Starting an Aquarium

Fish and invertebrates are alive. The very first goal in The Aquarium Hobby is to keep them that way. It is true that fish need less attention then most pets but they will still need to be fed everyday or at least have food to eat everyday. Neglect for more then a few days will ultimately lead to the demise of your aquarium and inhabitants.

Once you have decided on what type of system you are going to use weather it be a freshwater aquarium,saltwater aquarium, planted aquarium, or brackish aquarium all of the systems will need a few of the same basic elements.

For all the aquarium setups you will need the following to get started:

• Fish identification book (this helps you give the fish individual attention)
• Glass or acrylic aquarium with stand
• Heater
• Substrate (sand or gravel)
• Filtration
• Decor
• Fish and Invertebrates
• Lighting

Fish identification book

Having a book to I.D. your fish is essential in giving the fish in your tank the individual attention they may need. Some fish have specific feeding needs or may need to have a school of fish to stay healthy. Read about the tank mates you wish to purchase to make sure you have the items and habitat they require.

Choosing an Aquarium

The two basic types of aquariums to choose from are Glass or Acrylic.

Glass aquariums are much easier to clean and harder to scratch. Acrylic aquariums are much lighter in weight then glass aquariums but can scratch if rocks fall onto it from the inside. Most glass aquariums have a slight green tint to them because of the plate glass used. You can buy a sapphire glass fish tank which is much more expensive but has no tint. Acrylic aquariums have no tint and are very clear.

You must also choose a stand for your aquarium. Choosing the right Aquarium Stand is very important becuase water filled aquariums are extremely heavy. Water weights about 8 pounds per gallon. A 20g fish tank can weigh as much as 200 pounds when filled with water and decor.

Aquariums come in many different sizes, shapes and viewing angles. Be sure to measure out where your fish tank will go while considering the viewing angles. Many aquariums come with a stand already built to the right shape, just make sure where you put the stand and aquarium that the floor can support it.

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