If you’re thinking about keeping pets, and you’d rather not deal with the everyday problems of potty training, digging or barking, you may want to consider starting an aquarium instead. This can be a great project for the entire family, but before you’re ready to start adding fish to the water, there are several measures which need to be taken first to ensure you’re creating the perfect environment for your new finned friends.
Have you given any thought to the size of aquarium you want or the material it should be made from? Aquariums are available in many different sizes, shapes and materials, each with a different price and each serving a particular kind of fish. Larger aquariums, according to experts, are easier to maintain, so if you’re just starting out, an aquarium of 55 gallons or more would probably suit you best.
The filtration system for your new tank is the most vital piece of equipment you’ll ever have to buy with regard to this project. These filters serve not only to keep your tank clean and free of debris, but also as a way of providing your fish with water that resembles their natural habitat. For example, freshwater filters will operate much differently than saltwater filters, largely because these two environments are so vastly different. Check with the pet store owner or another experienced aquarist before taking this very important step.
If goldfish is all you plan to keep in your aquarium, then you won’t need a heater, but for all other types of fish you will. Generally, at least for tropical fish, the water temperature should be constantly maintained between 76 and 83 degrees, while some freshwater fish will need the water much colder. Most fish cannot survive when kept in water that has the improper temperature, so you’ll also need to buy a water thermometer to ensure the correct temperature is always maintained. If you don’t know the proper temperature, check with a pet shop owner.
So you still want to be an aquarium owner? That’s great, but keep in mind that owning tropical or freshwater fish requires much more than simply filling up a tank and dumping them in. Take the time to consistently make certain the filtration system is working properly and the water temperature is optimal and your fish-owning experience will go a whole lot smoother.