - I'm not sure what would be considered too small. I had only thought in terms of surface space at home, not literage.

Is it preferably to get a tank that comes with a stand over one I can sit atop my sideboard? I have a bookcase I could probably move, if that's the better option, though if it's not necessary, would rather not have to.

Are there any brands of tank or are there any online retailers you would recommend?

We've just set up a tropical tank again after about 30 years!

We had one years ago, but when we moved house gave the fish away, as it was along journey and we were worried about them. Then the kids won a couple of goldfish at the fair so the tank got used for them - it was a 48" x 15" x 18" tank, and the fish outgrew it. They had to be moved into a pond - and then DH dropped the tank moving it and the glass cracked.

So we have had a number of fishless years until he declared he wanted some again.

We got this tank"
www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/fish-tanks-and-cabinets/love-fish-panorama-tank-64-litre-%28in-store%29

And it's a very attractive tank - the only complaints I would make are that I don't think the filter is powerful enough (it's not dreadful, but it could be better) and there is a light which is supposed to tell you when the filter needs changing, but it hasn't yet. I'm pretty sure you can get a stand for it if you want one - we've just got ours on a low TV unit as we hadn't really got room for a stand, but they can be handy as you can keep all of your fish paraphernalia in the cupboard. It's a matter of preference really, but you need to be able to ensure that the tank is level. Pets at home will give free delivery on expensive items like this. I don't really know any online retailers to recommend them, I'm afraid. The one we go to locally isn't a big firm and doesn't deliver.

We did our fishless cycle (took a little over a month) and got half a dozen glowlights about three months ago. Have to admit we got them from Pets at Home just because we got a "five quid's worth of fish free" coupon when we got the tank, but I'd recommend that if there is a specialist aquarist shop you can go to, that you give them your custom -
Pets at Home aren't the best for stock or advice.

We got this water testing kit
www.amazon.co.uk/API-Freshwater-Aquarium-Water-Master/dp/B000255NCI/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&crid=3B68G4FNCZSO9&keywords=water+testing+kit+for+aquarium&sprefix=water+testing+kit+for+%2Caps%2C148&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1590071462&sr=8-5

It's expensive but will last a long time. DH tests the water every fortnight.

At present we have the 12 tetras in - I'm not sure how many more we can comfortably accommodate (that's what I wanted advice on). I'm hoping perhaps another half dozen. And I would also have like an algae eater - ideally I'd like otocinclus catfish - they are delight - but they really need to be kept in shoals of 5-6 minimum, and I don't thinkour tank will be big enough.

TBH - I wish, in retrospect, that we'd gone for a bigger tank, but this was DH's hobby and I didn't realise I would get sucked into it all over again (I couldn't help myself), but having said that, this tank is nice size for our living room. It's big enough to enjoy looking at, but not so large that it dominates the room. The filter is quiet, and it has LED lighting which has the advantage of not getting hot the way the old bulb-type lights used to. And the glass is shaped on the front and sides as one piece, so there is nothing unsightly in your eyeline when you watch the fish. The top is excellent quality - many tank hoods are very bendy and fragile., but this isn't, and the feeding flap is well-placed, too.

I think that if you want the tank on your unit this would fit (it's about 60 cm long, by 35cm (front-to back) x 40 cm tall. It isn't a bad tank at all, but there are a lot of really nice styles of tank available - could you get your dH a voucher from an aquarist's and let I'm pick his own? (I don't know if they do this, but you never know).

Sorry I can't be more help. Let us know how you get on.

@SchadenfreudePersonified hi - today is my husband's birthday and thanks to your help I think I managed to get him a pretty good gift 

I bought the Juwel Rio 125l tank and the cabinet to match, just to avoid any issues whatsoever about weight.

Also bought what feels like a million accessories- dechlorinator, filter boost, gravel cleaning machine, plants and rocks, gravel, thermometer etc and also the water testing kit you recommended.

I built the cabinet last night and got the take on display, but didn't do anything more. I used a spirit level and it doesn't seem to be 100% level, maybe a couple of mm off - is that likely to cause an issue? The cabinet is just on the floor and the tank on top of that - not sure how to fix it. I would have assumed the floor was level but perhaps not...

Once the kiddies are in bed we will start getting the tank set up. Washing the gravel etc so we can start the fishless cycling process. My 1 year old keeps going over to the tank and saying "fish fish", he's got a little while to wait before he will see any I think.

I did some research and found The Trop Co, who sell fish online. So will aim to get our fish from there.

I was given a 14l tank and we have 6 barbs in and a Plec...This was three weeks ago.
Today we went and bought a 105l tank, The guy at the fish shop did say it would become addictive!!!
We are now going to wait for our new tank to be ready to house the fish we have, and soon we can go and choose some more!!! Excited!!!!
If anyone has any advice that would be great!
Sorry to jump on your thread but I thought we are in nearly the same position and it would be fun to share..