Hello
 

I am a very new aquarist, but fell in love with fish as a child because my Dad always had a tank setup. Recently a friend gave me a 45 gallon tank with stand so I could have my own aquarium. I am researching trying to figure out what to get and do for this tank. Living in Indiana I have very hard water, but have not done any testing on my own tap water as yet. In fact the tank is just sitting in the dining room empty, just waiting for me to learn what I need to do.

Hey and welcome.

I have always thought that live bearers were the best fish for people new to the hobby and you hard water is perfect for them. The plus is that they will reproduce on their own in your tank. Take a look at the top of this website at the Tropical Fish Profiles and peruse the articles. Let us know if you have any questions.

Hi and I hope you enjoy your new hobby.
Stick for the moment to a good hardy fish/live bearers are fine.
But post on here your ideas before buying anything, If you go to a major high street pet shop the staff are usually useless at advising and often make drastic mistakes (I know of one that sold a 18"x 9" tank a Betta and 2 male blue Malawi Cyclids and a Plec)
If you have the cash in your hand they will sell you combinations that should never be in the same tank.
So ask the lads on here for some great advice, We want you to enjoy your fish.
Ray










200 plus Coral - 200 gallon Saltwater fish tank

Don't take advise from aquarium stores, and be careful. Be patient and stock properly. Good luck!

hello and welcome to this very addictive and wallet emptying hobby. :-D

You said a mouthful! I resemble that remark.


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Welcome to the forum! I myself started with livebearers and they are very easy. Great starter fish. I started with some platies, than corys (not liverbearers), then some guppies.

Your tank is twice the size of my first one, so you have many more options than I did.

Enjoy your new tank! Setting up, decorating and stocking is so much fun! TOO much fun, like Willow said. Once we were done stocking we thought, gee, there's a lot of other fish we'd like to try. Guess we need another (larger) tank. It never ends.