DennisP Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 So next year I will be moving into a flat for the first time and as most people here will understand, would like to have a fish tank. :thup: At first I thought I'll get me a 60L tank because of the ease of it all, but then I thought if a bigger tank is viable. Things to consider: Running cost Room is upstairs - floor strength Unexpected/Overlooked complications. Has anyone had any experience with this and would care to share? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camtang Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 whats the complications? just do it, your flatmates will love you for it. who wouldnt like a fish tank in there flat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 i had 8 tanks in a flat at one stage, biggest was 540l my name on the lease, equal share of power if they didnt like it move out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 issues... power usage= negligible weight=under 150L doubt if you'll have issues bringing chicks home= love the mood lighting... have fun in your new flat, just don't flood your room, that normally gets frowned on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camtang Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 bringing chicks home= love the mood lighting... I used to keep my turtles in my room for that exact reason. hey babe, I have some turtles do you want to see them? sure okay come upstairs to my room ill show you them....... room dimmly lit... a sublte trickling of water...... works like a charm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 And make sure drunken idiots do not think it amusing to pour alcohol into the tank :roll: :facepalm: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 And make sure drunken idiots do not think it amusing to pour alcohol into the tank :roll: :facepalm: +1 or use the fish for "fish shots" better to put a good lock on your door attached to a breathaliser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheepsnana Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 +1 or use the fish for "fish shots" better to put a good lock on your door attached to a breathaliser room dimmly lit... a sublte trickling of water...... works like a charm /now needs to peee..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisP Posted September 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 No drunken idiots in our flat... They can go somewhere else... I suppose I should start looking for a tank then. I could always get a custom rimless tank made for cheap(?) But a stand would be the issue... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheepsnana Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 Stands will help spread the load over the floor boards. Long and shallow will be better for the floor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disgustipated Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 room dimmly lit... a sublte trickling of water...... works like a charm yeah this all works fine until she gets weirded out that all the fish are watching on.... c*ck blocked by a fish... it happens, believe me.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camtang Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 I would be watching if i was a fish as well :slfg: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
si_sphinx Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 I found people putting empty bottles into my tank once, floating them, and having bottle races with the power head pushing them in a circuit around the tank. It was kind of funny at the time because they were trying to not let me notice by distracting me. But they were stopped as soon as someone sank one. :sage: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#!CrunchBang Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 could go with a 760 x 380 x 380 only 100L :dunno: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 I would hold off getting a tank until you get a flat. If you are the main tenant then anyone moving in with you will have to do so on your terms. If you are moving into an existing flat, it will be up to the others if they want a tank in the place and whether or not the landlord is happy with it. You will need your own insurance because if anything happens like the tank breaking or mould on the carpets you will need to pay for the damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 And make sure drunken idiots do not think it amusing to pour alcohol into the tank :roll: :facepalm: I had someone do that with my tank. The fish beerly survived. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 its a good idea anyway to get your own insurance, just covers you if you do something, know a guy who burned down his first flat, the insurance company is still hitting him up for payment almost 20 years on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisP Posted September 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 I would hold off getting a tank until you get a flat. If you are the main tenant then anyone moving in with you will have to do so on your terms. If you are moving into an existing flat, it will be up to the others if they want a tank in the place and whether or not the landlord is happy with it. You will need your own insurance because if anything happens like the tank breaking or mould on the carpets you will need to pay for the damage. Flat lease has been signed for next year and flat mates are sorted too... You gotta be organised down here if you don't want a scummy flat. Landlord seems fine with a fish tank... as long as I don't get a pig as one of his tenants did one year. its a good idea anyway to get your own insurance, just covers you if you do something, know a guy who burned down his first flat, the insurance company is still hitting him up for payment almost 20 years on I THINK I am fully covered by my parents insurance too, but will definitely check that before we move in. could go with a 760 x 380 x 380 only 100L :dunno: I like this idea :thup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 I am 99% certain you will not be covered once you leave home. Check around insurance companies, some are pretty nit picky when its a group of individuals flatting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Posted September 18, 2012 Report Share Posted September 18, 2012 I've flatted with fish tanks before. If your flatmates aren't so happy about it thinking it's going to chew a lot of power, you're best to nip it in the bud early and get one of those really cheap (I've seen them for about $6 at Bunnings) digital power meters. Put your power unit cost into it and let it measure consumption for a week. In one of my previous flats, a 240L tank was consuming about $20 of power a month and the other flatmates agreed that it wasn't worth worrying about. If they're still worried, just offer to pay a little more. Just be careful that you don't take it too far and want to measure other things like computers or you'll end up in arguments about who is using more power. As for insurance, you will need your own. Contents insurance is a MUST have for anyone renting as it includes liability insurance. If you burn the house down, you don't have to pay for it 20 years later as previously mentioned in this thread. Plus you'll find that most policies will cover accidental damage to the property. This was a life saver for me after the Chch Feb earthquake, otherwise I would have had to pay many thousands to replace floor boards and carpet that were damaged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisP Posted September 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2012 I'm pretty certain I am still covered as I have asked parents if moving out has affected insurance and they said no. Also bank/insurance representatives who have spoken to us about flatting also have said that I should still be insured by the parentals. I will certainly check though. a 240L tank was consuming about $20 of power a month That's more than I thought! My Nano costs somewhere in the region of $20 a year! (If I did my maths correctly) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted September 19, 2012 Report Share Posted September 19, 2012 I'm pretty certain I am still covered as I have asked parents if moving out has affected insurance and they said no. Also bank/insurance representatives who have spoken to us about flatting also have said that I should still be insured by the parentals. I will certainly check though. That's more than I thought! My Nano costs somewhere in the region of $20 a year! (If I did my maths correctly) If you have no heating, and little filtration or lighting that might be. That's averaging about 9 watts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Posted September 19, 2012 Report Share Posted September 19, 2012 Depends what insurance they're talking about. Medical you are probably covered, but I'd be really suprised if it also covers contents and more importantly, liability. Contents cover requires the insurance company knowing details about the house and occupants, as well value of goods. These details won't be on your parents policy. If by some miracle they didn't need to know these, I'm sure that would just give them really easy loopholes to get out of paying out on a claim. As for your power usage, if your nano was only 20L then $20 / year would be about right on scale. But it all depends on heating, lighting, pumps running, temperature of the room it is in etc. This was also a few years ago now and power prices have gone up a lot since then. Those digital power meters are great if you want to know what it really costs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted September 19, 2012 Report Share Posted September 19, 2012 You're likely to be covered by your parents policy in your first year of uni while you're in a hall of residence if they have top notch insurance, but won't be covered in a flat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisP Posted September 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2012 Those digital power meters are great if you want to know what it really costs. Do I WANT to know what it really costs??? :lol: You're likely to be covered by your parents policy in your first year of uni while you're in a hall of residence if they have top notch insurance, but won't be covered in a flat. Hmmmm. I should start budgeting for insurance costs too... :roll: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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