Never done anything with Fish before...

Did some reading and looks like there is more to it than throwing fish into a tank and feeding it. Water temperatures, Nitrogen cycle...

So I figured its probably safer to start small and work my way up.

Got myself:
6 gallon tank
pump + filter
Thermometer

I've let it sit for about 48hrs pump running and water conditioner in....water temperature has stabilized at 75F (should I get a heater to bring that up to 78F?), so that should be enough time now so I can get some fish in there.

Any recommendations for a beginner? Tetra's look boring and I don't want Goldfish because they are filthy creatures.

Maybe in a year I want to get a big tank -- like a 90 gallon and get some sweet fish, but baby steps...

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On a tank like that youd just have to feed, and change 25% of the water weekly. No need to worry too much about chemistry and crapola like. Use that for the expensive fish

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1984 300SD Orient Red/ Palomino
1989 560SEC
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Send member aquaticedge a pm

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TC
Current stable:
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Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Just off the top of my head:

Six gallons is pretty small. Changes in water temp and chemistry can and will happen quickly. This can make them tricky for first timers.

The main thing with the temp is change. Most fish can survive and thrive in a decent temp range, but they can't handle big changes... Up to 85 during the day with the light on and the home warm, and then down to 70 overnight with the light off and the home cooler. That's bad. More water volume helps, but common sense comes into play as well. Flourescent lighting helps keep the temps from climbing, a heater (properly sized) helps from drastic cooling. As does proper placement, ie; not in front of windows or air vents.

The chemistry can be kinda fun to watch, testing and tracking. With a new setup, be sure to make changes gradually. Add only a couple of small fish at first, and let the proper bacteria grow to deal with the wastes. Then add fish slowly.

Avoid overcrowding.

Make sure you get compatable species. Not ones that keep attacking each other.

Make sure you get the right food for the type of fish, ie; floating flakes for top feeders, sinking pellets for bottom feeders, and so on.

Ok, I'm sure others can add more, but that ought to give you some food for thought for now.

MV

There is one very important thing to know for keeping a tank to be enjoyable. You must absolutely limit the amount of phosphorous going into the tank. Whether it be from food or other sources. If phosphorous is available you will have algae problems.

I'd recommend keeping live plants with fish. A planted tank looks infintely better than one decorated with cheap plastic crap. A plastic decorated tank will emit a cold flourescent glow, where a planted tank will have a green glow from the light going through the plants. Its hard to describe but that green glow is calming, mesmerizing, and enthralling. Live plants will cycle nutrients making maintenance much easier. Live plants will oxygenate the water. Live plants will out compete algaes for phosphorous. Live plants provide cover, possible breeding locations, and possibly food for the fish. In some cases live plants can also slow evaporation from the tank.

Summary: Live plants = Good.

The down side is that blue aquarium gravel will not be a good substrate for plants. The plants themselves periodicly need maintenance. That can be an upside though as aquatic gardening can be a very Zen like experience. In fact a lot of enthusiasts consider the garden primary and the fish secondary.

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my favorite tank was my small 10 gallon with just a regular old flourescent light. I had silica sand for swimming pools as substrate and real plants a drift wood. That tank was a real natural beauty. I could sit there for hours just watching the fish. I had tetras and a couple of clown loaches. You can keep quite a few fish happy in a 10 gal or 6 gal tank but there are two really important things. Change 25% of the water weekly and make sure there is plenty of surface movement from the filters. I used a bio wheel with a carbon filter that I never replaced, just periodically washed the crud off of it. I never serviced the bio wheel as long as it was turning. My dad had a pretty big tank with basically the same set up as my 10 gal, but he rigged a CO2 setup to make the plants grown and boy did they ever. He had to mow the tank every couple of weeks as the plants just took over.

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1984 300SD Orient Red/ Palomino
1989 560SEC
2016 Mazda 6 6 speed manual
1995 Ford F-150 reg cab 4.9 5speed manual

Start with Guppies or swordtails. They are very hardy, and far more tolerant of temperature fluctuations than tetra.
Zebra Danios are another good beginner fish.

Very small tanks are very difficult to maintain water quality in at moderate stocking levels. I would not but more than 2 swordtail size or 4 to 6 guppy/zebra size fish in there for at least 1 month.

A 29 gallon tank is a very nice managable sized tank, & won't break the bank like a 90.

David
(Fishkeeper on & off since late 60's)