The Shape of The Tank

The most common shapes for tropical fish tanks are hexagon and rectangular, but you can also buy rounded bubble tanks, coffee table fish tanks and slimline fish tanks that fit in the wall!

When deciding on the size of the tank, you have to consider where it will be placed to be sure it will fit, and will not cause an obstruction.

Rectangular tanks are best for your water quality and fish health.

Because rectangular tanks are long, the surface are is greater in ratio than other shaped tanks. A hexagon tank looks great, but the surface area is smaller, which means more maintenance and water changing.

The rectangular tank is less work, and with the bigger surface area, allows you to keep more fish.

Location For Your Tropical Fish Tank

If you are just going to be keeping one fish as a conversation piece on a small shelf or bathroom vanity, then a cool decorative tropical tank would be ideal. before deciding on a location for the fish tank be sure to take the weight of the tank into consideration.

A filled tank can weigh 12 pounds per gallon so a filled 20 gallon Aquarium can weigh over 200 pounds. Choose a spot that can support the weight including the right stand. When buying your tropical fish tank, it is necessary to think about its placement in your house.

If you are looking to add appeal to an empty corner, a hexagon shaped aquarium tank might be wonderful, but a long rectangular tank could make an interesting statement along a wall.

The Size of Your Fish Tank

If you are just a beginner you should consider a 20 to 30 gallon aquarium setup. A small 5 gallon tank is OK if you don’t have a lot of space, but you will have to be careful not to overload the tank with fish, or the quality of your water will deteriorate, and your fish will not be healthy.

Don’t be tempted by those little fish tanks or bowls that have 1 or 2 fish with no filtration, Believe me, the fish will not live very long time in that tank and you will spend a lot of time monitoring the water quality and performing water changes. As a guideline, the bigger the tank is, the less maintenance it will need.

Typically you can house 1 inch of fish for every gallon of water in the tank – along with adequate aeration and filtration, that is. If you buy a 20 gallon tank, you can have 20 inches of tropical fish, or about 15 fish. With the smaller 5 gallon tank you will only be able to keep 2 or 3 fish.

Picking the right tank is really a matter of personal preference. You just need to weigh up your options and pick what best fits your needs. Doing your homework before you go to the store will help to save you both time and money in the long run.

Now, before you start choosing your tropical fish, it’s maybe worth mentioning that not all tropical fish can be kept together in the same aquarium. There are some that have special water needs, and there are some that can be very aggressive, although by and large, most can get along.

The best way of starting to populate your home aquarium is by buying what is called community fish, like Guppies and Catfish. These are normally quite active fellows in the aquarium, they look great, you have a good range of choice, and they’re not al that expensive to buy.

Cichlids, Discus, and other freshwater tropical fish species tend to have some special needs, like particular water conditions or habitat. The Piranha fish can also be considered to be a specialised breed because they are very aggressive. Betta Fish (Siamese Fighting Fish) also have a reputation for being aggressive, but they do usually tend to get on OK with the neighbours.

Gouramis and certain kinds of Catfish, although sociable enough, can expand large enough for a medium sized fish tank. They are not so easy to buy now as in the past, and it’s probably just as well, as they could outgrow the fish tank and pollute the water. These species are best left to experts & marine biologists. There are some good Tropical Fish Books for Discus and Betta.

Other Creatures and Plants

There are other creatures you can put in your home aquarium, such as invertebrates, but they do need meticulous care and maintenance. Tropical fish keeping is easy to deal with, but if you introduce marine slugs and snails, they have special needs for them to live in a mock habitat.

Aquatic plants such as Amazon Swords will develop in any kind of home aquarium providing they have enough light and ground to root in. But remember, if you start off with a ready-planted aquarium, you need to make sure that you give the plants enough light, ground and water conditions for them to develop. But more than anything else, have fun with your new aquarium.
 

I have listed three of what I consider to be the best books available, each a gem in it’s own way.
 

The Best Tropical Fish Books …..

Discus Fish Secrets

This guide will learn you everything you need to know before buying your Discus Fish. What size Discus you should buy, questions to ask the seller, how to know when the tank is ready, the right way to look after fry, and a whole lot more.

