Getting Started With Aquariums

The everyday maintenance of an aquarium is relatively easy and does not require much time or money. You can even set up an aquarium for the first time without spending a lot of cash, as long as you don’t get too crazy in the beginning and are willing to add to your system as time goes by.

To set up an aquarium you only need to follow a handful of very simple instructions.  The key to getting it right is obtaining knowledge and coming here was a good start.  A good aquarium book and the Internet can provide you with all the information that you are going to need.  A little bit of studying will help you gain the knowlegde and confidence that you need to be a complete success in this hobby.  If you do your homework you will achieve complete success in your aquatic dreams.

A good place to gain knowledge is from the various online discussion boards and forums available.  There are almost always numerous people that are more than happy to help you get started and solve any problems you may come across.  Simply type “Aquarium Forum” or “Aquarium Discussion Board” into any search engine and many will pop up.  My personal favorite is AquariumForum.com. They are the definition of community and provide a friendly, helpful environment. There are bigger forums out there, but I don’t believe there are any better ones. (If you sign up be sure to tell them “roc-aquarium” sent you!)

The first question you are going to need to answer is “what type of aquarium do you want?”  There are three basic types of aquariums.  A freshwater, saltwater or brackish water system.  The equipment needed and fish and plants available for each system is significantly different.  I will try to provide an overview of each type and discuss what is involved with each one.

Freshwater Systems

The freshwater system is the most popular aquarium type.  It is considered the best for the beginning aquatic hobbyist for the following reasons:

• -The freshwater system is the least expensive to set up and maintain.


• -Freshwater fish are usually cheaper and more readily available than saltwater or brackish fish.


• -Freshwater fish are typically hardier and easier to care for than saltwater or brackish fish.


• -Many freshwater fish will easily breed in the home aquarium.  This allows another level of enjoyment for many people as well as an opportunity to sell some of your offspring to recoup some of your investment in the hobby.


• -More freshwater fish than saltwater fish can be kept in a given space.

Freshwater systems can be further broken down into tropical systems or coldwater systems.  The main difference between the two is the temperature in which the aquarium is kept.  The majority of fish that you find at the local pet store will be tropical freshwater fish.  Except for goldfish most coldwater species are difficult to find.  Because of these reasons you will have the greatest number of options if you decide on a tropical freshwater system.  Please be advised that unless you live in a consistently warm environment you will need a heater to maintain proper water temperatures for your tropical fish.

Information on Saltwater and Brackish systems will follow in a later post.

12 Tips For Aquarium Beginners

1: Buy the largest tank you can afford and have space for. Preferably 20 gallons (90 litre) or more. Even though small tanks are marketed as “Ideal for a beginner” they are not.  A larger tank will maintain temperature and water conditions better.

2: Wash your filters in tank water, not tap water. Tap water contains chlorine that will kill beneficial bacteria.

3: Make frequent partial water changes. At a minimum, 25% per month should be changed.  It is better to change less water, more frequently. 10-15% per week is ideal.

4: Do not overfeed your fish. The uneaten food will break down and foul your aquarium water.  The food that is eaten will be excreted by the fish and foul your aquarium water.  Fish should eat small amounts 2-3 times per day. As a rough estimate, a fish’s total daily intake should be equal to about the size of their eye.

5: Research your fish before buying. Make sure they are compatable in terms of water conditions and aggressiveness.

6: Observe your fish before buying them. Make sure there are no obvious signs of illness or injury and that they swim freely and effortlessly. There should be no dead, dying or sick fish in the fish stores tanks.

7: Release new fish into the tank gradually. Float the bag of fish in the tank for 15-20 minutes to equalize water temperature. Do not add the fish stores water to your tank.  Drain the bag into a bucket, through a fishnet and allow the fish to swim out of the net into the tank.

8: If possible, use a quarantine tank for your new fish. This will help ensure that your are not introducing disease to your tank.

9: Understand the cycling process and new tank syndrome.

10: Add additional fish to your tank slowly, over time, to ensure that the beneficial bacteria in the tank has time to build and keep up with the tanks rising ammonia loads.

11: Do not overstock! 1″ of fish per gallon is generally used as a guideline, but this must be used with common sense. You simply can not put a 20 inch fish in a 20 gallon tank.

12: Avoid using chemical additives if possible. They have different effects on different fish. Combining chemicals in the tank can lead to new, unintended chemicals occuring in the aquarium.

The most important rule…If you have questions or need help, ask.

With just a little planning, you too can have a gorgeous aquarium.