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Topic: First tank
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Natalie Likes To Chat   AquaTrax User: no Joined: 07 January 2009 Last Active: 28 October 2009 Posts: 74 Articles: 0 Member Rating: 5 
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   Topic: First tankPosted: 08 January 2009 at 10:10pm |
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Hi everyone
Ive been wanting to have an aquarium for a long time now, and now have the space and the means to do so. Im a complete beginner, and so have been doing as much research as i can on the net (though so much still baffles me). I was toying with the idea of getting a biorb (60ltr) but after research, found lots of bad reviews about them, and that they are not good homes for the fish? So ive been looking at tanks, and like the look of the Juwel rio 180, bit more expensive than i originally wanted to go, but looks nice, and a nice size. What i want to know is: Are these good tanks? Would you recommend them for a beginner? Is the size ok, or do you think it's too ambitious for a beginner, and should i size down a bit? Any advice and suggestions would be most welcome!
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jennybugs Moderators  
      AquaTrax User: YES Joined: 20 January 2008 Last Active: Yesterday Posts: 4085 Articles: 4 Member Rating: 392
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Posted: 09 January 2009 at 11:57am
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Welcome to the forum Natalie!
There's nothing wrong with biorbs!
I have one of each size and a biube too!
The 60L orb is a great starter tank providing you ignore instructions, cycle properly without fish, stock with only slim bodied smaller fish and don't fill it with goldies
 I'll pm you some great info about these superb tanks!
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manutius Admin Group 
The Boss AquaTrax User: YES View My Setup Joined: 06 January 2006 Last Active: 03 September 2010 Posts: 16418 Articles: 9 Member Rating: 424
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Posted: 09 January 2009 at 3:05pm
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Hi Natalie, welocme to the forum and to this wonderful hobby
 Not sure why you would think that biorbs aren't great, they are lovely tanks but just a bit unconventional and can be limited as to what type of fish you can keep.
The Juwel Rio is a perfect tank for the beginner. I have the larger RIO 400 and I absolutely love it. It has everything you will need aside from water gravel and fish
 If its a good price I would purchase it and enjoy it greatly. if a tank is too small its more likely to be less stable as the wate form the fish will pollute the water and change chemistry. More water will dilute the waste meaning it will do less harm.Do you know about the nitrogen cycle and how best to start the tank off?
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15000+ posts and hardly any sense made or spellings correct |
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jimthefish Online Moderators 
Plant Forum Moderator  AquaTrax User: YES Joined: 19 October 2005 Last Active: Today Location: United Kingdom Posts: 6246 Articles: 10 Member Rating: 965
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Posted: 09 January 2009 at 8:39pm
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Hi and welcome to the forum! I'm a fan of Juwels too (so is Jenny really but she does love her Biorbs) and the 180 is a great starter tank. You have more scope for the size and number of fish you can keep, lots of scope for aquascaping but of course have the increased cost of the above. If 180 lt, three times your original idea, is too much the look at the Juwel Rio 125 or the Rekord range.
Edited by jimthefish - 09 January 2009 at 8:39pm |
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Jim B
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Natalie Likes To Chat AquaTrax User: no Joined: 07 January 2009 Last Active: 28 October 2009 Posts: 74 Articles: 0 Member Rating: 5
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Posted: 09 January 2009 at 9:37pm
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Thanks for the replies guys, i did originally want a biorb, as love the look of them, but seem to find a lot of conflicting advice. Seems to be some people love them, others hate them, which makes it difficult for a complete beginner like me to make a decision
 !. On browsing round pets at home however, ive decided that a 125ltr tank would be sufficient for what i want. Pets at home currently have an offer on a Fluval Roma 125 plus cabinet for £169, which sounds like a good deal to me. I also like the Juwel rio 125 though, but cheapest i can find that is around £210. Any major differences between the two set ups? Anyone got experience of both makes?
Manutius- Have done a fair amount of research on cycling a tank, any tips would be appreciated though!
Thanks again everyone
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jimthefish Online Moderators
Plant Forum Moderator AquaTrax User: YES Joined: 19 October 2005 Last Active: Today Location: United Kingdom Posts: 6246 Articles: 10 Member Rating: 965
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Posted: 09 January 2009 at 9:44pm
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My experience is with the Juwels I'm afraid. They provide two lights, which I'd recommend for growing live plants and for a bright looking tank. Their internal filters also tend to be the largest in the market. However Fluval are also a very reliable make. If their tank has the twin lighting, I'd be tempted to go for that on cost grounds. Both have filters and heaters appropriate to the size of the tank. Aesthetics would be the only other consideration, what do the stands look like, what colours do they come in and what do you like the look of?
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Jim B
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Natalie Likes To Chat AquaTrax User: no Joined: 07 January 2009 Last Active: 28 October 2009 Posts: 74 Articles: 0 Member Rating: 5
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Posted: 09 January 2009 at 10:03pm
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They both look ok, though i haven't seen the Juwel tank and cabinet other than in pictures, so can't compare the quality to the Fluval. Not sure if the Fluval has twin lighting, but will try and find out, as am keen on having live plants. This will be a bit of an investment, so just don't want to make the wrong decision!
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jimthefish Online Moderators
Plant Forum Moderator AquaTrax User: YES Joined: 19 October 2005 Last Active: Today Location: United Kingdom Posts: 6246 Articles: 10 Member Rating: 965
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Posted: 09 January 2009 at 11:42pm
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It does. I've just checked it myself. It is a nice looking tank and stand setup. Given the choice I'd save the money by buying Fluval and spend the savings on plants!
