Getting Started

Here are some step-by-step tips for getting started.

These steps can help you to avoid many common mistakes and get you a fish tank that you can live with and be proud of.

Determine what kind of fish you want to keep.

The first thing you should do when you decide to keep fish is determine what kind of fish you want to keep. Different kinds of fish will require different care, different conditions, different space, and different equipment. If you get your equipment before you decide what kind of fish you are getting, you may find yourself with inappropriate or unusable equipment or insufficient space.

Research care and compatibility of those fish.

Your first purchase before anything else should be a book It is very important to learn about the fish you want to keep. This will let you know what conditions they will need, what equipment you will want, and how to set up your tank. When you research your fish, you can determine how big they will get and thereby determine the size of the tank you will need to keep them happy and healthy (1" of healthy mature fish per 4.5 Litres or 1 gallon of water for small fish, 1" of fish per 13.5 Litres or 3 gallons of water for large or messy fish, (Note more than that for marine fish). Also, this will give you a chance to learn if the various fish you have selected are compatible with each other. If different fish's care requirements, size, or temperament are too different, they will not be compatible and should not be kept together.

Determine space.

Now that you know a little more about the fish you wish to keep, you know how large of a tank you will need. Look through your home and select a location for your new aquarium. How much space can you allocate to the tank and accessories? Remember to account for space between the tank and the wall for filters, tubing, and/or cords.

Determine budget.

How much can you afford to spend on your aquarium? If this is your first tank, how much can you afford to spend on a new hobby that you are not sure you will be pursuing long term?

Select equipment.

Visit your local pet store or check out our links page for online stores and determine what equipment is available and how much it will cost. If you do not see something that you will need for your system, ask about placing a special order. See if you can get a price (or at least an approximation) before committing to an order.

Purchase equipment.

Once you have reevaluated your fish selections, space limitations, and budget, it is time to purchase equipment. If you need to special order anything, do so early, as it may take a considerable time to get equipment by special order.

Setup equipment.

Now that everything is home, clean it all off and get ready to go. Expect to spend a couple of hours setting everything up if this is your first tank. Fill your tank with water once all of your equipment is set up, and let it settle for a couple of days so you can make sure that everything is working properly and that nothing leaks.

Select starting fish.

During the first couple of days, while the tank is running without fish, you can go back to your list of fish and select a few starter fish. These fish should be hearty, inexpensive, relatively small, and something you want to keep in your tank in the long run. You only want to select 1" of fish per 45Litres or 10 gallons of water, but this time (and only this time) you can use the size the fish are when you get them to determine their impact. This is because your fish will not grow significantly in the 4-8 weeks it will take the tank to cycle.

Cycle your tank.

Over the next 4-8 weeks, you must be patient. Be very diligent with tank maintenance, be absolutely sure not to over feed, watch your fish's behavior closely, do extra water changes as necessary, and DON'T ADD ANY MORE FISH. Until your tank has finished cycling, you should only stick with your few select starter fish.

Maintain your tank.

Feed and observe your fish daily. Check your filters at least twice a week. Perform a 10-15% water change every week, and scrub for algae at the same time. Every month, check all hoses, fittings, clamps, cords, lights and other miscellaneous equipment. This may sound like a lot, but a couple of minutes a day could tell you months in advance of a disaster. Water changes usually take under 30 minutes for a tank, including checking all equipment and scrubbing for algae! Most people find their aquariums to take under 2 minutes a day to keep everything in good order.

Now you are ready to venture into the exciting world of fish keeping. Whether you just want to keep goldfish, or if you want to delve into the world of exotic tropical reefs, these steps will get you started on the right foot.