Moving on to larger tank-need lots of advice!

[Jififnerm]

In view of the much appreciated advice & suggestions I've received from a number of members, instead of faffing around the issue I've made the decision to buy a larger tank! Won't be able to get it until next w/end but surely I can begin making plans ? Most importantly,because my present tank is overstocked,which of my current inhabitants would it be best to move into the new tank? Obviously the welfare of my darlings are of utmost importance. My Scissortails & Harlequins have been in the present tank for the longest so wouldn't they find it stressful to be moved to a new environment?
All advice and/or suggestions needed!! So much of advice received so far has been a real eye-opener for me & I want to build on that and make things much better for my fish because I love them so much! :help: :11:

[Bristley]

What size tank are you getting for the new tank?

[Northernguy]

What size tank are you getting for the new tank?
What other fish are you thinking about?
Have you looked on Craig's List for a good used tank?

[Bristley]

Have you looked on Craig's List for a good used tank?

Very good point NG. You can find some really good deals there.:22:

[Jififnerm]

What size tank are you getting for the new tank?
Planning a 220 ltr--55-ish gallon (?). Have found out that my sister-in-law has several unused tanks in her garage,though she's never kept fish! Will have to find out what size(s) and if large enough,will travel down (about 150miles) to fetch.Huge bonus--whatever we have,maybe more than one!-they'll be free!
In my present tank,I'd like to keep mainly Tetras and keep the Harlequins (6) which are already in there,along with the Corys (4). Question is,how many Tetras would be sensible to have,or have I already got max.number (7) ? In which case,the H'quins could be moved into the new tank. We've kept a Siamese Betta in the past,he lived just over a year but we don't know old he was when we bought him. We became particularly fond of him,our Boy Blue, and he used to some to the top of the tank and nuzzle our fingers and let us stroke him.So,for the new tank,we'd definitely like another Betta along with a couple of ladies to keep him company! I don't want any large fish and want a peaceful community like the one already established in my present tank. All suggestions hugely appreciated!! Hoping to fetch tank(s) this w/end and feel so excited I could scream!

[Northernguy]

Bettas are great fish but you never have a male and female in the same tank unless its to drop some eggs.She has to be removed after that or they will kill each other.
Please do your research before buying fish.
Its a much better experience that way.lol

[lowlight]

I have a 55 with 14 Neons (see sig) and plan on another 14 Tetras of some sort maybe some Harlequins. What type of filter do you plan on getting?

[Mark Hewitt]

In view of the much appreciated advice & suggestions I've received from a number of members, instead of faffing around the issue I've made the decision to buy a larger tank! Won't be able to get it until next w/end but surely I can begin making plans ? Most importantly,because my present tank is overstocked,which of my current inhabitants would it be best to move into the new tank? Obviously the welfare of my darlings are of utmost importance. My Scissortails & Harlequins have been in the present tank for the longest so wouldn't they find it stressful to be moved to a new environment?
All advice and/or suggestions needed!! So much of advice received so far has been a real eye-opener for me & I want to build on that and make things much better for my fish because I love them so much! :help: :11:

Just remember to use the same filter from your current tank setup, even if you are putting a new one on there too.

[Jififnerm]

I have a 55 with 14 Neons (see sig) and plan on another 14 Tetras of some sort maybe some Harlequins. What type of filter do you plan on getting?
Have to contact sister-in-law ( free tank,but don't know size yet). For a 220ltr tank would have external filter but don't know type.

[lowlight]

I have a Rena Xp3 that I have been happy with. I have read good things about Eheim and Fluval as well.

[toddnbecka]

If you're getting the tank/s for free you can spend a bit more on the setup. I'd recommend an aquaclear for a hob filter, eheim for a canister. Aquaclear are the most versatile of their type, and have a lifetime warranty. Eheim's are simply better quality than most other brands of canister IME, at least with the classic series.

[Jififnerm]

Bettas are great fish but you never have a male and female in the same tank unless its to drop some eggs.She has to be removed after that or they will kill each other.
Please do your research before buying fish.
Its a much better experience that way.lol
I'm becoming increasingly shocked and upset by the crap advice I've been given by the Aquarium stores and large pet stores re the care and welfare of fish. When we got our first Betta,the beautiful Boy Blue,we were advised to get at least 2 females,which we did sometime later.This was from a 'reputable' source and,being complete novices,we saw no reason to doubt the advice given.
We found it amusing and endearing to see Boy Blue guarding his eggs but,later, were mystified as to why the two females,Lady Orange & Lady Scarlet, were missing parts of fins and tails and gradually becoming more & more listless until they finally died.During this time,we asked advice from other 'experts' and not one suggested that Boy Blue could be the abuser. We thought it might be one of the other fish but,as this happened about 18 months-2yrs ago,my memory's unclear as to what stock we had at that time.
At the moment,I'm feeling that I must be the worst fish-keeper that ever was but one thing's for sure, I will NEVER EVER take the advice of any of these so-called 'experts' again. It seems that their interest lies in income and turnover with the welfare of the fish they sell right at the bottom of their concerns.
I've learned so much from the brief time of being a member of AC and am so grateful I could weep from relief that I've found a source that can be relied on for sharing their years of experience and knowledge with someone as crap as me.
Have rung sister-in-law this a.m. No reply,but left message asking to let us know size of tank(s).Apparently,they've got all the accessories with them!!
Forgive the length of this message & thanks again for advice.

