If you’re looking for a hobby that offers a very relaxing quality, is relatively easy and inexpensive to get into and also adds a visually appealing element to your home, then you should look into owning tropical fish tanks. Many people who know little about fish or marine life shy away from getting into ownership as a hobby because at first getting started can seem like a lot of work. Trying to figure out which tank is right for you and what type of fish and accessories you’ll need in order to be a successful fish tank owner can be troublesome if you don’t get the proper advice before purchasing.
This article is designed to take all the guess work out of the set up stage and jump start you off on your new hobby. It will help you avoid many of the pitfalls some people make when purchasing their first tropical fish tanks and set you up for the greatest success possible.
Fish are divided up between a couple of main categories.
Tropical/Fresh Water Fish: These fish survive in fresh warm water and originate from tropical climates such as South America, Asia & Africa.
Saltwater/Marine Fish: These fish originate from the sea and live in reefy areas including the Great Barrier Reef. Since the release of Walt Disney’s movie “Finding Nemo” the Clown Fish has risen in popularity and notarity.
Cichlids: Breeds of this type of fish are Angles, Discus and Oscars and while they are Fresh Water Fish, have different water condition requirements to that of typical tropical fish.
Gold Fish: Gold Fish & Koi are amongst the easiest fish to care for and as such are a popular choice for beginners. They live in unheated fresh water.
When starting out as a hobiest on of the biggest initial mistakes people make when purchasing their equipment os choosing the wrong size fish tank in relation to the number and size of the fish they intend to purchase. What typically happens if that people purchase a small tank and gradually fill it with way to many fish. The filtration system is unable to keep up with the demands being placed on it and fish begin to dye. Another common mistake that people make is that they purchase and mix fish that are not supposed to be together based on some agressive tendencies and size variations. It’s important to discuss with the sales expert at the store the type and size of fish you are interested in starting of with, as well as the space you have in your home to accomodate your tank. It’s a good idea to plan ahead and allow room for your fish collection to grow, as you become accustomed to fish ownership and your hobby grows.
Here are some of the important considerations you’ll need make when considering owing tropical fish tanks:
Biological Filtration System: Once you have determined where you will be placing your tropical fish tank and the number and size of the fish you will begin with, it time to turn your attention to selecting a high quality biological filtration system. This filtration system cleans the fish waste & purifies chemicals in the water to bring the environment in the tank to optimum conditions increasing the health of your fish.
Water Testing Kit: Along with a high quality biological filtration system, you’ll need a water testing kit to ensure the proper chemical balance of the water. Keeping an adequate supply of chemicals is also essential to maintaining a healthy tank. You’ll need Ph stabilizers that will keep the optimum Ph balance as well as a water conditioner that eliminates chlorine chloramine & ammonia from the water. This is imperative for the health and to increase the live span of your fish.
Water Heater: Tropical fish hail from warm waters and in order to mimic their natural environment, you must keep the water in the tank as a constant & correct temperature to avoid stress and increases the survival rate of your fish
Cleaning Implementes: It’s a very good idea to purchase a gravel cleaner siphon to easily and efficiently keep your tank in the best posible condition for your fish to survive. This siphon works by a gentle suction action as you agitate the rocks at the bottom of the tank. Debris and fish waste that missed the filtration system fall to the bottom of the tank and by using a syphon on a regular basis, you can quickly and easily suck up the dirt and waste which means your tank will stay cleaner for a longer period of time and you won’t have to do an entire tank clean as often.
Best Fish To Start Off With: For novices, some of the best fish to start off with in tropical fish tanks are mollies and guppies. Mollies and guppies are a hardy fish & enjoy lots of places to hid away, so by adding some interesting tank accessories it makes it comforting for the fish and visually attractive for you.
Fish Health: While fish ownership is a relatively easy hobby to get started with, maintaining a healthy tank is imperative to the survival of your fish. Tropical fish tanks can be plagued by diseased fish and it’s vital to the health and survival of all the fish in the tank that any sick fish be promptly removed. You can identify diseased fish by carefully monitoring your tank and looking for the following signs of disease:
- White spots on the body of the fish
- Loss of appetite
- Bulging eyes
- Rotting fins
- Unusual activity and behaviour of the fish
- Swimming just under the surface of the water with heavy panting
Operating tropical fish tanks can be a truly relaxing hobby. While they aren’t “no” work, once you get things set up and operating just right, the amount of energy it takes to maintain tropical fish tanks is minimal. If you’re looking for a new hobby and have never owned fish before, follow the advice given and give it a try.
