I have a pond as well but that's a sludgy mess at the moment, need to get a new filter and a more powerful UV for next year.
Inventor of the hovercraft
Tropical Fish • Page 4
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Popzeus 7,889 posts
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ronuds 20,553 posts
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Registered 7 years agoWhat do you do with ponds in the winter? -
Popzeus 7,889 posts
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Registered 8 years agoThe fish lose their appetite when it gets down to near freezing so there's not much needs doing.
Break the ice every so often if it freezes over, basically.Inventor of the hovercraft
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ronuds 20,553 posts
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Registered 7 years agoI figured you'd have to take them out. Tough little buggers.
So the water movement from the filter stops the whole thing from freezing - or is there a 2nd unit just for moving the water? -
kalel 76,472 posts
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Registered 10 years agoHah, yes, a Koi pond is also on my list of plans once my kid gets old enough fot it not to be a danger. -
meme 15,517 posts
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Registered 5 years agoMy solitary betta and african frog seem to love the tank being changed. Because it's only a piddly little thing I do a complete tank change every two weeks. The frog goes barmy when he goes in the new tank, bloody loves it.GHOSTBUSTERS
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RyanDS 7,646 posts
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Registered 5 years agomeme wrote:
I miss my frog. Still my favourite pet I've had in any aquarium.
My solitary betta and african frog seem to love the tank being changed. Because it's only a piddly little thing I do a complete tank change every two weeks. The frog goes barmy when he goes in the new tank, bloody loves it. -
@Popzeus Thanks for the advice.
I keep going round in circles with this. The original thought was to "just" get a goldfish in a "bowl" for the boy, and it's expanding at an alarming rate. The good news is I'm learning an awful lot (thanks to reading through this thread, scouring the internet and asking at shops) and as such won't end up (hopefully) doing anything wrong.
Sounds like I need to reign in my expectations of a community tank though, as space wise I think we could be limited on where a large surface area tank would go. -
kalel 76,472 posts
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Registered 10 years agoI think you're on the right lines with a betta and something like the tank you linked before. Betas are really easy to keep and nice pretty fish with a good personality.
If you do want a community tank though you don't have to go much bigger. 60 literes ish (which isn't that massive) will house a nice little community of platys and tetras and such. -
kalel 76,472 posts
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That's a nice site, most fish sites I've seen the last few days are quite horrid
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kalel 76,472 posts
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Registered 10 years agoBy the way Fluval do some quite sexy small tanks. Most small tanks are a bit on the plastic naff side.
http://www.seapets.co.uk/products/aquarium-supplies/aquariums/fluval/fluval-nano-aquariums/fluval-chi-aquariums/fluval-chi-aquarium-25-litre.html
Or this:
http://www.seapets.co.uk/products/aquarium-supplies/aquariums/fluval/fluval-edge-aquariums/fluval-edge-aquarium-46-litre-gloss-white.html
Edited by kalel at 10:53:27 12-12-2012 -
Yeah we've been looking at some Fluval stuff in the shop, each and every one is rather nice. Also really like this...http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/content.php?sid=5348
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kalel 76,472 posts
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Registered 10 years agoFluval are also known for their filters, that's really what they specialise in, so those Fluval tanks are likely to have better filtration than a lot of other small all-in-one sets you can get. -
Yeah a few people at work have recommended Fluval brand filters. Might be worth investing a little more for that rather than buying a kit tank with filter and then buying a separate Fluval filter.
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kalel 76,472 posts
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Registered 10 years agoI just like their aquarium design as well. Bit more modern than most. They actually think about their cabinet design in terms of form unlike most that just look like Homebase flatpack.
Been eyeing their big aquariums as potentials for me, although they're not quite as big as I'd like. -
Just had a look at the Fluval in person. It's wonderful to look at but hideous to clean by the looks of it. You can't get the top off properly so you have to contort to clean the glass. Meh.
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Question on glass vs. plastic... Any major negatives to getting a plastic tank instead of glass?
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ronuds 20,553 posts
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Registered 7 years agoWell, it may not look as nice and could scratch more easily, but it will hold water just as well.
If you plan to move the tank a lot, plastic can be a benefit because most are just one piece. -
Popzeus 7,889 posts
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Registered 8 years agoWhy do you ask? Not considering the Macquarium are you?
Inventor of the hovercraft
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hehe, no, but I've seen a few with really nice moulded edges, which when I'm on a space and price budget look a lot nicer than the budget glass tanks.
Was looking at a 35l version of this: http://www.boyuaquarium.com/en_ArticleShow.asp?ArticleID=350 -
kalel 76,472 posts
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Registered 10 years agoHas anyone ever tried making their own tank (or having one custom made)?
I'm planning my mega tank for later this year and am starting to think a bespoke tank would be the best solution. -
kalel 76,472 posts
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Registered 10 years ago@binky
My tank is acrylic. I think for smaller tanks it makes good sense and to be honest it looks like glass to me. -
billythekid 10,263 posts
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Registered 8 years agoHave you watched Tanked or Fish Tank Kings on Discovery?
They come up with some wonderful custom builds, would be good for a bit of inspiration and knowing what's possible to achieve. -
kalel 76,472 posts
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Registered 10 years agoNo, I'll check that out.
I know you can basically achieve anything, and it's not so much inspiration I'm looking for. i'm just a bit scared of the commitment. -
ah-ha! I was coming back to report today, and had forgotten!
Thanks for all the suggestions and advice before xmas.
We ended up getting the tank I linked to above and I really like it.
I had it up and running a week or so before adding fish. We opted for a fish-in cycle. 2 female guppies, and they seem very happy in their home. Water levels all seem stable, been testing frequently and on Friday we had it tested at the local fish shop. All tested well and so we've added 2 more female guppies.
I had my heart set on some neon tetra, but to be honest I'm really loving the guppies. They're constantly on the move, colourful and friendly. Just a pity we've got females not males - as they seem a bit prettier and have more varieties. Wifey is dead set against not adding some males to the group after I told her that they spawn like crazy and can kick out around 60-100 fry every month
ppfttt, wives. -
RyanDS 7,646 posts
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Registered 5 years agokalel wrote:
No, but I have drilled the glass for the piping in a glass tank I bought. I think the stress took 5 years off my life.
Has anyone ever tried making their own tank (or having one custom made)?
I'm planning my mega tank for later this year and am starting to think a bespoke tank would be the best solution. -
kalel 76,472 posts
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Registered 10 years agoI think you can get glass with pre-drilled holes, so that's one stress lessened at least -
RyanDS 7,646 posts
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Registered 5 years agokalel wrote:
The drilling was bad enough. But the first time I filled it was the true stress, trying to work out if the seals were leaking or whether it was just condensation, praying that it wouldn't crack...
I think you can get glass with pre-drilled holes, so that's one stress lessened at least
Next time I will definitely buy predrilled. -
@binky Good Luck with the tank. I ventured into the world of Tropical Fish about 6 months ago same reason as you - Have a 2 1/2 year old lad and we spend A LOT of time just staring at the tank and playing hide and seek (Harvey plays hide and seek with the fish and I humour him).
Guppys are pretty cool - Loads of varieties - I think they're a bit like plants, in that they get cross bred into new types, hence their bonkers colour. Platys are pretty robust as well - Look a bit boring but the ones I have have a tonne of character.
I'm at the sad stage now where I have hit the limit for my tank - I have another 100l tank in my garage that I got from the tip for £5 (not my usual place for fish purchasing) and am SO tempted to set that up as well - Well and truly hooked (sh*t pun) on this hobby! -
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