[Bristley]

Please, please, please DO NOT beat yourself up. I'll bet if you ask, everyone here has been in your shoes, or at least close to it, when they first started out. I know I've learned a lot here myself and started out making some very stupid mistakes.

Also, don't condemn all LFS's employees. I agree that you shouldn't necessarily trust their advice on blind faith, but there are some out there that truly care about fish and have good knowledge. You just have to do your own research so that you know as much as possible, and then you will be better able to spot a knowledgeable and caring fish store employee. Once you find someone like that you will have found someone locally that you can really talk to about fish issues.

And, of course, you can always come here for advice and knowledge sharing as I'm sure everyone here is glad to help.

Keep your spirits up.thumbs2:

[Lady Hobbs]

You will find that larger tanks aren't nearly the hassle of the smaller tanks. I would keep the smaller fish for the tank they are in now.......altho I don't believe I saw the size mentioned? That would be a good tank for those rasbora and neons, perhaps.

Jif, it's our job to go to the fish stores prepared and know about the fish we are buying. Fish stores, like all stores, hire people to work that can dip fish, stock, clean floors, etc. It doesn't mean they are an expert in any of these areas.

If you find fish you're interested in, write down the name of them and return home to do some research before buying. Stores do not tell you that goldfish, bala sharks, pleco's, black ghost knife, paco's, etc, can grow huge. Knowing that is your job.

[Mark Hewitt]

Please, please, please DO NOT beat yourself up. I'll bet if you ask, everyone here has been in your shoes, or at least close to it, when they first started out. I know I've learned a lot here myself and started out making some very stupid mistakes.[/QUOTE}

Absolutely, we all have to start somewhere, and I would guess 99% of us did our research after we'd started.

[quote]
Also, don't condemn all LFS's employees. I agree that you shouldn't necessarily trust their advice on blind faith, but there are some out there that truly care about fish and have good knowledge.

In my experience it depends who you get. I've been into our local branches of Pets at Home often enough now to know who is the 'expert' there and I don't bother talking to anyone else.

But there are also employees who know nothing about fish and yet try to pretend they do, who give you awful advice which is often plain wrong! I know when I was first starting out it was very frustrating to go into the same shop and get contradictory advice from different people each time I went in.

[Jififnerm]

Thank you for trying to make me feel a tad less useless. No,I certainly don't blame all LFS employees but the 2 nearest Aquatic Stores are run by a family--in fact,one was just a single bloke( We don't go there any more ) and the other,though quite a large store,is run by father and son. So I know that most of the advice given to me by those three seems to come off the tops of their heads. There are much larger stores catering for most pets 2 of which seemed more knowledgeable but they're a distance away.Nevertheless,it will be to either of them ( we've been a couple of times)that we'll be going in future. I'm disappointed at having had to cancel my trip to the sister-in-law to collect larger tank. Rather annoyingly,she was unable to give us measurements other than that it was big! Hoping moost definitely to go there next week.
Thanks again for your thoughtfulness .And my fish are all fine at present!

Neons,
1 Black Neon,
Scissortails,
Harlequins,
Corys
1 Ghost shrimp(one of our first purchases so must be over 2 years old)

I rescued ex-racehorse,
ditto a Shetland x
2 rescued mutts & an English Springer which the sister-in-law was fed up with--a most wonderfully natured bitch--the Springer -not the s-in-law!
8 moggies
7 chooks.
Keeps us busy!

[Jififnerm]

I've just forwarded a message meant for you to Mark Hewitt!! See,another example of idiocy!!

[Jififnerm]

And the second message has gone the same way!! And I definitely clicked quick reply under YOUR message!! Better put in writing (?)--this message,along with the 2 previous,are meant for the attention of Bristley lol
Doh !!

[Jififnerm]

This message is meant for Lady Hobbs--I say this because my previous messages seem to be arriving wherever they feel like dropping anchor!!
Thank you lots for your excellent advice which is HUGELY appreciated. I'm most pleasantly surprised to hear that a large tank is less work than a small one.Why is this? Is it because of the equipment used? I despair of knowing so little. Yes,I think the Neons and Rasbora will stay in the (don't be too shocked,please )60ltr tank. However,it must be said that all are doing well at present whilst some,including a Ghost Shrimp!,I've had since first becoming a fish owner over 2 years ago.
I really appreciate your thoughtfulness and experience you're so willing to share.