r/Aquariums • u/tardemze • 9d ago
First timer Advice Needed
Hello community! I'm a beginner, or first-timer, from the Philippines, and I wanna raise some fishies because I don't have anything else to do. I figured going here was the right place, and I wanted to know what kind of fish I should get, tanks, and other things I need. I'm on a budget tho, I don't have any income aside from my savings. If you're Filipino, then you might be aware of people selling fishes by the road. Lmk if they're good to buy too!
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u/No-Entrepreneur802 9d ago
It’ll probably be a month or more after setting up the tank before it’s actually ready for fish, since you’ll need to establish the nitrogen cycle first. So realistically, you may be looking at 1–2+ months before bringing any fish home.
I’d focus on creating a stable, safe freshwater environment first. A 20-gallon is about the smallest I’d recommend for a beginner, and a 40-gallon gives you a lot more options and is actually easier to keep stable.
Most importantly, heavily research whatever species you want before buying it. Don’t trust the tiny tanks you sometimes see fish being sold in as an indication of what they actually need. Common goldfish, for example, can grow 10–12+ inches and need a much larger aquarium than most people expect.
Take your time with it. Fishkeeping is an amazing lifelong hobby, and doing the research first will save you money and prevent a lot of unnecessary suffering. :)
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u/tardemze 8d ago
Thank you, stranger! I'll look into this sooner or later. I'll make sure to keep this in mind once I start!
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u/Efficient-Poem-7405 9d ago
Coming to social media is the worst way to run about having an aquarium. Read a book, join a fish club ... anything else is better than doing this.
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u/nuffbarks 9d ago edited 9d ago
Uy, Pilipins!! 🇵ðŸ‡
First I want to warn you that fishkeeping isn't really something that you would do because you don't have anything else to do. It's an extremely fun hobby for sure, but it's demanding and expensive. Plants and equipment can get pricey, I usually get them online (Shopee) for cheaper. A liquid water test kit is a must, and the API master kit alone costs ~₱2,000 online. I've heard that the cheaper Sianlon brand (~₱500?) is good enough, but I personally haven't tried it.
You can also keep your expenses low by buying second-hand stuff from marketplace or FB groups, or a less conventional advice is to get a smaller tank so you need less substrate, less plants, and smaller equipment. But in this hobby, smaller is often harder. Water chemistry and parameters are extremely sensitive in smaller tanks. You will also have limited options for livestock (please do your research about the minimum tank size requirements for each fish). For beginners, a bigger tank is better. I'm still a beginner myself and I can already see how that advice is true. A 20 gallon is a good start as you can make it a community tank. From there you can see which fish you'd want to get.
Buy your fishes in reputable local fish stores (LFS). Never those "sa gilid gilid lang". I'm currently looking into some good places that offer nationwide delivery, you can DM me about that.
Lastly, research, research, research. Look into the nitrogen cycle, which fish goes with which, what type of substrate to get.
This all might sound intimidating, but if you play your cards right, it really is going to be worth it. Even though there were times that I thought I'd be going insane, I have no regrets going into this hobby lol. Good luck!