Cold water Aquarium?

[The Riddler]

Hi, just wondering if anyone on here has a cold water aquarium?

I'm looking for advice on where to start, I know i need a tank (thinking 36x12x12) a pump, filter ect. But wondering where's the best place to get them?

Also, how many fish could i have in the above tank?

Thanks..

[guffhoover]

I look after a special breed of brown fish in a smaller sized cold water recepticle.

They are pretty easy to look after; no need for a pump or filter.
I would however advise that you only keep one at a time.

Edited by guffhoover on Thursday 27th November 12:14

[Snoggledog]

I have a tropical tank so can't really help that much but in my experience the local fish stockists will have a wealth of advice.

[mr_tony]

The Riddler said:

Hi, just wondering if anyone on here has a cold water aquarium?

I'm looking for advice on where to start, I know i need a tank (thinking 36x12x12) a pump, filter ect. But wondering where's the best place to get them?

Also, how many fish could i have in the above tank?

Thanks..

36'x12'x12' - Plenty big enough for several sharks. You probably even have room to fit them with lasers I would say....

[WestYorkie]

For a Tank that size you'd be looking at nigh on 85 litres. If you use a internal filter you'd safely have 102cm of fish I.E 10x10cm fish.

I'd go Tropical. Much greater range of fish and it'd only need a heater.

Info found here: http://www.thinkfish.co.uk/calculators.php?calc=vo...

[The Riddler]

mr_tony said:

The Riddler said:

Hi, just wondering if anyone on here has a cold water aquarium?

I'm looking for advice on where to start, I know i need a tank (thinking 36x12x12) a pump, filter ect. But wondering where's the best place to get them?

Also, how many fish could i have in the above tank?

Thanks..

36'x12'x12' - Plenty big enough for several sharks. You probably even have room to fit them with lasers I would say....

Get it right man, its frikken lazers

WestYorkie said:

For a Tank that size you'd be looking at nigh on 85 litres. If you use a internal filter you'd safely have 102cm of fish I.E 10x10cm fish.

I'd go Tropical. Much greater range of fish and it'd only need a heater.

Info found here: http://www.thinkfish.co.uk/calculators.php?calc=vo...

I thought tropical were very high mantinence, and quite complicated to look after, I'm only wanting something quite simple, but a decent enough size to make a feature from.

Cheers for the info, Do you keep fish? recomend any shops in yorkshire i can pop in for a chat?

[G0ldfysh]

Some of the more commonly kept coldwater fish are more effort to keep than tropical.

Decent shoal of neons or cardinal with a heater will need less tank cleaning than hmm goldfish

[defblade]

The Riddler said:

I thought tropical were very high mantinence, and quite complicated to look after, I'm only wanting something quite simple, but a decent enough size to make a feature from.

Cheers for the info, Do you keep fish? recomend any shops in yorkshire i can pop in for a chat?

First off, www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk has a busy forum and a shop finder.

Cold water will still need lights and a pump/filter so you're going to have wires involved, and the fish still poo so you'll still have cleaning etc.

Tropicals just add a heater and lots of choice and colour.

My main advice is whatever you go for, understock the tank if you don't want too much bother with it. Only running my little girl's tank at the moment; if I did weekly 20% water changes and filter and gravel cleaning every couple of weeks, it would carry maybe 25-30 of the tiny tropicals she likes; as it is I've kept her down to 11 fish (at the moment) and I only have to look at it every 6 weeks-ish (tho I do test the water more often...)

[Reidy10_0]

G0ldfysh said:

Some of the more commonly kept coldwater fish are more effort to keep than tropical.

Decent shoal of neons or cardinal with a heater will need less tank cleaning than hmm goldfish

I second that.
Gold fish etc are dirty buggers.

[The Riddler]

defblade said:

The Riddler said:

I thought tropical were very high mantinence, and quite complicated to look after, I'm only wanting something quite simple, but a decent enough size to make a feature from.

Cheers for the info, Do you keep fish? recomend any shops in yorkshire i can pop in for a chat?

First off, www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk has a busy forum and a shop finder.

Cold water will still need lights and a pump/filter so you're going to have wires involved, and the fish still poo so you'll still have cleaning etc.

Tropicals just add a heater and lots of choice and colour.

