I'm completely new to this hobby and trying to do all the reading I can, but I always find real person recommendations are valuable to contrast with the sites/shops which want to sell you something.
I'm trying to slowly build a tank on a budget and this is where I'm at so far – I got the 25l tank itself for £5-10 a few years back (originally for a terrarium), then a bunch of filter and heater bits for £10 on Marketplace, free ex-display rock from the garden centre fish shop, self-found driftwood.
I wasn't sure whether I'd be able to put much (if anything) in yet, but we had we'd started getting mosquito larvae in there and the local shop tested the water and said we'd be alright with a few tetras, so they've been happily gobbling them down.
Anyway, I'm wondering about recommendations for next steps?
As far as I can tell, the more plants, the better the water quality, so adding more is next on my list. The pot in the front right will get divided and added in as midground planting, but more variety would probably be good.
After that, probably shrimp and snails? Get some good clean-up going on? I love the look of dwarf gouramis too, and copper harlequins look like another nice small fish that would give some contrast.
If all goes well and the family are really getting into it, there's a reasonably-priced 58l tank at the shop which could be a good use of birthday money as an expansion, too.
Hope this all sounds alright from a complete novice – I am always happy to receive advice if I'm doing something wrong, though!
Posted by JustHereForTheMechs