Choosing A Fresh Water Fish Tank

Setting up a fresh water fish tank is not difficult at all if you're willing to follow a few simple guidelines. For the best chance of success, it is important to plan ahead before you begin.

When purchasing a fresh water fish tank, probably the most important thing to consider is what size to get. A common mistake among beginners is to get one too small. A small tank limits both the number of fish you can have it it as well as the size of the fish. A size of 22 gallons should be the smallest size that you consider. But if you can afford it, and have room for it, you should opt for a larger one.

Are Your Arms Too Short For The Tank?

The second thing that you should look at is the depth of the aquarium. If you are the one that will be servicing the tank and caring for the fish, you want to choose a fresh water fish tank that is not so deep that you can't reach the bottom. For example, if your arm is 25 inches long and you buy a tank that is 28 inches deep, you're going to find it very discomforting to properly do all the necessary things to service it.

How Wide Should A Fresh Water Fish Tank Be?

Getting enough oxygen is important to the health of your fish. And the larger the surface area of your tank, the greater the amount of oxygen it's able to absorb. With this in mind, a tank size of 40 inches wide by 20 inches deep by 20 inches high is a good size for your tank. This gives you a surface area of 800 square inches (40 x 20) which can be used to absorb oxygen.

Fresh Water Fish Tank Necessities

You absolutely need a filter. There are several kinds so, if in doubt and the sales people are knowledgeable, ask for their advice on which one you should get with your tank. Along with the filter, you will also need an air pump to aerate the water. And, you might want to consider live plants to help with the aeration as well.

Proper illumination is important as well - for both you and the fish. For you, it makes viewing that much more enjoyable and for the fish, it's important for their health. For convenience, choose a fresh water fish tank that allows for standard sized lighting fixtures.

From an aesthetic standpoint, you may also want to choose gravel for the tank bottom. There are many different kinds of gravel to choose from. Let your personal preferences be your guide. Be wary, however,  of using gravel from the streets. Make sure to clean the gravel or pebbles well before putting them in the freshwater aquarium since they might contain chemicals or dust that can interfere with your fish's health.

Tropical Fish Index
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