(01-18-2017, 05:56 AM)Soapstone Wrote: thanks for the advice fishbone! it sounds like that always seems to be how it is, better filter for more money which you have to change often for this reason or that reason, or cheaper filter that is better for this or that reason but has this something as a minus.
Well, my point was, if you overstock the tank, you basically need to overfilter the water. Some hard core fish keepers will have 2-4 different filters on one tank. I met a guy that has a tank amazingly overstocked with discus of all things. He makes it work, fish look happy and healthy, etc. He also has probably more money in the filtration system than in the fish, and discus cost from $30 to over $200 a fish, and he has some great colorful fish. He's got an insane setup, not worth it to me, but the point is, if you really want to get the right equipment and maintain it properly, you can make it work.
Quote:one of the things i am struggling with is that it seems like a headache to know what to get, and it seems like a lot of work to get it set up.
This is really what it all comes down to. So here is how I would go at it personally.
1. Pick a tank size that fits where you want it to go. I wouldn't go below a 10gal. In all actuality, anything smaller than that will actually be more work, and cost you more to keep the fish healthy. Find a combo deal if you ant lights and hood, it'll almost always cost you more to buy them separately. E.g. $10 for a 10gal tank at the petco sale (which just so you know, they run constantly, at least 4-7 times a year for the past 5 years at least), them they try to sell you lights and canopies for $30-$100 (depending on the lights). You can usually get the same for far less as a kit. On the Same note, be wary of kits that also include a filter. Make sure it comes with a filter you want. If it does, you will save money. If it doesn't, you'll waste money.
2. Filtration. Want you want to look at is how many gallons per hour (GPH) the filter processes. NOT the size tank the manufacturer recommends it for. Most people say to get a filter that moves at least 4x the GPH of the volume of your tank. The other thing to think about is that rating of the filter is based on an empty filter. The more you put in it, the less water it will move. So overshoot this number at least a little bit.
3. Fish. What fits, what will get along, etc. This gets more complicated, But should be pretty simple in your situation. What you really need to focus on is, what you really want. Then any additional fish choices can be made to accommodate the principal inhabitant(s).
As for fish in a small aquarium, here's an idea for a small tank. Get a nice looking beta. Get a few tetras. Neons are pretty and small, but there are a lot of colors and they range from tiny to smallish. There are other varieties, how many you could get depends on the exact size of the tank and the type of tetra and how big they get. Then get 2 or 3 cory cats. Put a few decorations/caves/etc in there and you're all set. A few plants even better. If you can get one of the peices of driftwood with some annubias already planted in it that all the petcos seem to sell now would be a great idea. It'll be nice to watch.
