Xref: utzoo alt.aquaria:148 rec.pets:1958
Path: utzoo!hoptoad!ptsfa!lll-tis!lll-lcc!lll-winken!gryphon!richard
From: richard@gryphon.CTS.COM (Richard Sexton)
Newsgroups: alt.aquaria,rec.pets
Subject: Re: Questions about aquaria
Message-ID: <2244@gryphon.CTS.COM>
Date: 22 Jan 88 03:58:04 GMT
References: <1079@iscuva.ISCS.COM>
Reply-To: richard@gryphon.CTS.COM (Richard Sexton)
Organization: Trailing Edge Technology, Redondo Beach, CA
Lines: 47

In article <1079@iscuva.ISCS.COM> carlp@iscuva.ISCS.COM (Carl Paukstis) writes:
>We had a 15-gallon setup when I was a youngster (20 years ago or so). I
>remember little about it; I wan't primarily responsible for the upkeep.  
>I recently went to a pet store with my daughter (5 yrs. old), and she was
>fascinated by the fish.  I've started to get the bug.  I'm sure many
>things have changed since my boyhood.

Yes, but curiously, fish seem to be no more expensive now than
20 years ago.  Indeed marine fish are cheaper.

>What size tank should I start with?  I've been looking at a 29-gallon.

Good choice.

>The saltwater tanks are really pretty, but I understand there's a lot
>of maintenance required.  Also fairly expensive for a beginner like me.

Yeah.  Get a good grip on maintaining freshwater tanks first.

>Any particular brands of filters/pumps very good or very bad?

I like inside box filters, preferably the marineland or bubble up
kind.

>What sorts of fish are good for beginners?

Cheap ones.

>I'm a fair woorworker - shouldn't I build my own stand?

No, I'd stay away from woor.  I built a stand out of woor once
and it collapsed trashing the tank.  Woor is bad news.

>How much maintenance time can I expect to spend per month?

1/2 to 1 hour once a week.

>Is there a good magazine or two I could subscribe to?  (addresses please)
>Maybe a few months of "armchair" aquarium ownership would be good.

FAMA and TFH.  Sorry, dont have the addresses hand. I'm sure somebody
will post them. (again :-)


-- 
      "...and before too long I might, see those flashing red lights" 
                          richard@gryphon.CTS.COM 
   {ihnp4!scgvaxd!cadovax, philabs!cadovax, codas!ddsw1} gryphon!richard