Give Your Fish a Sporting Chance - Setting Up an Aquarium the Right Way
Jen Owens
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So you want to own a tropical freshwater fish. Chances are you've owned them before, a little fish in a bowl with some rocks at the bottom and a bright green plastic plant. You changed the water once a week because it got murky and "Bubbles" didn't look too pleased. A few flakes and you're set. 
Let me tell you, this is the worst way to take care of a fish.
First, let's dive into the not-so-fun part. Getting the tank and supplies.
Getting Supplies
Here's a list right off the bat of things you're going to need:
A tank, at least 10 gallons, with a hood and light.
A power filter.
Chemicals for the water.
A tank heater.
Gravel.
Some kind of decoration.
A siphon for cleaning.
An algae scrubbing pad.
There are optional things that'll make the tank look nicer, such as a stand, air pumps and stones and really anything decorative you think your fish will "like".
This is a moderately costly investment, but if taken care of, can be kept for a very long time.
A tank stand is a good idea, because larger tanks will weigh a lot. These stands are made to hold that weight and not buckle. Imagine THAT mess...
*A handy thing to remember: Water weighs 8 pounds per gallon. For instance, 10 gallons of water is 80 pounds. Factor gravel in and you can figure just how heavy a tank can be.
Deciding on the tank size is both a personal preference (how much room have you got to spare?) and contingent on how many fish you'd like to keep. Most all tanks come with a hood (a cover for the tank, think jumping fish) and a light.
*Another tip that'll make deciding how many fish and what types (by size, in this case) you keep is this: Tropical Freshwater Fish (not goldfish, which will be covered in another article) require an "inch of fish per gallon of water". For instance, with a 20-gallon tank, roughly 20 inches of fish should be safe. Allow for growth and, well... personal space. While 20 fish in a 20-gallon tank wouldn't throw too much out of whack, it may still be a bit crowded.
Let me tell you, this is the worst way to take care of a fish.
First, let's dive into the not-so-fun part. Getting the tank and supplies.
Getting Supplies
Here's a list right off the bat of things you're going to need:
A tank, at least 10 gallons, with a hood and light.
A power filter.
Chemicals for the water.
A tank heater.
Gravel.
Some kind of decoration.
A siphon for cleaning.
An algae scrubbing pad.
There are optional things that'll make the tank look nicer, such as a stand, air pumps and stones and really anything decorative you think your fish will "like".
This is a moderately costly investment, but if taken care of, can be kept for a very long time.
A tank stand is a good idea, because larger tanks will weigh a lot. These stands are made to hold that weight and not buckle. Imagine THAT mess...
*A handy thing to remember: Water weighs 8 pounds per gallon. For instance, 10 gallons of water is 80 pounds. Factor gravel in and you can figure just how heavy a tank can be.
Deciding on the tank size is both a personal preference (how much room have you got to spare?) and contingent on how many fish you'd like to keep. Most all tanks come with a hood (a cover for the tank, think jumping fish) and a light.
*Another tip that'll make deciding how many fish and what types (by size, in this case) you keep is this: Tropical Freshwater Fish (not goldfish, which will be covered in another article) require an "inch of fish per gallon of water". For instance, with a 20-gallon tank, roughly 20 inches of fish should be safe. Allow for growth and, well... personal space. While 20 fish in a 20-gallon tank wouldn't throw too much out of whack, it may still be a bit crowded.
- Deciding on the size of an aqarium - which size will benefit both you and the fish?
- Proper filtration techniques.