Large or small for a newbie

[GraphicGr8s]

If a friend was interested in getting into fish what size tank would you recommend? In my 34 years keeping fish I have always recommended at least a 29. More water less chance of trouble and more likely to keep interest. What's your opinion?

[LizStreithorst]

I started with a 29 in 2001.  My favorite employee gave it to me as a gift.  I thought that it was A BIG TANK.  I killed a lot of fish in that tank because I didn't understand the nitrogen cycle   I learned a lot from it, too and the fish weren't anything special.  I think that a 29 is a good place for a new fish person to get his feet wet

[GraphicGr8s]

I'm still using my first 29. Bought it in 81.

[Mugwump]

The first couple tanks that our family had were meta-frame 15's. Dad mounted them end to end on a room divider. We only had smaller fish, a few mollies/swords....and a single betta in each tank. That was in 1958......I was 13...    When Jan and I got married, we used one of those 15's, and added a 20H mirror back, mounting them in a corner of our apt living room....

[wsantia1]

I had a 10 gallon Metaframe as my first real tank and I housed gold fish in it initially. Needless to say the goldfish grew and I didn't change the water and the fish died.

I would later convert it into a hamster enclosure and then back to fish again (livebearers). Don't remember whatever happened to that tank.

A 29 is a good starter tank, but I would advise the newbie not to overstock or put fish that grow to large into it.

[P4Angels]

I had a 10 gallon Metaframe as my first real tank and I housed gold fish in it initially. Needless to say the goldfish grew and I didn't change the water and the fish died.

I would later convert it into a hamster enclosure and then back to fish again (livebearers). Don't remember whatever happened to that tank.

A 29 is a good starter tank, but I would advise the newbie not to overstock or put fish that grow to large into it.

i would have to agree..    29-55 are best to get started

[b125killer]

My first tank was a 29. I kept piranahas in it when they got to big i got a 55. Then they cracked the front glass. My parents where so mad. I wasn't  able to keep fis until i moved out after that.