Advice For Buying Your First Aquarium
When starting a new fish tank, an important thing to consider is tank size. If your starting an aquarium for the first time a bigger tank is better. Starting with a bigger tank will save you a lot of trouble in the long run. Bigger fish tanks provide more room for the fish and error. With smaller fish tanks the pH is easier to maintain. Also once the tank is established the bigger fish tanks are easier to maintain. At least a twenty-gallon fish tank is suitable for a novice. Keep in mind the inch per gallon rule when buying fish. This rule insures that your fish have enough space in the tank and good to follow to avoid overcrowding. For every inch of fish there should be at least a gallon. If you have a twenty-gallon tank then you can have two ten inch fish, or five two inch fish, any combination of fish as long as the inches of fish do not exceed the gallons of water the fish tank holds.
There are many styles of tanks such as hexagonal, pentagonal, cylinders and even in the wall aquariums. The easiest to maintain is the rectangular style since the edges are minimal. If you have a bigger tank you may need more maintenance items such as filters, heaters and lights.
Filters are very important for a healthy tank, there are many types of filters and all get the same job done. Some common styles are: power filters, Bio wheel filters, internal filters, and under gravel filters. Power and bio wheel filters are probably the most efficient and easiest filters to maintain. They hang over the side into the tank and have cartridges that have to be changed about one a month. The under gravel filters have their benefits and drawbacks. They are an older style filter and are placed at the bottom of the tank under the gravel. They do not have cartridges that have to be changes monthly but can get gummed up and have to be taken completely out to clean. They also usually will not clean as well as a power or bio wheel filter but can be made at home and are cheaper.
Usually heaters are fairly the same, submersible heaters are the way to go. Usually it’s a good idea to have two heaters in the tank so that if one breaks you have another going so the fish have a temperature that they can survive in.
Lighting is important if you have live plants in your aquarium so they can flourish. Most lids for the tanks come with a standard fluorescent bulb, but brighter bulbs are advised for optimal lighting for aquarium plants.
Lastly, any decor and extra utilities like bubblers can be added for look and to help the fish have a happy and secure habitat. The more plants and rocks you have the better the fish will feel because they can hide if they wish.
Roshan Goodman writes articles with advice on buying a fish tank and also on starting fish tanks.
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