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Jim B
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Goonerman1 Moderators 
Marine Forum Moderator AquaTrax User: YES Joined: 20 December 2006 Last Active: Today Posts: 6321 Articles: 3 Member Rating: 390
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Posted: 10 January 2009 at 7:45am
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Welcome Natalie. It seems you are in good hands and have been given some great advice. I think the Biorbs look great and have a very modern feel and indeed can be very succesful but I have to say I would go for the bigger, conventional tank. With 180 lts of water you can do so much more and as Manu says, your water would be much more stable. Also, believe me, if the hobby takes a grip on you, you would only end up upgrading to a bigger tank anyway. Good luck and keep us posted
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Natalie Likes To Chat AquaTrax User: no Joined: 07 January 2009 Last Active: 28 October 2009 Posts: 74 Articles: 0 Member Rating: 5
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Posted: 10 January 2009 at 12:32pm
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Thanks for the advice everyone, am off to buy the Fluval today! Can't wait! will let you know how it all goes, (expect more questions from me!)
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jimthefish Online Moderators
Plant Forum Moderator AquaTrax User: YES Joined: 19 October 2005 Last Active: Today Location: United Kingdom Posts: 6246 Articles: 10 Member Rating: 965
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Posted: 10 January 2009 at 12:55pm
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Looking forward to that!
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Jim B
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jennybugs Moderators
AquaTrax User: YES Joined: 20 January 2008 Last Active: Yesterday Posts: 4085 Articles: 4 Member Rating: 392
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Posted: 10 January 2009 at 6:42pm
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I have to agree if you can afford the extra cash and the space then a bigger tank is better!
What did you get then chicks?
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Natalie Likes To Chat AquaTrax User: no Joined: 07 January 2009 Last Active: 28 October 2009 Posts: 74 Articles: 0 Member Rating: 5
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Posted: 10 January 2009 at 8:14pm
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Ok, went to pets at home, they didn't have my tank in stock, so i drove to another pah in the next town to get one, they had my tank, but not the gravel i wanted, so after spending ages squeezing the tank into my little ford fiesta(looked 4 a moment like it wasn't going to fit!), i drove back to the original store to buy the gravel. Am now at home with my Fluval Roma 125, cabinet now assembled
. Just got to arrange gravel, fill with water etc. The tank came with quite a good little step-by step guide, so i don't think ill mess anything up... Hopefully!
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jimthefish Online Moderators
Plant Forum Moderator AquaTrax User: YES Joined: 19 October 2005 Last Active: Today Location: United Kingdom Posts: 6246 Articles: 10 Member Rating: 965
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Posted: 10 January 2009 at 9:53pm
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A busy and productive weekend then!
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Jim B
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jimthefish Online Moderators
Plant Forum Moderator AquaTrax User: YES Joined: 19 October 2005 Last Active: Today Location: United Kingdom Posts: 6246 Articles: 10 Member Rating: 965
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Posted: 11 January 2009 at 11:45am
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You could enter SOTS Natalie!
This comp is all about how your tank develops over three months. Jenny already has one in and I've entered a real nano setup that I'll be working on.
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Jim B
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sjbquattro Online Admin Group 
AquaTrax User: YES View My Setup Joined: 20 October 2006 Last Active: Today Posts: 4235 Articles: 6 Member Rating: 287
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Posted: 11 January 2009 at 1:51pm
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HI Natalie. I'm a bit late on this thread, but welcome to the forum.
Great choice of tank. I have a Fluval (similar model) as a backup/quarantine tank and it is fantastic value for money. You'll be really pleased with it
Good luck setting things up and of course let us know any questions you have. Be good to see some photos too
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Natalie Likes To Chat AquaTrax User: no Joined: 07 January 2009 Last Active: 28 October 2009 Posts: 74 Articles: 0 Member Rating: 5
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Posted: 11 January 2009 at 2:00pm
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I have an annoying problem with the filter and heater supplied with the tank, though the setup is right next to a plug socket, the cables coming from each are so short, im limited as to where i can place them in the tank, and making a "drip loop" as it tells you to do is impossible! Seems very daft, as they must have known how high up they would need to be placed, as its sitting on the cabinet made for the tank
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I have another question: is it ok for the filter to be placed next to the heater, or should they be spaced out? Don't have many positioning options due to the lack of flex!
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sjbquattro Online Admin Group
AquaTrax User: YES View My Setup Joined: 20 October 2006 Last Active: Today Posts: 4235 Articles: 6 Member Rating: 287
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Posted: 11 January 2009 at 2:14pm
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Regarding the amount of cable with the filter and heater; I am afraid that is an all too common problem. Generally with the lower price range, they do skimp on cable lengths etc. I have never bothered with a drip loop myself. I know you are "supposed" too, but provided you are careful when doing maintenance and switch things off when cleaning the tank you will be fine without. The more expensive heaters and filters do seem to come with long cables on.
Regarding heater/filter placement, what you have suggested will be fine. I wouldn't have them actually touching each other but next to each other can actually benefit the system as the heated water will be picked straight up by the filter and spread around the tank more evenly. What heater and filter are they Natalie? Edited by sjbquattro - 11 January 2009 at 2:15pm |
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Natalie Likes To Chat AquaTrax User: no Joined: 07 January 2009 Last Active: 28 October 2009 Posts: 74 Articles: 0 Member Rating: 5
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Posted: 11 January 2009 at 2:33pm
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A Fluval tronic 150w, and a Fluval 3 plus internal filter
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jimthefish Online Moderators
Plant Forum Moderator AquaTrax User: YES Joined: 19 October 2005 Last Active: Today Location: United Kingdom Posts: 6246 Articles: 10 Member Rating: 965
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Posted: 11 January 2009 at 3:57pm
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I tend to use a multi point extension cable, either three or four switched points for all my tanks. This lets you have easy access to switching things on and off while you're working and gives you more flexibility where you put things. If the supplied cables reach into the cabinet, you can fit the extension in there.
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Jim B
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