[J Harg]

Hi guys/gals, I want to get into fish keeping but am concerned that the tanks I am limited to are going to be a bit on the small size. Due to apartment layout etc. the biggest tank I can have is 3' x 1' x ? (L x D x H). I have therefore been looking at the Jewel Rekord 700 which is 70L/15G and comes with light, filter and pump for currently £120. Anybody have an opinion on this tank? Also roughly how many fish of small/average size would this tank be capable of supporting.

Thanks in anticipation for looking at my first and probably not last silly question

John H

 

[sprmankalel]

There are quite a number of possibilities for a 15g tank and you are sure to hear a lot of them. The best thing to do is to figure out which fish you would like to keep and others can let you know if it will work. If I had a 15g tank I would put 1 Betta and maybe 4 or 5 Corydoras. You could probably get away some tetras like Neon or Black Neon.

First things first...you should read http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/...nners-guide-freshwater-aquarium-cycle-353074/ about cycling your tank. These steps are recommended before adding fish. This will give you plenty of time to research which fish you'd like and ask plenty of question.

Welcome to the hobby and TFK.

 

[jentralala]

With a 3' by 1' space you could easily get a 29 gallon or a 38 gallon, and possibly even cheaper than the 15 gallon if you buy used. Larger tanks are much more easy to take care of, plus you can get more fish!

Are you familiar with the cycling process?

 

[sprmankalel]

I didn't understand that the measurements were for the space where the tank would go. A bigger tank does open up more possibilities. I would recommend getting the biggest you can fit. I look at my 50 gallon and I always think I would want bigger. Tee-hee!

 

[J Harg]

ooooops, my bad

With a 3' by 1' space you could easily get a 29 gallon or a 38 gallon, and possibly even cheaper than the 15 gallon if you buy used. Larger tanks are much more easy to take care of, plus you can get more fish!

Are you familiar with the cycling process?

SORRY jentralala and anyone else who took the time to try and help, the space is 3 x 1 x ? but the largest tank I can put there is 2 x 1 x ? (L x D x H) hence the Jewel Rekord 700. Any other suggestions? P.s Can I use a couple of the silk plants from my son's coldwater tank ( 1 Goldfish ) to speed up the cycle for my tropical tank?

 

[Austin]

I don't think adding the silk plants would help... if you can transfer a portion of the filter media or add some media temporarily to the filter in your son's tank (and leave it for a while to grow bacteria) and then transfer it to the new tank once it's set up you could nearly bypass the cycle.

 

[J Harg]

Cheating the cycle

I don't think adding the silk plants would help... if you can transfer a portion of the filter media or add some media temporarily to the filter in your son's tank (and leave it for a while to grow bacteria) and then transfer it to the new tank once it's set up you could nearly bypass the cycle.

Thanks Austin, I don't mind waiting for the cycle to complete I just wondered if there would be any positive benefits? Although I must admit that now I have decided to purchase a tank I am getting more impatient the more I look! p.s. What do you guys think of the 1" of fish (fully grown) per gallon rule? Is it now outdated?

 

[bob reed]

Get a cheap sponge filter and place it in your sons tank for a bit. Then set up the new tank (no fish) place the sponge filter in your new tank and let it run for a week and monitor the levels... I think you would be able to add fish pretty quickly that way.

 

[Flint]

The 1" per gallon rule is outdated, yes.

Bob, that won't work without an ammonia source in the new tank. The BB will just die off.
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[bob reed]

The 1" per gallon rule is outdated, yes.

Bob, that won't work without an ammonia source in the new tank. The BB will just die off.
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You are of course correct Flint!! I should have said set it up and go through a no fish cycle process..... Monitor the levels and then you should be able to add fish very soon. Doing too many things at once this morning... Appears there is no way to edit a post.

 

[Flint]

You can edit a post within 15 minutes of making it. Any longer and a mod has to do it.
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[MissBec]

You want to buy the biggest tank as you can, first mistake that I did, it also depends on the species of the fish you want. You need to research on what type oc fish you would like and look if it's suitable to be in a community tank and also check for the water level e.g temperature and levels,