Help on how to set up a tropical fish tank?

Question

Okay for all the people who like answering with long answers this is a good question for you because I want alllll the details...I would like to know if I can set up a 10 gallon tropical fish tank... how many fish should I put in there? what kind of fish should I start off with for a beginner starting a tropical tank? what temperature should the heater be? does it need salt? how much salt? Why does it need salt? Is there a difference between saltwater tank and tropical fish tank? Does all tropical tanks need salt? can I put snails or frogs in there also tell me everything I need to know to make my tropical fish survive the longest they can I would like to get a 10 gallon tank for the tropical tank is that ok or it needs to be bigger...I don't have much money and what about the filter...I dealt with freshwater fish my whole life I tried tropical fish once and they died because I didn't understand the heater it didn't have marks on where the temperature was I had to just guess how much to put it on it also popped in the tank because it got too hot how do I go about having a tropical fish tank help!!!! Also I really like the colorful beautiful tropical fish or saltwater fish like the fishes in finding nemo but when I first set up my old tropical tank where the fishes died the pet store told me I couldn't have clown fish in the tropical tank only in saltwater tanks...what's the difference because don't you still add salt to the tropical tank? I don't understand I really like eels to and all those other cool fish like star fish and scorpion fish I think or lion fish I like all those cool fish what would I have to do to have a tank with cool animals like those? Can it be a 10 gallon even if I have 1 in there what can I do with a 10 gallon?

Answer 1

You should start out w/ small tetras. get around 5 of them since they like to be in groups. the temp. water should be around 70 to 82 degrees F.It doesnt need salt at all. Salt water fish will die in fresh water. as well w/ the fresh water fish(they're die in salt water.) U cant put snails but u can put in frogs that wont eat any fish. U should put in the water water conditioner so that there's not any harmful bacteria in the water.

Answer 2

That's a lot of questions...

if I can set up a 10 gallon tropical fish tank...

- yes you can

how many fish should I put in there?

- it depends on what kind.  No goldfish or koi.  You can do 6 or 7 guppies, or a variety of other fish.

what kind of fish should I start off with for a beginner starting a tropical tank?

- guppies or endlers are popular.  Any livebearer is a good starter.  

what temperature should the heater be?

- 78F to 80F for tropical fish

does it need salt?

- Not unless you buy brackish or marine fish.

how much salt?

- depends.  none if you have freshwater fish.

Why does it need salt?

-common misconception.  partly to blame is the retailers who get to sell more salt, I would suppose.

Is there a difference between saltwater tank and tropical fish tank?

- generally, what is referred to by tropical fish are freshwater fish.  saltwater fish require a very specfic setup with a very specific salinity.

Does all tropical tanks need salt?

- No

can I put snails or frogs in there also

- yes on the snails, maybe on the frogs

tell me everything I need to know to make my tropical fish survive the longest

- you really need to join an online community.

they can I would like to get a 10 gallon tank for the tropical tank is that ok or it needs to be bigger...

- the bigger the better.

what's the difference because don't you still add salt to the tropical tank?

-no, it is not even close to the same.

I don't understand I really like eels to and all those other cool fish like star fish and scorpion fish I think or lion fish I like all those cool fish what would I have to do to have a tank with cool animals like those?

- you need to research a marine tank.  If you do not have much money, do not go marine.  It is VERY expensive.

Answer 3

Yes, you can set up a 10 gallon tank. Try and get a set though! Like a tank that comes with everything but a heater. There is 2 heaters. One is pre-set where you can't move the degree. ANother you can change the degree, which is nice, because if your fish get sick you can raise the temperature.

I would start with 4 danios. Then after a month and you have been succesful with them get a cory or 2 and maybe an otocinclos. The heater needs to be with in 76 to about 80. Yes, putting a little bit of salt helps keep diseases away. If you buy aquarium salt it tells you how much to put in for a 10 gallon tank or something like that. SAltwater are alot harder for a beginner. I don't recommend it for a beginner. Actually if you get cat fish they can't take hardly any salt. Yes, you can put in snails and frogs. I wouldn't put in snails though, they have babies way too much. IF you get the package I was talking about it comes with a filter, so you wont have to bother about that. IF you don't have much money don't get saltwater fish. They are more expensive and will consume more of your time.

You have to get a thermometer

heater

foliage live or real, but I would get real. ( make sure you get easy ones to take care of though!)

Test kit for your water.

An aquarium book or go to the library!

Rocks.

Also, watch out for ick. It is little white spots on the fish. This means they are sick and you have to act FAST! YOu raise your temperature to 80 degrees. This is where having a heater where you can change the degree helps. YOu can also get ick medicine, but if the ick is already set in the body you can't cure it.

fin rot. Your fishes tail will just start rotting away. It will get discolored and just fray. You must get mdicine fast! Hope I helped!