Rob Clark, the author, has written this Discus Fish Secrets guide in plain language that’s simple to follow. You will avoid some of the most common mistakes when buying Discus, and it will save you money. Learn More About Discus Fish Secrets Here

Fantastic Fish Ponds

If you’re thinking of setting up your own fish pond youll find this guide invaluable. The Fantastic Fish Ponds ebook is packed full of information with everything you need to know.

You will learn how to keep fish in your backyard all year round, what depth of pond you require, the do’s and don’ts of feeding, all about filtration systems and much more. Learn More About Fantastic Fish Ponds Here

Betta Fish Secrets

Betta Fish (Siamese Fighting Fish) are fascinating, and you have to be careful when selecting these species. Betta Fish Secrets takes you by the hand and tells you just what you need to know.

The author, Mike Worthington goes out of his way to give you all the information you need to make keeping healthy Betta Fish easy. Bettas tend to get stressed, and you’ll even learn how to deal with that. All straight talk and no fluff. A really excellent guide! Learn More About Betta Fish Secrets Here

 
That’s it for my Tropical Fish Books. I thought these three were definitely worth listing, and I’ve presented them in no particular order. If any of the above subjects appeal, you’ll find them most helpful. If I come across any more good books I think are worth a mention, I’ll add them Here.
 

It is a proven fact that the growth of a goldfish may be somehow diminutive in a small aquarium – a high composition of nitrates is known to hinder growth- but growth is slower, and not supposed to cease abruptly.

On the other hand, if you would give the goldfish too much food, or if maintained in an aquarium that is not properly filtered biologically, the goldfish will simply mature to the point where the aquarium will not support the eliminated wastes and will surrender either to intoxication as a result of waste accumulation or to a disease caused by bad water maintenance.

If you want to keep goldfish healthy, do not keep them with other species of tropical fish for some reasons.

First, goldfish tend to flourish at the sub-tropics that means about 73 degrees Fahrenheit. This is not to mean that over this temperature level, it would kill the goldfish. It is just that they would thrive in lower temperatures. a cooler environment will have more oxygen supply that adult goldfish need for sustainable health.

Also, goldfish have the tendency to be more productive than other tropical fishes. As they mature, they can easily consume more food than the other residents of the aquarium. The other species may suffer from abnormal growth caused by malnutrition. At the same level, goldfish also eliminate more wastes than the other tropical fish. Some of the tropical fishes need a clean environment and goldfish will make this rather very hard to keep.

Goldfish are temperate creatures and they have the tendency to carry certain diseases and parasites and tend to resist them as well. So, mixing the goldfish with other species can expose your pets to health problems they are not used to coping with.

The truth is, most species of fishes often seem to get along when they are still fries. As they grow old, however, trouble and aggression may begin. You might not observe problems at the start since aggressive behavior may occur at night time. For instance, certain species of tropical fish can become aggressive as they mature and would eventually pose a threat for your goldfish. A floating dead fish can be a clue to aggression.

Similar to basic aquarium keeping, do not give your goldfish more feeds than they can consume in a few minutes. Unconsumed foods disintegrate inside the aquarium and would eventually pollute the water. If food remains unconsumed, discard it.

A 30-gallon tank with pebbles and aquatic plants is recommended for goldfish. Never keep goldfish in a fishbowl or smaller container. It’s like living in a one-room house.

Goldfish are omnivores and they do not need a special nutritional diet like other tropical fish. However, you should purchase food made especially for goldfish, since their diet needs are not similar to other species.

If you want to keep your goldfish a higher protein nutritional diet it will also lead to a faster growth rate. Where goldfish are maintained in small or unfiltered fish tanks, it is not advised to administer high-protein food.
 

Most Buttikoferi should be given food of both protein and vegetarian flakes. You can also give them live and stored brine shrimp along with pellet peas.

Both sexes are very aggressive towards other residents of the aquarium especially during the mating season. To lessen the stress on the female Buttikoferi, it is advised to get at least 4 females for each male.

Buttikoferis are mouth brooders. That is, the female will hold the eggs in her mouth for a time, about several weeks, based on the temperature of the water, and then would release the fries into the fish tank. During this brooding period, the female will normally refuse to eat.

