questions → where should i shop for fish tank stuff?

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Where should I shop for fish tank stuff?

Sep 24, 2011 7:17 AM

I am definitely new to the fish thing. Never really had an aquarium, and I am really not sure if I want salt water or fresh (which is easier?)..

Also is there any really good (and cheap) websites that sell that kind of stuff? or am I better off going to local places. I would imagine fish tanks are expensive to ship..

Any help is appreciated! Thanks!

PS: If you have fish, what kind of fish do you own?

devexityspace devexityspace

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If you can find a small local place that doesn't look like they get a lot of business they normally have wonderful prices on things. My dad went on a fish kick for a few years so he decided to go get a bunch of fish stuff from different places all over town (Detroit). He said that he got some of his cheapest stuff from small stores.

Not that I can help you with online retailers. Sorry about that one ^_^

At work we had a Beta fish. Very pretty but you can't put them in a tank with any other fish or else they'll eat each other. We named him Carlton. Actually his full name was Carlton Beluga AMC Frankenstein Long. He lived six months and we had a moment of silence.

holymythos holymythos
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Check garage sales/classified ads for the aquarium & stand.

dreamyvelvet dreamyvelvet
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Fresh water (unless you want to spend lots and lots and lots of time and money and time and money).

Don't start with a really small tank (less water means bad things happen very quickly; more water means you have more time). I'd say a minimum 20 gallon tank, though I started with a 10.

Spend some time reading up on the hobby, so you know what you're looking for. It helps to understand the basics about how things like the filter and gravel and bacteria and plants and fish and fish waste interact. (For example, you are better off with more than one filter because when you change the filter, you lose a good bit of the bacertia that reduce the ammonia level in the tank (ammonia means death, at least to fish). This is especially true if you use plastic plants.

Start slow and you'll be fine. As for stores, I've been out of the hobby for about seven years so I don't have any good online sources to suggest. (Fishtown USA is near me in Flushing NY and not a bad place to shop.)

baqui63 baqui63
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I agree with @dreamyvelvet completely for the stand and perhaps for the hood, but I'd get a new tank (they aren't very expensive unless you go for something huge or unusually shaped).

baqui63 baqui63
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If you're looking for websites, I've had good luck with thatpetplace.com and bigalspets.com.

If you're just starting you'll definitely want to go freshwater - it's a lot more foolproof and certainly cheaper. I wouldn't recommend a tank less than 30 gallons - tanks below that tend to be a lot harder to maintain and thrive.

Also get a canister filter and a "Python" device to clean the tank.

I've had the same tank continuously running since 1992. It's been moved 3 times but never completely drained/shut down...

tsfisch tsfisch
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Craigslist fer sure fer sure fer sure.

nate800 nate800
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In addition to the sites listed above, check out DrsFosterSmith.com

I've bought from thatfishplace.com and bigalsonline.com in the past with much luck.

They've got some decent prices as well. Also, in the past few years, it seems like Amazon's reached out into the pet world as well. You may want to check there as well.

capguncowboy capguncowboy
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thatfishplace.com has done right by me for 20 or more years.

loubriccant loubriccant
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If you need a teddy bear fish tank go here:)Yes I said Teddy Bear:)
http://deals.woot.com/deals/details/d48a7124-13cd-4987-8988-c9264353bb91/teddy-bear-fish-tank-seriously-it-has-a-fish-tank-for-its-stomach#b42dbb2b-a69e-4655-890d-a72d7ebe2bd3

tmontgom tmontgom

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Sep 24, 2011 7:17 AM
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