So the Mrs wanted a pet, dogs, etc - Not enough space. So she bought a second hand fish tank package for $350. Turns out it all looks pretty good and I have began to somewhat take over this project

Anyway, been doing some reading, and it appears to be a case of art vs science. So just putting it out there for any hints and tips as to how to get a sweet tank setup.

I have a 200L Tank, enclosed stand, filter, airpump, heater, lighting etc so totally good to go from the hardware side of things. I am going to be using freshwater as marine doesn't appear beginner at all.

Substrates etc, initially wanted to do real plants, but this adds complexity - Saw quite a few photo's with fake plants and they actually look pretty good. So unsure whether to get a substrate which will support real plant growth (I think the lights that came with it does)

Other than that - Just wanted to kit it out real nice and get it looking as natural as possible (where the art comes in?) So was curious for any good places in Perth to get good onaments? Logs? etc?

Plan to set up the tank, get it all up and running for a few weeks then add fish. (Get thet tank cycled?)

These are some cool ideas i saw for inspiration:







Cheers

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Should have bought an STI

Check out Perth Cichlid Society Forum (Powered by Invision Power Board) Heaps of info in there to read up on.

Here is my tank at the moment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKUt1LiiQiU

I think plants can get pretty difficult for a novice, fertilisers, lighting, substrate etc.

The set-up really depends on what kind of fish you will be keeping. Cichilds like high PH so you will need limestone/holy rock or crushed limestone substrate to buffer the water. Other fish like low PH and need lots of wood etc.

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Bush chook enthusiast

Nice one - yeah was going cichilds, good to know re: pH levels - in regard to rock/wood - Looks like I will be going for the rock look rather than wood, that helps to make that decision.

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Should have bought an STI

I'm no expert but can try help if you need anything. I have done a fair bit of reading and my fish are going alright at the moment so that's something haha.

That PCS forum has heaps of info on caring for cichlids, you should be able to find pretty much everything you need there.

This link rift-lake-cichlids/ gives a brief run down of what cichlids like in regards to water, food etc (there are other good articles in the advice section also) and this one Cichlids - Aquarium Industries gives some care sheets on some of the more common types.

End of the day, if you set the tank up right, have good filtration & do your regular water changes you'll be laughing. They are pretty hardy & easy to look after.

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Bush chook enthusiast

I am picking up a second hand tank on Saturday. Going to get back into the fish tank thing... I've been wanting one for a while, since I got rid of my last 6ft one. I want it to be low maintanece though this time, so I will be going simple.

Tossing up between salt water and tropical...

Do you know any really good fish/aquarium places in Perth?

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Should have bought an STI

Vebas in o'Connor.

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I like Aquotix & Vebas for fish. Rock & stuff you can either collect near the beach or buy second hand. Fish shops are a rip for rocks ($4.50ish a kg for Texas Holy and that shit is heavy). Limestone is all over the coast, just dont pick it up from the roadside, go further in because sometimes the councils spray along the roadside with chemicals which will kill your fish.

Don't you work near/in the Swan Brewery? Aquotix is just on Bannister road so nice and close. They have a decent range of fish & the staff are helpful. Will bring stuff in for you as well if you're keen and ask them.

Vebas is pretty awesome, huge range and staff know their stuff. Get some really nice fish there.

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Bush chook enthusiast

Awesome - Yeah Swan Brewery. Thanks for that

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Should have bought an STI

Low maintenance and salt water are mutually exclusive Kym.

20 years of running fish tanks and I would not consider a marine tank but I am at the end of the tank ownership desire.

Best advice I can give is:

Regular and consistent water changes.
Log the tank parameters and your chemical regime.
Bigger the better - easier to stabilise / keep stable.
Trickle filters > cannister filters per $ cost.
If aiming for plants set up substrate to suit - too hard to change later as it involves emptying the tank.
Single breed tanks are easier to get to breed / survive.

Best tank setup I ever had involved 30 odd discuss and plants in a 1000l tank. Included CO2 injection which suited the low Ph discus. The discus are spectacular and profitable if you can get them to breed / grow well. Discus are not for a beginner though. Discus are extremely smart and friendly and I could hand feed some of them. I had three tanks at this stage.



Not my tank but a good example.

I'm down to one three foot with a single large Golden Severum named "apu". Used to be a community tank but Apu ate all his neighbours ;( He started out at less than an inch long and now he must be close to a 10" in length. He's about 8 years old.

Have always used Vebas as closest to my house in Mexico.

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[COLOR=Black]Liberty GT Spec B tuned 240 HP & 372 Nm at the hubs.[/COLOR] "Instead of banning high performance cars - ban low performance drivers"