| The basics for successfuly fish keeping can be | | | | such a tight population density. |
| summarized as follows: | | | | Types of fish - Freshwater fish are typically |
| Research your pet fish environment to facilitate | | | | easier for children and busier adults to keep as |
| duplicating it within your fish tank. Locate your fish | | | | they are more tolerant of fluctuations in their |
| tank in a consistent environment, while still | | | | environment and able to withstand longer periods |
| enjoying your fish. Population density is crucial to a | | | | between water changes. However, saltwater fish |
| happy fish tank, even more so than fish species. | | | | can be just as easy to keep if you choose your |
| Temperament of fish species within the aquarium | | | | fish and configure your equipment carefully. Fish |
| population shouldn't be mixed. Aquarium equipment | | | | temperament, size, and space requirements, must |
| selection, fish tank size, and aquarium supplies. | | | | be taken into consideration. Beta fish (a.k.a. |
| Research first - You should spend the majority of | | | | Siamese fighting fish) won't tolerate most other |
| your time researching your aquarium fish tank | | | | fish at all, while Oscars, Discus, and Cichlids, while |
| environment prior to making any purchase; Do | | | | aggressive, will tolerate other aquarium fish, |
| you want freshwater fish, or saltwater fish, a | | | | although they will harass, or eat, smaller fish |
| few big fish, or smaller plenty of fish? Are the | | | | species in dense aquarium populations. Try not to |
| fish you want to keep mostly passive or | | | | mix fish temperaments within your aquarium to |
| aggressive? The answers to these questions will | | | | minimize fish stress. |
| dictate the size and type of aquarium equipment, | | | | Aquarium equipment - Finally the question of what |
| and the fish tank supplies you need. | | | | aquarium supplies to get; what size aquarium |
| Location - The first thing you should consider in | | | | should I get? Most beginners should start out with, |
| your research is the placement of the fish tank in | | | | at least, a 55 gallon, to 75 gallon fish tank for |
| your home. You want to keep it out of direct | | | | saltwater fish, or a 20 gallon to 30 gallon fish tank |
| sunlight, and away from air conditioning and heater | | | | for freshwater, or tropical fish. The volume of |
| vents, but not out of sight. You want to be able | | | | water in the aquarium lends to stability of the |
| to enjoy your Clown fish, Guppy fish, Angel fish, | | | | aquatic environment; the bigger the fish tank, the |
| Gold fish, or Puffer fish, while keeping the tank at | | | | more stable the water temperature and water |
| a consistent temperature, and not encouraging | | | | quality. For beginners, and experts alike, I |
| the growth of algae, which will rob the water of | | | | recommend aquarium kits, as these usually consist |
| oxygen and stress your pet fish. | | | | of aquarium filters, pumps, and other compatible |
| How many fish - The general rule of thumb is: "1 | | | | equipment that has been pre-configured by the |
| inch of fish per gallon of fish tank". Therefore 10 | | | | distributors for optimal performance, for most |
| fish of 2 inch size should be fine in a 20 gallon | | | | typical situations. You will also need a Water |
| aquarium. However, this rule is often misused, in | | | | Chemistry kit, water conditioners, and heater, and |
| that this rule refers to the adult size of fish, not | | | | or chiller, depending upon your location and typical |
| the size of the fish at the time of acquisition as | | | | ambient temperature within your home. |
| they are ususally younger and smaller then. For | | | | This is not a comprehensive discussion, but it |
| instance, if you get a 2 inch Cichlid it could grow | | | | does cover the things most often overlooked by |
| to 7 inches, or more, in 2 years time. In my | | | | beginners. If more hobbyists would follow these |
| opinion, this rule should be "1 inch of adult size fish | | | | basic guidelines in the setup of their fish tanks, |
| per 2 gallons of fish tank" for beginners. In my | | | | they would spend more time enjoying their pet |
| opinion this rule should only be used for passive | | | | fish rather than struggling with algae, fish disease, |
| fish, as aggressive fish typically won't tolerate | | | | and replacing dead fish. |