LogFAQs > #948582945

Some basics to start with

Get a filter rated for up to 100 or 120 gallons, don't undershoot it and not give yourself enough filtration. Also get a heater, probably a 150 or 200 watt. 78 degrees is ideal.

You want to add dechlorinated water, gravel, decor, set up your filter and heater. Run the tank full of water empty for 2 weeks, add no fish until then, and then start off slow, don't dump in 30 fish at once.

The rule of thumb is an inch of fish per gallon of water, so like 37 2 inch fish, 25 3 inch fish, etc. Also factor in growth size to adulthood.

I would start with community tropical fish. Platys, Mollies, Swordtails are very durable and great for beginners. Danios and White Clouds are basically immortal unless you make a big mistake.

Every week, change out 20% of the water. This is entirely important to remove nitrate levels from the water. Don't just top it off after some evaporates and call it good, many people make this mistake. I suggest a gravel siphon vac, a Python is the best imo but a manual one is fine also. I'd watch a youtube video on gravel vaccing your tank.

Don't overfeed, but feed a good variety of tropical flake food, bloodworms and brine shrimp. They can be bought freeze dried, or the healthier version, frozen. It looks like a little ice cube tray of frozen worms and you just drop it in the tank and they will pick it apart.

I suggest a cheap hospital tank, a 10 gallon kit at a pet chain with everything included is under $50. If you get a sick fish, it's ideal to remove it from your primary tank and into the smaller hospital tank so you can treat it properly.

No chemicals. You want a liquid water dechlorinator. If your fish get sick, ick is the most common and it looks like little white dots on their body, and you don't have a hospital tank, raise the water temperature to 81 degrees for one week. They also sell fish antibiotics which is basically the same as human grade. There is a wide variety that will treat infections and parasites. If you cannot resolve with the temperature change, a few drops of tea tree oil can kill parasites. Chemicals that they sell at the pet store that turn your water blue, and liquid algae killer are garbage products that will ruin your water balance.

If and when you start getting algae, get a decent sized plecostomus. They are miracle workers and will naturally eat it all and keep things clean. They get very large so plan for that, i'd suggest starting with a 4 to 5 inch one for a 75 gallon. They can get over 2 feet long, a lot of local fish stores would likely be okay taking it if it gets too big and sell you a new smaller one.

I've kept fish since I was like 10 and i'm now 39, i've had freshwater and saltwater, and kept live plants, corals, and a wide range of fish. Feel free to @ me anytime for anything, or DM me, i'm happy to help.

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