Congratulations on your decision to buy an aquarium, you will get immense pleasure from your well equipped aquarium. There are a few things to think about before jumping in and buying the first one you see. I’d like to share some tips on choosing the right home for your fish, what to look for, and what features it should have.
As you are aware, there are many types of fish available for you to choose from so you will need to provide the correct type of aquarium. The most important decision is whether you are going to have cold water fish or warm water tropical fish. Will they be fresh water or salt water? Personally, I have found that fresh water fish are easier to maintain.
Our next step is to measure the area where you will keep the aquarium then write this down for easy reference. If you have small children, make sure the aquarium is out of their reach, you don’t want them climbing on it or pulling it over and hurting themselves. Having it up higher also allows better access for feeding and cleaning.
Your aquarium will need easy access to either one, or several power points for connecting the accessories such as a light, filter and heater.
Aquariums come in all shapes and sizes. You also have the option of aquariums that double as pieces of furniture, like a coffee table. You can buy complete sets that have everything included or you can start with a basic aquarium and add accessories later.
If finances are currently limited, then starting basic is the way to go. Buy the best aquarium you can afford now, then just add accessories as you can, maybe one a week or one a month.
One of the best things I enjoyed about owning an aquarium is, just sitting back with some gentle music playing in the background and watching the fish swimming effortlessly around. It is a very relaxing past-time. I started my first aquarium with good ole gold fish as they didn’t seem too difficult to look after. Gold fish are inexpensive to buy and come in a variety of shapes and colours.
My next aquarium was designed for tropical fish, these were my favourite and to this day, I can sit and watch these fish for hours. I’m amazed at their beautiful colours with patterns and contrasts so defined and clear it’s like watching a kaleidoscope. So I highly recommend a tropical fish aquarium.
Okay, back to your aquarium. The aquarium should be large enough to house the number of fish you are planning on having, also remember that if you purchase young fish, they will need room to grow.
As you will need to clean the tank occasionally, look for one that makes this task easier by having a large opening at the top, as I have seen some that are completely enclosed except for a small access hatch on the top.
Make sure you have the measurements of your preferred area with you when starting your search as this will save time and frustration. Now if you are in a position to purchase a complete set up, this would be the way to go as the accessories that come included have been chosen to suit that particular aquarium.
Now if you are looking at only the aquarium and maybe just the basic accessories, in addition to the aquarium, you will need a heater to maintain the water temperature, a filter to keep the water clear and an aerator to keep the water oxygenated. Later on you can purchase additional items such as a light, fresh plants, a background poster to change the view and ornaments.