To nourish the Buttikoferi fry, feed them with hatched brine shrimp and finely chopped flakes. Change the aquarium water constantly to increase the well-beings of the fry.

Unless you have a large aquarium, you can only keep a handful number of fry to mature. The fry can be developed in less tolerable situations as they mature, and the aggression among the fry will cause great reduction in the number of the fish by the time the fry have reached at least six months old.

Another variety, related to the Buttikoferi is the Venustus; It has remarkable patterns on the body, similar to giraffe spots, which make them prominent and attractive. However, this colouring can change as they grow older for breeding.

They can expand up to 10 inches, so you need to have quite a large aquarium. Although this variety will not normally spawn aggression with most tropical fish, they can be aggressive with their own specie.

When they are first added to the aquarium, mature Venustus can be very protective of their “territory,” chasing other residents, so you should provide enough pebble and hidden spaces. This specie is very intelligent and they often will come upfront of the fish tank as if they are very sociable beings.

The Venustus is very sensitive to extreme levels of nitrates in the water, so even though they are easily maintained it is essential to regulate the water intensity at least to medium ph. Maintain the water’s pH level to neutral or slightly alkaline, a substrate of aragonite components can help to maintain the water in this level.

If you would like to breed Buttikoferi and Venustus, it is very easy.

The males will normally fertilize the eggs when the female has accumulated them in her mouth opening. Prior to this mating, the female spawns non-fertilized eggs, normally on an even surface that she carefully maintains previously.

Basically, a male around 7-8 inches is already sexually capable. Females are mouth brooders and they will carry their eggs in the mouth for a few weeks, before they can release the fry.

You can give the newly hatched fry with brine shrimp or finely grounded food flakes.

The Venustus and the Buttikoferi requires high-protein diet that you can satisfy through brine shrimps, worms, small fish, as well as processed flakes and pellets containing meat particles.
 

It is actually a satisfying and worthwhile task. You should take your time and enjoy the whole delightful experience, as a well set up and maintained aquarium tank is very pleasant to look at. There is nothing quite like sitting on your sofa and watching the fish play around the pebbles.

When setting up your Saltwater Fish Aquarium tank, the first thing you should do is determine exactly where you’re gong to put it. That may sound silly, but trying to move a 100 pound aquarium even a few meters, is very difficult, so try to get it right first time.

Make sure you place it well away from direct sunlight and heat, particularly during summer. You may possibly want to situate the aquarium where it can be easily noticed, probably in the sitting area of your home.

Some people like to set up their aquarium as the highlight of their living room, instead of the TV. the weight of aquariums can be a concern, so it may be best to place it against an outer wall, which is the sturdiest part of the floor.

The next thing you have to do is to measure the spot for the aquarium. You should take note that you need enough space around the aquarium for maintenance and for the extra equipment.

Once you have decided where you want to put it then you should buy the aquarium and the other equipment you’ll need. Take your notes with you and look for something that will be suitable to your space. Don’t make a hasty decision at the first pet store. Remember that saltwater fish need a large aquarium, from about 55 gallons up.

Water changes are not the only thing that decreases the nitrates which are harmful to the fish. Other methods include using a denitrator machine, algal additives, nitrate absorbents and other filtration systems like Berlin and Jaubert. See How To Filter Your Salt Water Aquarium

Have a look at the Ultimate Secrets To Saltwater Fish And Invertebrates This is the ultimate guide to keeping happy, healthy marine life (fish, corals and other invertebrates) and how to optimally set up a saltwater fish aquarium and maintain a pristine environment for your pets. The guide also includes a ‘How To Make Money From Your Aquarium’ Bonus Items.
 

With recent developments however, information products are now available so that corals can be successfully maintained in a home aquarium. Most “home” corals are called easy because, as such they are easy to care for. Your home aquarium can be devoted to corals alone, but it could be more pleasant to add a few fish and other organisms to have a biological setup.

Here are some “easy” corals.

Button Polyps

Also known as Sea Mat, this type of corals like bright light, but are lenient with low light. Thriving medium to strong wave current, Button Polyps have a high procreation level and are very aggressive. Most aqua culturists, keep these corals during the cycle period.

