Contents
How to Choose a Tank
Required Accessories
How to Decorate Your Aquarium
How to Set Up Your Aquarium
Live Plants
How to Add Fish to the Aquarium
How to Keep Fish Healthy
Aquarium Maintenance
The Most Popular Freshwater Fish
Tropical Fish
Coldwater Fish
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- A rundown of the supplies you’ll need to set up and decorate your tank
- Ways to establish and maintain a healthy and safe underwater environment
- Advice on picking compatible fish and getting them settled in their new home
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How to Choose a Tank
A freshwater aquarium is an aquarium that contains fresh water (as opposed to salt water) and the plants and fish that thrive in that environment. The first step in starting a freshwater aquarium is choosing a tank. The size and shape of your tank will dictate the type and number of fish you can have and the supplies you’ll need.
Choosing an Aquarium Size
Aquarium sizes are measured according to how many gallons of water they hold. Tanks are described as small, medium, or large based on their capacity.
- Small: Less than 10 gallons
- Medium: 10–45 gallons
- Large: More than 45 gallons
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Size
- Space: Aquariums must be kept out of the sun and away from surfaces easily damaged by water. Before buying an aquarium, make sure its intended spot is big enough to accommodate it.
- Budget: The bigger the aquarium, the more it will cost to buy, set up, and maintain.
- Maintenance: It’s difficult to maintain constant water conditions in a small tank. Large tanks, however, take more time to clean.
Beginners should buy a medium-sized tank, ideally in the 15- to 30-gallon range. Tanks this size fit in most homes, are reasonably priced ($200–400), and are easiest to maintain.
Choosing an Aquarium Shape
Traditional aquariums are rectangular, but nowadays aquariums are sold in many additional shapes, from hexagonal to round. Aquariums that come in standard shapes are usually made of glass, while odd-shaped tanks are often made of acrylic, which can be molded more easily. In most cases, the shape (and material) of the tank will have no effect on your fish and will be mainly a matter of personal taste. Tanks that are taller than they are wide, called vertical tanks, are a key exception to this rule.
Vertical Tanks
If you have limited floorspace, a vertical tank may be your only option. But vertical tanks have one main drawback: they hold fewer fish than wide tanks. This limitation results not from the space constraints of vertical tanks but from their smaller surface area. To keep fish healthy, oxygen has to enter the tank, and carbon dioxide must escape. This gas exchange happens at the water’s surface. Since wide tanks allow more water to contact the air, they can hold more fish per gallon of water than vertical tanks can.
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