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Starting an Aquarium: How to Choose a Tank, Select Fish, and Maintain a Healthy Habitat

© Maureen Fleury

Tropical fish tanks are different than goldfish bowls because the fish need warmer water and good filters. Maintaining an aquarium also allows owners to use special food blocks to feed fish during an absence.

Choosing and Preparing an Aquarium

Aquariums range from 2 ½ gallons up to 135 gallons. A 5- or 10-gallon tank is great for a beginner, and pet stores often sell kits that contain the tank, filter, heater, light and canopy.

Do not buy fish for at least 1 week—the water in the tank must first be conditioned. Fill the tank and set up the heater and filter. With a brand new aquarium, a buildup of bacteria in the filter is a good thing. The heater should be set to about 80º F. The dials on some heaters are hard to read, so a thermometer is a better way of tracking the temperature of your tank.

Choosing Fish for the Aquarium

For beginners, the best fish are livebearers, which are inexpensive and easy to keep. Livebearers are guppies, mollies, swordfish and platties; these fish can be mixed in the tank.

Angelfish are also nice, but should not be put in with aggressive fish. Do not mix African Cichlids with livebearers because they are aggressive and require a higher PH in their water. Discus should also not be in a mixed tank because they require a lower PH.

Feed fish once a day. Too much food will make the water in the tank go rotten.

Aquarium Maintenance

Over time, algae may form on the side of the aquarium— an algae brush will help with this. 

Every week, change about 1/3 or the tank water. Never empty all the water out of the tank because fish need bacteria to survive and a total water change will remove all bacteria. Depending on the type of filter in the aquarium, the filter sponge/material may need rinsing or replacing. Do not wash the filter with soap because it can kill the fish.

Here are a couple of recommended websites:
Beginning Fishkeeping
The Age of Aquariums

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