Ive always wanted a tropical fish tank, is it better to start small and upgrade or go straight for a big one

Question

Ive read lots of books on tropical fish tanks and always longed for one but i was too busy having children and travelling etc. Now our families complete, we wont be moving house for at least 20 years and our kids are older and love the idea of having fish. So we are ready.

I don't want a coldwater tank as goldfish dont particularly appeal to me and they poo too much!

Im not ready or experienced enough to try a marine tank although i know they are stunning. We would like a eye-catching tropical tank with colourful fish and plants.

So the question is...do you think its best i start off with a smallish tropical aquarium say 2ft? then see how it goes, as i need to become familiar with maintainance, temperature, different species of fish etc. Or.... should i go the whole hog and splash out on a big 4-5 footer with cabinet?

Can anyone recommend one and what are the best filters for quiet running?

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

I also wanted fish a great deal and in my case, got a smaller one first.  I think (unless you have a budget) you should get a higher quality smaller tank so you get the feel for having fish in your household....

Hope this helps(:

Answer 2

I have to agree with your dislike of goldfish!

Larger tanks are actually easier to manage in some respects. They are definitely easier to cycle. Read up on the nitrogen cycle and be patient while your tank cycles. This usually takes about a month. Learn about what species work well together and GO SLOW. One or two fish at a time.

I've just set up my first and it's a 10 gallon with four guppies in it (so far). I like them , they are very colourful and pretty hardy. The  only problem is that they reproduce like crazy. I kind of wish I had gotten at least a 20 gallon because I would have liked to be able to accomodate 6-8 schooling fish and then some other different ones.

20 gallons might be ok to start with and then you can always get a bigger one for some different fish once you get the hang of it. I think it's a good idea to have more than one tank just in case, anyways. I would suggest 20 gallons minimum.

Good luck and make sure you research cycling very well before you start or you will be very frustrated with fish deaths!

Answer 3

i would start with a 20 gallon because if there are any bacterias that can harm fish they won't spread as fast and you can have a lot of fish

Answer 4

It's really up to you, I started smaller and gradually increased my tank size. Juwel tanks are the best I have found, most aquarium shops and a lot of garden centres sell a starter kit, this usually includes the tank,stand,filters,light and heater, this can usually save you quite a bit of money. I'd suggest going into your local shop and looking at the options and seek the advice of the staff there.

Answer 5

I've been told at the local pet shop that for tropical tanks, bigger is better. Something about the Ph levels and temperature regulation or something. However, in high school we were all able to maintain 10-15 gallon salt water tanks with little trouble.

Rather than focusing on the size of your tank, I'd recommend going to a fish shop and asking for the most forgiving tropical fish. That way, you can get used to having to adjust the tank environment without killing off your expensive fishies. Then once you get a good hang of everything, go for the flashy fish! :)