Fish tank gurus

[bobbittle]

Every time I make a trip to Uncle Bills, I cringe. Cost of the hobby I guess. I might feel differently soon when I do my own tank (I want a 29 gallon to sit on my desk, and I may go brackish).

Ewwwww Uncle Bills.



Have you been to Premium Aquatics on the south side? If not, check it out. Only open for short periods for "walk-ins," most of their business is internet based.

 

[Tactical Dave]

I got a turtle for our oldest son, it is a slider from a family member who is moving, in a 20 galling tank that used to be mine... Needs no heater or filter, just change the water every now and then, he swims a lot and has a floating fake rock that is suction cupped to the tank for him to get out of the water when he wants to.
I though about putting him in the big fish tank but found out he will eat the fish... Going to "spruce" up the inside a little and enjoy him.

 

[Caleb]

You shouldn't be changing any water or touching the gravel for the first 6-8 weeks the tank is running.

After that, once a week, 10% water change w/gravel cleaning if you can manage it. If you can't, just as often as possible, increasing the % accordingly with the time between cleanings.

no vacuuming or water changes for 6-8 weeks? hmm...

Side note, how much are tanks used or brand new from the 60 gal or 200 gal range?

 

[Tactical Dave]

Like $3 ish a gallon or so for the larger stuff new I believe....

 

[drysdaleg]

Here's a pic of my red belly pirahnas, I also have a pleco and fiddler crab with them. Really fun fish to have but they are super messy.

 

[Caleb]

Here's a pic of my red belly pirahnas, I also have a pleco and fiddler crab with them. Really fun fish to have but they are super messy.

do you stick your finger in the tank and lick it to make sure ammonia isn't too high?

 

[drysdaleg]

do you stick your finger in the tank and lick it to make sure ammonia isn't too high?

Every day

 

[.452browning]

I had a 55 gallon tank with 3 oscars. They started out at about 3" each but quickly got to 6+". One was attacked and killed by the other two. I kept the 2 until they reached about 8+" and began attacking one another. I gave them to uncle bills pet store. Fish are really cool but I got tired of tank maintenance, etc.

If I ever get another fish tank it will be with fish that can live with each other. Two fish that eat any smaller fish are cool for a while, but become boring when you stare at the same 2 fish day after day.

 

[IndyBeerman]

I had a 55 gallon tank with 3 oscars. They started out at about 3" each but quickly got to 6+".

I remember when I was 12, my dad's 100 gallon tank had a Oscar that was 1 foot in length. In the summer we used to go to White Lick Creek and catch minnows and throw them in the tank for him to eat.

Just the Oscar and I think a Albino Plecostomus that was well over 15 inches, it was the only two fishes in the tank.

Darn Oscar used to sweep end to end swallowing those minnows, as a kid, that was pretty darn cool, that was until the neighbor got a tank with a dozen Piranha's in it.

 

[bobbittle]

I got a turtle for our oldest son, it is a slider from a family member who is moving, in a 20 galling tank that used to be mine... Needs no heater or filter, just change the water every now and then, he swims a lot and has a floating fake rock that is suction cupped to the tank for him to get out of the water when he wants to.
I though about putting him in the big fish tank but found out he will eat the fish... Going to "spruce" up the inside a little and enjoy him.

You've got a lot to learn about turtles.....they need a massive filter, a heater, a source of both heat and UVB while basking, and tons of water changes. Google "Austin's turtle page" and read read read.

 

[Caleb]

Thinking about adding some tetras to my tank alongside my betta...5 tetras too many? Also, what brand and kind of water testing do you guys recommend?

 

[varadatt]

Thinking about adding some tetras to my tank alongside my betta...5 tetras too many? Also, what brand and kind of water testing do you guys recommend?

I don't have any experience with bettas, but I thought they were an aggressive fish. You only want to keep similar temperament fish together. If you go to a Petsmart you will see they label all the display tanks. Make sure you keep with that. Nothing worse than coming home and seeing fish bits in the water.

 

[Oliver]

My last salt tank (a 20g "high") cost me over $1000 just to get running.

How did a 20g setup cost you 1k to setup?

Every time I make a trip to Uncle Bills, I cringe. Cost of the hobby I guess. I might feel differently soon when I do my own tank (I want a 29 gallon to sit on my desk, and I may go brackish).

I have a 29g salt setup (light, tank, rock, sand, sump w/pumps, powerhead, heater...etc..) that I just took down that I'd be willing to part with. I am moving soon, and have a much larger tank that I'm setting up.

 

[Tactical Dave]

You've got a lot to learn about turtles.....they need a massive filter, a heater, a source of both heat and UVB while basking, and tons of water changes. Google "Austin's turtle page" and read read read.

I was thinking he needed more... He has been alive for like 4 years just in a tank with water. I'll check it out and do some upgrades.

 

[bobbittle]

Thinking about adding some tetras to my tank alongside my betta...5 tetras too many? Also, what brand and kind of water testing do you guys recommend?

5 isn't too many, as long as they are a smaller variety. Your betta may or may not tolerate them though. They can be quite temperamental. Avoid anything that "looks" like a betta, ie guppies, anything long finned, etc.

 

[bobbittle]

I was thinking he needed more... He has been alive for like 4 years just in a tank with water. I'll check it out and do some upgrades.

The real question is, how big is he? After 4+ years he should be easily 6-8" across the shell.

 

[Lunati]

Thinking about adding some tetras to my tank alongside my betta...5 tetras too many? Also, what brand and kind of water testing do you guys recommend?

I would say a minimum of 6 Tetras as they school together.

 

[Caleb]

The other question I had was, how do you feed 2+ different types of fish?

 

[Cpl. Klinger]

I have a 29g salt setup (light, tank, rock, sand, sump w/pumps, powerhead, heater...etc..) that I just took down that I'd be willing to part with. I am moving soon, and have a much larger tank that I'm setting up.

I wish I had the scratch, but the wife and I have job changes coming up (both by choice) so I've got to be more conservative for a while. I appreciate the offer though.

 

[Lunati]

The other question I had was, how do you feed 2+ different types of fish?

Most of the time you can find a good flake that will feed many types of species. I used pellets for my Cichlids and flake for smaller fish.