Fish keeping is one of the fastest growing hobbies in the world, possibly because it
is fun, interesting and relaxing and can bring a lot of beauty and pleasure into your home
with very little investment in terms of money or time. To make the most of your fish keeping hobby, a little preparation can be beneficial
If you have children, getting them involved in the planning for your first aquarium can
be a fun family activity. The first decision to make is where you would like to place your aquarium
You probably will want to locate it in an area where you can get the most enjoyment
out of it. For many people, this is a living room or dining room
Some people prefer to keep their aquarium in their bedroom, where they can doze off
watching their fish swim around in their tank. While your aquarium can go just about anywhere, some fish are sensitive to direct sunlight
and heat sources such as furnace vents or radiators, so try to choose a place away
from these. Planning for your first aquarium. Fish tanks come in every imaginable size
Where you choose to locate your aquarium will play a role in which one you choose
If this is your first fish tank, you might consider getting a smaller aquarium until
you get used to having fish. But I would advise buying the largest tank that you can afford because you will save
time, money and resources later on. Saltwater or freshwater. Fish live in nearly every body of water on the planet
Lakes, ponds, rivers, streams and other inland pools usually filled with freshwater
That means it has a much lower saline level than oceans or seas, which are saltwater
With some exceptions, fish that live in saltwater cannot survive in freshwater, and vice versa
So one of the first decisions to make is whether you want freshwater or saltwater aquarium
Which one you choose will determine the type of fish you can fill the tank with
There are many varieties of colorful fish in all sizes living in both fresh and salt water
But if there is a particular type of fish that you want to keep, such as the colorful
clownfish that lives only in salt water or the voracious meat-eating piranhas that live
only in freshwater, that may influence your decision. Fish tank accessories. If you are simply keeping the goldfish you want at the local carnival, you probably won't
need anything other than a fishbowl to keep this hardy fish alive and healthy for months
or even years. But if you are planning a more elaborate aquarium with many varieties of colorful, exotic fish
some additional equipment other than the fish tank itself usually is required
Unless you are planning on keeping your fish tank on a table or a cabinet you probably
will need a stand. These usually are made of wrought iron or some other weight-bearing material
Fish eat daily, so fish food is essential. The type you purchase will depend on what varieties of fish you are keeping
Your local pet supply dealer can direct you to the proper fish food for you
There are no toilets in aquariums, so fish will leave their waste right in the tank
That's why a filtration system is typically required. Tanks are often filled with finely ground charcoal and are placed at the bottom of the
tank beneath the rocks. The filtration system is usually operated by an air pump, which also provides the necessary
aeration fish required to stay alive. A heater is also usually required
Aquarium heaters typically have a built-in thermostat so that they can maintain the water
at a steady temperature. You probably also will want some plants and decorations for the tank
They make it look more attractive and also give the fish somewhere to play and hide
Fish tank maintenance fish need to be fed once or twice per day
So to stop the fish waste build-up depending on the efficiency of your filtration system
the water in a fish tank needs to be replaced anywhere from once every 7 to 14 days
The interior of walls of the tank also needs to be periodically cleaned with a cleanser
that is non-toxic to your fish. The exterior glass can be kept free of smudges using a household glass cleaner
The life expectancy of a fish varies between species, but typically fish can live anywhere
from a few months to a few years. It's important to check your tank daily for dead fish as these need to be removed and
disposed of immediately to prevent the water from becoming unhealthy for the remaining fish
It also will prevent the trauma for small children of seeing their fish floating dead
in the tank. Follow the recommended feeding guidelines that come with your fish food
Because overfeeding your fish can lead to the stomach ruptures and death
For more fish tank information visit www.whichfishtank.com