Your Aquarium Fish Resource

You have arrived at the right place for obtaining all of the information you will need for starting and keeping your fish tank, knowledge really is the key to having an amazing aquarium.

Starting and caring for aquariums really doesn’t need to take a lot of time and money if you start your aquarium right. Although, it definitely can take a lot of time if you have a lot of problems and cost you a lot if you go big.  Craigslist is a great place to get great used equipment.  There are a few types of aquariums you can start: freshwater, brackish, or saltwater. Here we focus on freshwater fish tanks, and are recommended if you are a beginner.

One of the first decisions you will need to make is to decide whether you would like to keep a tropical fish or a cold water fish aquarium. Once this is decided you will want to determine the fish community type and choose fish that will live in your aquarium well together. You can start with community fish that are not aggressive, or you can get more adventurous and start a tank with more aggressive tropical fish such as cichlids. Cichlids are a favorite of mine. I would recommend a community tank, but most importantly it is good to start with hardy fish.

You will also want to determine the space you have available for a fish tank. You will want to put your fish aquarium in an area where the temperature is fairly stable (e.g. Not next to a window). The size of your aquarium will determine how large or how small the investment you will make, so take that into consideration. Also, keep in mind that if you buy an aquarium that is too small to begin with, you may upgrade soon thereafter. You can get a lot of the equipment used at an inexpensive price. In my experience, a little bigger tank is easier in the long run, but a little more costly.  If you can, start with a 35 to 55 gallon fish tank.  A 55 gallon tank is a decent sized tank, so maybe start with a 35 gallon or slightly smaller aquarium.

Next, you will need an adequate filtration system.  There are many types of filter systems, I prefer the sealed canister systems that sit below the fish tank in an aquarium stand.  Much of the equipment you need will come with an aquarium kit if you go that route, which is not a bad idea.

Soon after your fish tank is set up and has been running for a day or two, you can add fish.  Do not put too many fish in your aquarium.  This is probably one of the top mistakes beginner aquarists make.  Check out the other articles on here for more detailed information.  Further, join my free mini-course that will deliver insightful information about the freshwater aquarium hobby throughout the week.

Lastly, this fish auqarium resource will continue to grow, so come back and visit.  Cheers.