Choosing Your First Tropical Fish Tank – Aquariums for Beginners
Many people start out in fish keeping with a goldfish bowl and then progress to a small fish tank full of cold-water fish, before moving on to keeping tropical and even marine fish.
There is a daunting array of tropical fish tanks to choose from for the beginner aquarist. Many people decide to start with a very small tank. This is not always the best proposition, however, as a small tank requires constant maintenance to keep the water in good condition and is easily overstocked. Therefore, consider a tank that is at least 60 centimetres long by 30 centimetres wide.
There are many tropical fish tanks available including rectangular, round, curved, corner and wall tanks. They also come in glass and plastic and often come with a cabinet or stand. Therefore, there should be one to suit any room you intend to place it in. I would recommend glass as it is better quality and won’t scratch like plastic can.
It is a good idea to by a complete kit that comes with all the electrical equipment that you need to set up the aquarium. Many suppliers offer a fish tank with heater, filter, pump and lighting included.
Your tropical fish tank should be positioned in a calm place away from too much human movement, away from draughts and sources of heat such as radiators and windows. It is also recommended to place it on a special fish tank stand or a sturdy piece of furniture and of course it needs to be near an electrical socket for powering the equipment.
Once you have your aquarium you can place an attractive substrate such as gravel on the bottom, place any plants or ornaments in the tank and then fill it with water. Tap water is fine but it may need a water treatment or chemicals to ensure it is of the required ph and nitrate levels before adding fish. This can be tested using a water test kit.
It is imperative to wait 2-3 weeks after filling your fish tank to make sure the water has cycled and is safe for the fish. This gives time for the aquarium filters to build up the necessary bacteria to keep the water in good condition. You can also make sure the heater and other equipment is working well
As a guide approximately 1 inch of fish can be kept for each gallon of water in a tropical fish tank. The quantity should be calculated using the maximum size the fish are known to grow to. Introduce a few fish at a time and err on the conservative side of the maximum number calculation as over stocking can be a major cause of problems in a fish tank.
About the Author
I run www.tropical-fish-tanks.co.uk an informative hobby website aimed at the beginner and experienced aquarist. It includes information on purchasing and maintaining all types of aquarium.
Click the links for more information:
Tropical Fish Tanks for Beginners
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Milwaukee Instruments PH600AQ Ph Tester With 1 Point Manual Calibration $16.99 The Milwaukee Instruments pH Pen, PH600 is an easy to use pH meter. It features +- 0.2 Accuracy, one-point calibration and a long battery life (hours of continuous use). Calibration solution not included…. |
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Digital PH Meter Tester for Aquarium, Fishing Industry, Swimming Pool, School Laboratory, Food and Beverage $7.11 This digital pen style pH meter is an ideal instrument for aquarium, fishing industry, swimming pool, school laboratory, beverage etc.Features: Weight: 65gSize: 15 x 3 x 1.5 cmMeter with protective plastic case and calibration screwdriverExcellent meter, very accurate and durableMeasuring pH Range: 0.0 – 14.0 pH Resolution: 0.1 pHAccuracy: ±0.1 pH (20°C), ±0.2 pHOperating Temperature: 0 – 50°C… |
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TDS Water Tester for Reverse Osmosis, Aquarium and Science Projects $29.99 This is a professional quality TDS meter with an extra large measurement range, ideal for reverse osmosis, aquariums, hydroponics and general water quality testing. The large measurement range allows you to measure the concentration of fertilizers and water conditioners and makes this an important tool for every hydroponics grower. Optimum fertilizer conditions will allow for better plant growth a… |
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Digital pH Meter Tester Pen Style 0-14 Hydroponic Aquarium $7.64 Description: This digital pen style pH meter is an ideal instrument for aquarium, fishing industry, swimming pool, school laboratory & beverage etc. Features: Weight: 65g.Size: 15 x 3 x 1.5 cm. Meter with protective plastic case and calibration screwdriver. Excellent meter, very accurate and durable.Measuring pH Range: 0.0 – 14.0 pH. Resolution: 0.1 pH. Accuracy: ¡À0.1 pH (20¡ãC), ¡À0.2 pH. … |
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Aquarium Supply Buyers Guide – Best Practices for Keeping Fish Revealed $2.99 Many people think that Fish are easy to take care of, but the truth is, maintaining an aquarium needs to have great amount of dedication and hard-work. Aquarium Supply Buyers Guide lets you get to know more about aquarium maintenance as it gives information about what type and size of aquarium to choose and what to place inside the tank. This book provides you with knowledge on some of aquarium’s … |
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Marine Aquarium Keeping: The Science, Animals and Art $13.65 The Science of setting up an aquarium; sea water, size, subgravel, testing, troubleshooting, algae, filters, animal selection… |
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CO2 Adjustable Flow Pressure Regulator $94.99 The first step to a beautiful planted tank is good lighting. The second is providing the proper amount of CO2 for your plants to utilize. Attach this CO2 Pressure Regulator to your own tank of CO2 and you can read the exact pressure and output of CO2 into your tank. Professional construction includes solenoid diaphragm valve with 1.5 meter power cable and bubble counter including micro adjustment … |
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