CherryBlossomDragon wrote:Hiya ^w^
So, story is, my bearded dragon, Blaze, recently died u_u (September 9th, actually quite awhile ago)
So now I have this huge (55 gallon) tank, the edges are already sealed to be used as an aquarium, and since I am an animal fanatic, I really want another animal. I either want a betta fish or an axolotl. I know a betta fish would probably be a lot easier to take care of, but having an axolotl seems very rewarding!
The only things holding me back from getting either would be the cost and time. I'm a busy person ;-;
a 55 gal. tank seems like it would be quite annoying to clean and keep clean, not to mention substrate and water temperature.
I'm not sure what the costs for either animal would come to, do any of you own them and are willing to tell me an average of how expensive it is or what you would think? Thanks in advance, and sorry for the inconvenience!
Personal oppinion: If I'd have tank as big as 55 gal, I wouldn't settle for just one betta fish.
I don't know much about axolotl, so can't say anything about their costs. But fish are pretty simple and easy after the set up and cycling process. You feed them almost daily(they can survive a week without food if you can't feed them) and change part of the water once a week. Usually the water change is 30-50%, but if you don't stock the tank heavily(or have messy fish or over feed) I don't see why you couldn't do just 25% either. The water change takes maybe about 30 minutes to one hour with my 34 gal depending if I need to trim the plants etc. extra work, so I'd say with 55 gal hour maybe. And that's only once a week thing. If you set up the tank near a bathroom, you can also speed up the water change by using a long hose that will first empty the tank straight to the drain and then you connect it to a water tap and fill it back up. No buckets to carry around.
Honestly if you have money to invest in proper set up and cycle your tank before getting fish, it's not that hard to keep them. All you need to do is watch all the technical stuff works properly, get timer for the lights and you don't have to worry about that either, occasionally clean the filter(for 55gal I'd recommend a canister filter, which is more effective and lower maintance need than internal), do once a week water change and feed the fish.
Now the costs, set up is expensive, keeping fish is not(they eat surprisingly little).
-As a substrate I have basic sand, bought from hardware store. I think it cost 8e/bag which had about 20 liters of sand. For 55gal, I think you'd probably need two such bags.
-Filter probably most expensive equipment. Canisters usually start from 80-100e. Internals are cheaper but for 55gal I'd maybe take two internals rather than one, so no money saved there. Canisters also need less frenquent cleaning due their size.
-Heaters are maybe around 20e.
-Lights usually come with the tank when you buy it, but I'd guess in your case you might need to look for one. I have no idea what they cost... Depending do you want live plants or not, you might need to invest little bit more money on the light than if you don't want live plants.
Those are you mandatory things for the tank. If you find any of last 3 used, it could cut down the costs(especially in filter's case). Also if you can get an used filter straight from use, you don't need to cycle your tank. ^^ You will also need a ciphon, net, water conditioner, thermometer, water test kit(best to invest in good drop test kit, rather than go for the cheap strips) and fish food. Then if you get live plants they'd probably like some fertilizer. Price for those depends on the brand. Good test kit can be bit on the expensive side, but I really do recommend having one.
lachance wrote:I just set up a 20 gallon tank today I bought on a fluke and I think I'll be filling it with a couple of guppies or something similar after the water cycles. I have a few questions though, will LED lights hurt the live plants I'd put in there? And are there any specific bottom feeders or snails I should keep out of the tank now that it will be housing plants? It's not the first time I've owned a tank with fish in it, I'm just new to the real plants and putting totally different kinds of fish together. I'll appreciate any help or advice I can get, thank you!
It depends on the LED light. ^^' I've heard people having success with them and plants and I've also heard people who bought a ready tank kit with LED and the lighting was way way way too low for the plants. Personally I don't know much about LEDs and plants, since the price of LED is way too much for me.
Generally I'd keep most snail out of planted tank, just a personal oppinion. Assassins are okay and Malaysian trumpet snails, since they mainly crawl and hide in the sand eating left overs.
Some herbivore/algae eating plecos might be problem for plants, if they feel like they aren't getting enough plant materia in their diet. But for 20 gal I don't think you can fit any pleco, so that's that. Otos aren't usually plant eaters, but mine demolished a Cardamine lyrata I recently bought... They have never touched anything else though, unless it's already dying and decaying. Gold fish and plants don't mix super well either, but again since you have a 20gal no goldfish anyway.
