Hello Bazza2000 - Please Introduce Yourself!

Welcome to TF @Bazza2000!

Great to have you here!

Welcome, @Bazza2000 

Thanks for all the friendly welcomes!!!

Very new to fish, although been doing a lot of reading on the forum about the do's and don't etc.

This all started a few months back when the kids were pestering for a fish for birthdays, I resisted for a few months but eventually decided to visit our local shop to get the low down.  My initial view was a small bowl with a couple of fish, nice and easy like you see everywhere.  However, the more I've read the more I see this is a terrible way to keep them ultimately results in an early trip to fish heaven and a couple of unhappy kids.
So, after more reasearch, I've punted for the following Emotions Pro 80 (Sorry can't post external links)

Aquarium dimensions (LxWxH)   81.2 x 40.2 x 56 cm
Useful Volume   142 L


I've ordered gravel a novelty sunken wreck and a couple of smiling crocodiles and star fish (kids choice) and now I'm debating the fish or fishless cycle.  I'll be honest, I don't think the kids could hold out for 6 weeks for the fishless cycle so I'm trying to work out the most humane way of doing a fish cycle with maybe just a couple of tougher fish and rigorous daily testing and water change schedule (Using an API freshwater test kit)

My thinking is if I keep only a couple and with the size of the tank I can hopefully keep the suffering down to a minimum and then hopefully get through the cycle and after a couple of months start adding a couple more every few weeks.

I've only taken delivery of the tank on Wednesday and its all build and ready for a quick clean before water treatment and away we go.  I'm looking to setup next weekend as I'm away for a few days this week, but looking to run for at least 1 week to ensure filter, heater etc are all working, then start with the Fluval cycle biological enhancer for a few days and then add a couple of fish the week after.

Apologies if I've gone on as this was meant to be just a introduction, but once I started, didn't know when to stop.

Any advice on my approach and plan would be most welcome, also recommendations for the 2 starter fish and also future fish as I want to create a community tank with a few nice coloured but easy to look after starter fish that can all get along.

Thanks

Bazza.

Glad to heat that you've decided not to go with a fish bowl. 
As for the tank you have bought, that range has had excellent reviews in Practical Fish Keeping magazine. Great quality, lots of usable space, value for money. Sounds like you made a very good choice.
Another way to speed up the tank cycling is to seed it with mature media from another tank. Do you know someone who already has a mature tank? If not, we have a few people here on the forum who are happy to send people mature media from our own tanks to help with cycling. Have a look at this section for info on who can provide mature media (I'm one of them), seeding a filter, and fish in cycling.
https://forums.thinkfish.co.uk/fishtank-filtration-and-cycling/
I understand the need to get fish quickly if you have excited kids in the house (I get just as excited about possibly getting some more fish), and I can only say that mature media in your tank will make a massive difference to a fish-in cycle, both to the speed of the cycle and the health of the fish. It's not uncommon to cycle a tank with mature media in around a week or so. 
As for fish choices, what sort of water to you have in your area? Check for water hardness on your water providers website. If you can let us know the figure in degrees German, ppm, or just post the link to the information, and we can go from there to suggest fish suitable for your water.

Exciting times. 

Glad to heat that you've decided not to go with a fish bowl. 
As for the tank you have bought, that range has had excellent reviews in Practical Fish Keeping magazine. Great quality, lots of usable space, value for money. Sounds like you made a very good choice.
Another way to speed up the tank cycling is to seed it with mature media from another tank. Do you know someone who already has a mature tank? If not, we have a few people here on the forum who are happy to send people mature media from our own tanks to help with cycling. Have a look at this section for info on who can provide mature media (I'm one of them), seeding a filter, and fish in cycling.
https://forums.thinkfish.co.uk/fishtank-filtration-and-cycling/
I understand the need to get fish quickly if you have excited kids in the house (I get just as excited about possibly getting some more fish), and I can only say that mature media in your tank will make a massive difference to a fish-in cycle, both to the speed of the cycle and the health of the fish. It's not uncommon to cycle a tank with mature media in around a week or so. 
As for fish choices, what sort of water to you have in your area? Check for water hardness on your water providers website. If you can let us know the figure in degrees German, ppm, or just post the link to the information, and we can go from there to suggest fish suitable for your water.

Exciting times. 

Can't thank everyone enough for the advice, was kind of lost before I posted, but feeling a whole lot better and more confident now.

Really appreciate the advice you've given on my new tank and fish cycle.  Could I ask, do you have an mature media you could send me?  I'm in Liverpool, so not something I could pick up.  I plan on setting up my tank next weekend and then leaving for a week and the mature media sounds like it would be ideal.

Happy to re-imburse you for your troubles, new sponge filter + anything else etc and also postage if that will help,

In relation to water hardness, I can't post external links but the summary from United Utilities is as folllows:

Analysis   Typical value   UK/EU limit   Units
Hardness Level   Mod. Soft      
Hardness Clarke   6.09      Clarke
Aluminium   <8.17   200   µg Al/l
Calcium   28.3      mg Ca/l
Residual chlorine - Total   0.53      mg/l
Residual chlorine - Free   0.40      mg/l
Coliform bacteria   0   0   number/100ml
Colour   <1.14   20   mg/l Pt/Co scale
Conductivity   256   2500   uS/cm at 20oC
Copper   0.0373   2   mg Cu/l
E.coli   0   0   number/100ml
Iron   15.0   200   µg Fe/l
Lead   <0.281   10   µg Pb/l
Magnesium   4.01      mg Mg/l
Manganese   <0.647   50   µg Mn/l
Nitrate   9.05   50   mg NO3/l
Sodium   20.8   200   mg Na/l

Hope this helps in identifying the type of water we have in our area,

Thanks.

I have posted mature media to others previously, and am happy to do so again.
What sort of filter to you have? We can work out whether sponge, ceramic, or both would be suitable to send.

Welcome to the forum Bazza... 

hiya bazza, I'm a 6mths newbie too, and can completely recommend the advice these guys provide. Welcome

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