My main advice is whatever you go for, understock the tank if you don't want too much bother with it. Only running my little girl's tank at the moment; if I did weekly 20% water changes and filter and gravel cleaning every couple of weeks, it would carry maybe 25-30 of the tiny tropicals she likes; as it is I've kept her down to 11 fish (at the moment) and I only have to look at it every 6 weeks-ish (tho I do test the water more often...)

Once again thanks, I've book marked that site for some light reading while working later on.

I was thinking tropical originally, but heard they were alot of effort for a novice such as myself, so decided on cold water, looks like i may revert now.

Thanks again.

[WestYorkie]

This is the shop I use.
Just next to Huddersfield Town ground: http://www.aquatic-specialists.co.uk/
Much better than the Pets at Home ste that die after a day.

If you want a hand setting up pm me.

[Iain328]

Reidy10_0 said:

G0ldfysh said:

Some of the more commonly kept coldwater fish are more effort to keep than tropical.

Decent shoal of neons or cardinal with a heater will need less tank cleaning than hmm goldfish

I second that.
Gold fish etc are dirty buggers.

I'll third that. Warm water is much easier.

Also you'll have no hope of keeping any plants going with goldfish either - they'll just shred them.

Any decent aquatics place should be able to help. Also look into buying second hand stuff - its MUCH cheaper than new but check the tank carefully - any sign of a chip or ding then reject it (same for new ones as well). Always test fill a new tank outside frst if possible.

Read up on and understand the "nitrogen cycle" - its the single most important thing you need to know about how to manage in a newly set up tank. If you don't (like so many people) and just throw a load of fish in a newly set up tank you will end up watching them all start to croak after a week or so.

Take advice on getting some "community" fish that will live together happily. Avoid things like Barbs and Gouramis to start with. Tetras (which come in many sizes and colours) are always a good bet. Neons & Cardinals (mentioned above) are Tetras

If you want to grow plants (and they will help keep the tank in much better condition if you do) then use sand for the bottom and buy good light bulbs - expect to pay £15-£20 each & you'll need at least two (the number you need will depend on the depth of the tank) and expect to replace them at least once a year. There are some good web stores that sell equipment and food much cheaper than the high street.

[Sheriff JWPepper]

guffhoover said:

I look after a special breed of brown fish in a smaller sized cold water recepticle.

They are pretty easy to look after; no need for a pump or filter.
I would however advise that you only keep one at a time.

[TimJMS]

Sheriff JWPepper said:

guffhoover said:

I look after a special breed of brown fish in a smaller sized cold water recepticle.

They are pretty easy to look after; no need for a pump or filter.
I would however advise that you only keep one at a time.

and another

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8BdDls2lF9s

[Rooster]

I have a 60 litre round fish tank, three fantails, five minnows and a weird sucker thing that looks like alien. Amazing ceatures, funny to watch and my last two lived for nine years.

[Carpie]

The best amount of fish to get is none.

Fish are fking useless and you have to clean their stinking tanks all the time.

My new rule regarding pets: if you can't stroke it don't bother with it.

[The Riddler]

WestYorkie said:

This is the shop I use.
Just next to Huddersfield Town ground: http://www.aquatic-specialists.co.uk/
Much better than the Pets at Home ste that die after a day.

If you want a hand setting up pm me.

I was thinking about popping down there this weekend, only a short drive from me, been in before and they were prety helpful, but i never started.

I'm looking into getting the set up for xmas, so if you don't mind I'll be back in touch nearer the time?

Carpie said:

The best amount of fish to get is none.

Fish are fking useless and you have to clean their stinking tanks all the time.

My new rule regarding pets: if you can't stroke it don't bother with it.

fkin constructive post. .

[Batfink]

goldfish eating the plants is rubbish. Small delicate plants will not survive but large leaf plants easily survive - as well as small leaved plants if they are not fragile, or with brittle leaves.

[moosetvr]

Ebay is great for getting your first tank as most people get fed up of tanks and sell them on. I have had a number of Juwel make tanks and always find them very good.
Dont be put of by what is advertised as a tropical tank, just remove the heater, or set the heater to 20 degrees and that will be fine for coldwater fish.
I have a 6ft tank with coldwater fish in, much nicer than tropical imho.

[Wheelrepairit]

Juwell tanks are the way to go, so easy to maintain

I have both tropical tanks, plus a 500 ltr coldwater tank, with a 12" plec, rudd, goldfish and carp. Never lost a fish in 5 yrs, so easy to look after.