Choosing Your Aquarium
The general rule for the number of fish you can keep in a freshwater aquarium is one inch of fish to every square inch of surface area in your fish tank. Others say it is one inch of fish for every gallon. Either way, if you already know what types and quantities of fish you would like to keep in your aquarium, keep the number and their maximum size in mind when choosing your aquarium.
You will need to buy a hood for your aquarium so that fish can't jump out of your aquarium. (Yes, they can jump out of the water!) Most hoods contain a light, and if your doesn't, you will need to purchase a light. You should plan on making sure that your aquarium is lit about 10 hours a day for fish and plants to thrive.
Location
There are several things to keep in mind when choosing the location of your aquarium. Here are some tips:
Don't place an aquarium in front of a window or anywhere that gets direct sunlight. This can cause unwanted fluctuations in temperature, evaporation, and excessive algae growth.
Keep it away from moving objects. For example, a playroom for kids who play with balls or throw things around probably isn't a great location for obvious reasons.
You will need an outlet(s) close enough to your aquarium to be able to plug things in like the light, heater, and filter.
Make sure your aquarium is easily viewed. After all, it's the whole point in setting up an aquarium, right?
Heaters
You will need a heater to maintain the temperature in your aquarium. Most tropical freshwater fish need to be kept around 75 or 76 degrees Fahrenheit. However, this is not true for all species like koi or goldfish, so research the temperatures required by the fish you intend to purchase. Most heaters have adjustable thermostats. Find one that includes suction cups for ease of placing in the aquarium.
Gravel
Most aquariums should include 1 1/2 to 3 inches of gravel. Some fish prefer sand. Research what types of gravel the fish you intend to purchase prefer.
Showing posts with label Aquariums. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aquariums. Show all posts
Are Fish The Right Pet For You?
There are several things to think about before buying fish. Fish offer are a very aesthetically pleasing pet and can add to the decor of your home. They are relaxing to look at and are a fun pet for all ages. They are very simple to keep and maintain compared to other pets, but there is some work involved in maintaining your aquarium.
Fish generally also cost less than other pets. There are some up-front costs involved in setting up an aquarium like the tank, a stand for the tank, gravel, the filter, a tank heater, and any decorations you wish to add. Then there are the cost of your fish, which can range from under a dollar to over a hundred dollars per fish, depending on what you decide to buy. You will also need food, water chemicals, a siphon cleaner, and a bucket for cleaning and water changes.
Even though fish don't take as much time as other pets to care for you will still need to invest a certain amount of time into maintaining and caring for your fish. Regular water changes are needed, which I recommend doing weekly. You will need to feed your fish daily, which I recommend doing twice a day.
Keeping a fish tank can be very rewarding and fun. However, before you jump into the hobby you need to keep in mind that there will be cost and time commitments. Make sure you are willing to commit to these things before buying your aquarium.
Fish generally also cost less than other pets. There are some up-front costs involved in setting up an aquarium like the tank, a stand for the tank, gravel, the filter, a tank heater, and any decorations you wish to add. Then there are the cost of your fish, which can range from under a dollar to over a hundred dollars per fish, depending on what you decide to buy. You will also need food, water chemicals, a siphon cleaner, and a bucket for cleaning and water changes.
Even though fish don't take as much time as other pets to care for you will still need to invest a certain amount of time into maintaining and caring for your fish. Regular water changes are needed, which I recommend doing weekly. You will need to feed your fish daily, which I recommend doing twice a day.
Keeping a fish tank can be very rewarding and fun. However, before you jump into the hobby you need to keep in mind that there will be cost and time commitments. Make sure you are willing to commit to these things before buying your aquarium.
My Fish
I love freshwater fish! I've had fish since I was 6 years old. Fish make a great pet. There's no need to walk them outside in the heat or cold multiple times a day. They are so peaceful and relaxing to watch. I keep a tank in my room that I watch as I fall asleep at night.
One of my tank has six electric yellow cichlids and a breeding pair of plecos, one bristlenose and one albino veiltail bristlenose. Amazingly, the cichlids and plecos do not bother each other. I used to have a 200 gallon tank of various cichlids and it was my favorite tank I've ever had, but I downgraded when I moved and have not set up my big tank yet. The electric yellows are my favorite because of their bright colors.
Another tank I have contains about 200 neon tetra fry. I breed them for a local pet store and in return I get free equipment, food, fish, and supplies. I also breed the plecos mentioned above for the same reasons.
My final tank is a community tank with many different fish. My favorite is my hyfin shark. I also have a red tailed shark, three neon tetra, a dojo loach, a school of zebra danio, a royal pleco, zebra angelfish, fancy guppies, a blue gourami, some regular and albino veiltail bristlenose pleco fry, green fire tetra, and some assorted mollies and platies.
Fish make a wonderful pet and my blog will give tips on setting up and maintaining freshwater fish tanks, aquarium news, and freshwater fish profiles. Thanks for reading!
One of my tank has six electric yellow cichlids and a breeding pair of plecos, one bristlenose and one albino veiltail bristlenose. Amazingly, the cichlids and plecos do not bother each other. I used to have a 200 gallon tank of various cichlids and it was my favorite tank I've ever had, but I downgraded when I moved and have not set up my big tank yet. The electric yellows are my favorite because of their bright colors.
Another tank I have contains about 200 neon tetra fry. I breed them for a local pet store and in return I get free equipment, food, fish, and supplies. I also breed the plecos mentioned above for the same reasons.
My final tank is a community tank with many different fish. My favorite is my hyfin shark. I also have a red tailed shark, three neon tetra, a dojo loach, a school of zebra danio, a royal pleco, zebra angelfish, fancy guppies, a blue gourami, some regular and albino veiltail bristlenose pleco fry, green fire tetra, and some assorted mollies and platies.
Fish make a wonderful pet and my blog will give tips on setting up and maintaining freshwater fish tanks, aquarium news, and freshwater fish profiles. Thanks for reading!
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