An aquarium full of brightly-colored fish can definitely liven up a room. But it's important to remember that those fish are pets, not decorations, and they need a healthy environment to live in. For pet fish, that's the aquarium, and choosing the right aquarium is essential to making sure that your fish survive and thrive. It's an important purchase, and it's also an expensive one, so it's important to get it right.
Choose a store where the staff members are knowledgeable about fish and their needs – stores that specialize in fish are often a better choice than general pet stores or big box stores – and make sure to ask plenty of questions. Take a look at some of the most important questions for aquarium beginners to ask.
1. How Much Space Will My Fish Need?
Different types of fish have different space needs, and buying a tank that's too small can be dangerous for your fish. Angelfish need more space than goldfish, for example. Make sure that you know what kind of fish you're going to get and plan accordingly.
It's usually best to get a tank that's larger than you strictly need, rather than just the minimum size recommended for your fish. That way, you will be able to add more later if you choose to. Besides, while a larger tank will cost more, it will also be easier to maintain. Waste builds up in a fish tank and becomes toxic to the fish, and the smaller the tank, the more quickly the water will become toxic. When you have a small aquarium, you'll need to be meticulous and precise about maintaining it in order to keep your fish alive. You can't neglect a larger tank, but a larger tank will leave some room for error.
2. What Components Does This Aquarium Need?
You can't just toss your fish into an aquarium full of water and call it good. Your aquarium will need a filter and a heater, lighting, an air pump, and water conditioner. You'll also need a net to clean it and a thermometer to check the water temperature. And like the aquarium itself, these items come in different sizes and features; and you need to make sure that your components fit the aquarium. A filter that doesn't fit won't do much to protect your fish, for example.
Depending on where you shop, you may find aquarium kits that come with all of these additional components for one price. This may look like an easy way to get everything you need with minimal hassle, but be careful. There are some good kits out there, but there are also some that come with low-quality components that fail or don't work as well as they should, and it can be hard for a beginner to identify which kits are high-quality and which are low-quality. Get a recommendation from someone who is experienced in caring for fish, or just buy the aquariums and other equipment separately so that you can look at each individual item.
3. How Heavy Is This Going to Be?
Of course, you know that an aquarium is going to be heavier when it's full than when it's empty, but it can sometimes be difficult for someone who has never had an aquarium before to picture just how heavy a filled aquarium is going to be. Don't worry, though – your salesperson should be able to tell you how heavy a tank in the size you picked out will be when it's all said and done.
This is important information to have because you'll need to figure out where you're going to put the aquarium when you get it home. A filled aquarium over a certain weight should be placed on a stand designed to support its weight – not just a table. And a tank that requires a stand may be smaller than you think – even a 15-gallon tank is 170 lbs. when filled. Also, keep in mind that once filled, a tank is going to be very difficult to move, so it's important that you have a space where it can stay long-term.
Keeping fish is trickier than many first-time aquarium buyers think. Don't be afraid to do your research and ask lots of questions before settling on a first aquarium. For more information and tips, contact a company like Neptune's Tropical Fish today.
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