Hi. I don't have a tropical tank and in fact I am still working on my first goldfish setup, but my husband has it in his head to look into tropicals. So I am here to find out what is involved with a tropical tank- setup, cycling and maintainance, etc.

Any info would be appreciated! Thanks!

~Mochashello

set up , you need pretty much same as Goldies but with a heater. to tired to think of anything else at moment (1.30 am here) will post agin tomorrow if i can though.

Hi, had a few hours sleep so i am thinking more clearly now

Yes tropical, this is what equipment i have for my tank:

# Heater
# Filter
# Air Pump/Stone (not essential)
# Light

I test the water the same time i test the Goldfish tank, Water changes / Gravel siphon also same time i do goldfish (about every 2 weeks). Cycling again the same as goldfish i believe.

Then get it running at the correct temperature and PH etc for the fish you would like (do a bit of research before you buy)

Hope thats okay & helped...

OK, thank you!

Technically, its easier to check your water first and then get fish that match your water instead of trying to adjust your pH constantly. Most fish do just fine in any water, but they won't be likely to breed if its not the right conditions (hard or soft, etc).

A few things I learned with tropicals.

#1 - stay away from live bearers... by this I mean mollies, guppies, platies, etc. They breed worse than rabbits and most likely you won't find a store that will buy them off you.

#2 - do your research FIRST! Many, many of the fish in stores get way too big for home tanks. Pacus, bala sharks, black sharks, arrowanas.. Even those tiny mollies can get up to 4-6", lots and lots of cichlids get absolutely huge and will fight or eat other fish, or even bust right through the side of their tank when they get big enough. Find out full grown size, behavior, etc. Most people make their first mistake here, they buy a cute little oscar, clown loach or bala shark and pretty soon either the fish is dead from poor conditions or they're looking to buy a 125 gallon tank to house the monster.

#3 - Stay away from common plecs... well, you probably already know that, but just thought I'd say it again. Its not an issue with them eating the fish like it is with goldies, but they make a huge mess and get HUGE, and don't really eat that much algae, so why add them to the tank?

#4 - stay away from chinese algae eaters. They don't eat much if any algae, and they often have nasty habits of sucking on other fish and their eyeballs.. basically a mean fish that doesn't do any good for the tank. Instead, look for bristelnose plecos, otos and siamese algae eaters if you can find them. Generally Otos are the best but it can be very very hard to find healthy ones (they are usually wild caught with poisons).

#5 - Get the tougher fish first, even if you do a fishless cycle (recommended). Scaleless fish like loaches and other sensitive fish like cories and otos won't be able to handle a freshly set up tank. Get them last.

#6 - Fishless cycle!! (this should be #1)

#7 - the 1" per gallon rule does NOT apply. Same as with goldfish, this is usually ridiculous. Mainly because not many fish have long, small bodies, most get wider and taller and take up a lot more room than the 1" per gallon rule suggests. Also because lots of tropicals are territorial and will need a lot more room than you'd think, especially when spawning.

#8 - get a big enough tank. There are not many fish, tropical or otherwise that will do well in a 10 gallon tank. Those tiny neons you see at the store will get about 1 1/2" long and 1" tall... they don't always stay small. And even though they are small, you still can't stuff a bunch in a tiny tank. There are a few combinations that work though, for example a betta and some cory doras, or a pair of shell dwellers, a few sparkling gouramis...

There are tons and tons of choices for tropical fish. Generally your best bet is to test your water and find out the hardness and pH. Then decide on the tank size. Then decide if you want a peaceful community, or a more "tough" one, or if you want one big fish, or lots of little fish, or one pair to watch them interact and breed and raise the young or... you get the idea. Lots of people like nice quiet tanks, others love the more agressive ones.

Then, before you buy anything, toss the ideas off other people and they can look at it with an outsiders viewpoint and give you suggestions.

most tropicals are easier to keep then goldys, setting up the tank is about the same, heaters set up tank put it in turn it on then wait 10 hrs and check temp and adjust to suit wait 10 hrs check again etc etc, as
try chose what fish you want before setting up tank so you can set it up for them, for tropical fish keeping it totally depends on what you get and what you want many trops dont have the personalatys of gold fish, my faveroite are puffers but would not surgest these for first, as said before reserch is a must and there is lot of people on this site keeping a lot of different trops so there is a v good chance somebody will have the info needed of whatever fish you find you like,

good luck let us know on what you decide