Finger Leather

Also known as Colt, this type of coral are great for new reef aquarium. While they are pliable to most light and wave conditions, these spectacular corals like medium light and wave current.

Sea Mushroom

Sea mushroom do not respond to bright lights or strong wave currents, to permit highest growth and procreation, these corals are best maintained under lower lighting conditions such as pastel fluorescent lights, and with slow water currents. These corals are also very safe for most organisms but they are harmful to soft and rocky corals since they have harmful effects on most of them.

Toadstool

This type of corals is also known as Leather, Mushroom Leather and Trough Coral. There are great for new aquariums that fit well to most lighting designs and low to medium wave currents. These corals grow fast and are known great for procreation.

Brain Corals

Brain corals are also known as Closed Brain Coral, Meat Coral and Pacific Cactus. These corals are very great in artificial environment, but they thrive in bright, indirect light, and slow to medium wave currents. These corals are tolerant to the presence of some stony corals such as Litphyton and are very rash to aquatic planktons.

Open Brain Corals

Open Brain Corals are also known as Lobed Brain Coral, Flat Brain Coral, Modern Meat Coral and Flower Coral. These type of corals do great with bright lighting and slow wave currents, however if simply enough light and water current is provided, it will expand well in an aquarium. The Open Brain Coral feeds nocturnally, however the tentacles seldom extend during the day and readily take planktons. They are not usually active however there have been experimental results of sweep tentacles at growth when they are near with other species of corals.

Green Star Polyps

Also known as Daisy Polyps, this type of corals are bearable of both extreme level of lightings as well as wave currents. Being receptive to iodine and aluminum oxide that are found in some phosphate eliminating sponges, care should be taken when adding these polyps to your reef aquarium.

Zoanthids

Similar to button polyps, these corals also prefer bright lightings but can bear low lights and like moderate to strong wave currents, making them a good addition to new reef aquariums. These active corals have a high procreation rate and can be spread fast inside an aquarium.

These considerations can help you avoid most common errors and get you in aquarium keeping a hobby that you can live and be satisfied of.

Types of Fish

Of course, you need to think about the types of fish you want to keep. Various types of fish need different care, maintenance, conditions, space requirements and equipment. If you purchased your aquarium equipment before you have decided what type of fish you want to keep, you can have some problems in maintaining your aquarium.

Maintenance

Aquarium maintenance would involve your first task – research. It is very essential to learn a lot about the fish you want to keep. This will let you know what special considerations they will need, what equipment you will buy and how to set-up your aquarium. When you research about these things, you can establish how big they will get and in this manner you can figure out the size of the aquarium you will need to keep your fish happy and healthy. As well, this will provide you an opportunity to learn if the different types of fish care needs, size or behavior are too different; they will not be appropriate and suitable.

Space

After studying general information about the fish, you should ponder on the size of the tank you need. Survey your home and determine a spot for your new home aquarium. How much space you can allow for your aquarium including the extra paraphernalia? Take note of the space between the tank and the wall for adequate room for other equipment such as water filters, tubes and pumps.

Budget

If you have money problems, is it time to purchase that $ 300 fiber glass fish tank? If you really want to puruse the hobby, you can buy cheaper aquarium at first, and if you have enough money, upgrade your fish tank. You can also slash the budget by finding stores that are selling second hand aquariums.

Equipment

You should visit various pet stores near you and figure out what equipment are available and how much they cost. If you cannot find something that will help you for your pleasure, you can inquire about special orders. Make sure to ask for a price range or if possible a fixed price before you signs up for an order.

Budget & Space Constraints

How does your budget match up to the cost of the equipment you want? Can you purchase a larger aquarium enough for your fish that are suitable in the room available in your home? You should consider the budget and space limits, and then analyze your fish type, your space limits and your financial considerations compared to the new information you now have.

When you have evaluated these factors, you can purchase the equipment and the fish you want to keep. If you need to special order the equipment, you should do it immediately as it will take time for the order to arrive. Then, if everything is set, you are ready to pursue your hobby of aquarium keeping. Whether you just like to keep a couple of goldfish, or if you want to venture into tropical fish, these factors will help you to start on the right track.