Questions to Ask Before Starting a Freshwater Fish Tank

When it comes to pets, there are a wide variety of options to choose from. Some people go for the more traditional options like cats and dogs while others choose a more unique pet like aquarium fish. Owning freshwater fish has a number of advantages over other pets. For instance, owning fish is perfect for people with allergies, people that live in large cities without backyards, people on the go, and so on. In addition to being easy to care for, freshwater fish are beautiful, graceful, and sometimes even comical. If you are interested in owning your own freshwater fish, this article will provide you with everything you need to know on setting your tank up correctly.

Questions to Ask Before You Begin

Before you go out and buy an aquarium, there are a few questions you need to ask yourself. These questions will help you to determine what type of tank is right for you, whether you can afford to keep aquarium fish, and what kind of fish you want to keep. A freshwater aquarium is a self-contained ecosystem that requires a delicate balance to be healthy. Achieving that balance takes time and patience – if you rush into it, you could end up putting your fish at risk for stress and disease. To avoid this, ask yourself the following questions before you buy:

1. Where will I put the tank?
2. Can I afford the cost of a fish tank and the necessary supplies?
3. Do I have time to perform the necessary maintenance?
4. What kind of tank do I want to keep?
5. What types of fish do I want to put in my aquarium?

1. Where will I put the tank?

The location where you place your fish tank is important for a number of reasons. First, you need to consider the equipment needed to run the tank - make sure you can find adequate room for it to fit behind and on the sides of the tank, but also make sure that you can gain access to it easily for maintenance. You also need to consider the proximity of the tank to windows and heating vents. If you place the tank in direct sunlight, you will not only have problems maintaining a stable water temperature, but you will also likely have problems with algae growth. Similarly, placing your tank too close to a heating or cooling vent could cause temperature problems.

Another thing you need to think about is finding a space that can handle any water spillage. For example, you would not want to place your fish tank on your new white carpet. Instead, tile, linoleum, or an inexpensive rug would be a better option. Finally, the fish tank should be in a location where it will enhance the room by creating a clear view for everyone to enjoy. Your tank should be in a somewhat central location where people can easily view it, but it shouldn’t be in such a high-traffic area that it might be at risk for being knocked over.

2. Can I afford the cost of a fish tank and the necessary supplies?

Keeping a pet is always more expensive that you think it will be–this is especially true for a freshwater aquarium because there is so much equipment that you have to buy at the beginning. In addition to buying the tank itself, you also have to fill it with substrate and decorations. Then, to keep your tank running smoothly, you need to install certain types of equipment, including a filtration system, a heater, and a lighting system. On top of all that, you need to add the cost of your fish, fish food, and tank maintenance supplies. Below is a list of the costs you will need to cover:

• The aquarium itself
• A tank stand or cabinet
• Substrate (i.e. gravel, sand, etc.)
• Tank decorations
• Filtration system
• Aquarium heater
• Lighting system (including fixtures and bulbs)
• Aquarium fish
• Fish food and supplements
• Tank maintenance supplies

In thinking about these costs you also need to consider the fact that the larger the tank is, the more expensive it will be. A larger aquarium requires a larger, more powerful filter as well as more substrate and decorations to fill it. You should not, however, base your decision regarding tank size on cost alone – maintaining a small tank is actually much more difficult than maintaining a larger tank. Take the time to read some FAQs about starting a freshwater aquarium for more information on this subject.

3. Do I have time to perform the necessary maintenance?

To own fish, you will need to dedicate time to keeping the tank clean. Although this does not involve an exorbitant amount of time, it is very important. If the water quality in your tank declines, your fish will become stressed and they will also become more susceptible to disease. Poor water quality in a freshwater tank can also encourage the growth of algae and pathogenic bacteria. On average, you should expect to spend about 10 to 15 minutes a day caring for your tank in addition to an extra 20 minutes per week for a partial water change. Once a month you will also need to set aside extra time to replace your filter media and to perform a larger 25% water change. Your daily maintenance tasks will include feeding your fish, observing your fish for signs of disease, and checking to make sure that all of your tank equipment is functioning properly.

4. What kind of tank do I want to keep?

Another question you need to ask yourself is what kind of freshwater tank you want to keep. There are several options to choose from: fish only, fish and invertebrates, planted tank, etc. A fish-only tank is exactly what it sounds like – a tank in which the only living inhabitants are fish. Another option is to keep both fish and invertebrates. Invertebrates like snails and shrimp can help to keep your tank clean by consuming the detritus that builds up in the substrate of the tank. The final option is a planted tank – a tank in which you have a large number of live aquarium plants. Fish-only tanks are the easiest to maintain and certain invertebrates are fairly low-maintenance as well. Cultivating a planted tank will require you to buy different substrate and lighting than a standard fish-only tank, so consider that when thinking about this option.

5. What types of fish do I want to put in my aquarium?

The final consideration you need to make involves the type of fish you want to keep in your tank. When buying fish for your tank, you should not just walk into the pet store and buy the first fish that catches your eye. Keep in mind that different fish have different environmental needs and not all species of fish are going to get along. Your local pet store can guide you to the types of fish that will do well in the same tank. As you will learn in another article, you also want to limit the number of fish you buy, especially in the beginning to allow time for the tank to cycle.

To help you determine the type and number of fish you can keep in your tank, consider the following:

A basic rule to follow for determining how many fish your tank can hold is the “one inch of fish per gallon” rule. This rule states that a freshwater aquarium can hold as many inches of fish as its gallon capacity. For example, a 20-gallon tank could hold 20 inches of fish. When making this calculation, you need to consider the adult size of the fish, not the size they are when you buy them (most pet stores sell juveniles rather than adult fish). You also need to keep in mind that this rule is a starting point, it is not set in stone. It doesn’t take into consideration the fact that some fish are more robust or full-bodied than others. For example, a goldfish has more mass than a gourami, even if they both measure the same length.

Another thing to consider is that you might want to start your tank off with smaller fish and gradually introduce your larger fish. While your tank is cycling it will not be able to accommodate a large biological load. For this reason, many aquarium hobbyists recommend starting off with a few slim-bodied fish. As your biological filtration system becomes established you can add larger species of fish to your tank. For more information about cycling your tank, visit the article on the nitrogen cycle.

In asking yourself the five questions discussed above you will be able to determine what type of tank it is that you want to cultivate. After answering these questions you will be ready to go to the pet store and pick out the exact tank, equipment, and supplies that you need.