How To Get Started And Choose The Right Aquarium For You

Many people think that keeping fish is fairly easy to do, and that all you need to do is buy a tank, fill it with water and place the fish in it. However, sadly there is a lot more to it than that and keeping fish can actually be quite hard, especially if you are planning to keep them in an aquarium.

Choosing the Right Aquarium

Generally the bigger the aquarium is the better! Regardless of what fish you are buying, it is cruel to keep fish in tiny spaces as they all love to swim around. Obviously the more fish you are planning to have in the tank, the bigger the aquarium will need to be. So choosing the type of fish you will be buying is the first step to choosing the right aquarium.

The amount of space you have also determines what size aquarium you can buy. If you live in a small apartment, a small aquarium is going to be more suited to you. However, if you live in a large house, a fairly large aquarium could easily fit into your home. So measure the size of the space your aquarium will fit into and bear in mind that you need to be able to get to it to clean it properly, so you need to have space for that too.

Setting Up Your Aquarium

There are various factors you need to keep in mind when setting up your aquarium. The first is:

* Never Put Fish Into The Aquarium on The First Day of Buying it



The water needs to be in the tank for at least 24 hours and the fish should be left in their bag (which they can breathe in); in the new water for at least a few hours before letting them roam free in it. This is because it takes their bodies a long time to adjust to the new temperature and the new water. This is a big mistake many first time fish keepers make and they do not give the fish enough time to adjust. This can lead to fatal consequences so it is always better to wait the required amount of time.

* Not All Fish Get Along

It is important to note that not all fish will get on. You really need to do your research and see which fish are compatible with each other. Siamese fighting fish is a classic example. If you keep two or more male fighting fish together, they are likely to fight to the death. However, you can keep up to six female fighting fish together without many problems. It s all about knowing who does and doesn t get along together.

If you do your research properly you will not end up being heartbroken with dead fish.


Overall, setting up an aquarium for the first time is hard work. It is impossible to do it properly without doing any research! Above are just a couple of pointers but you will need to do much more research before choosing and setting up your aquarium. It is worth the hassle though and fish can be extremely relaxing to watch. Just do your research!

By: Jon Kilminster -

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