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If you've longed
to have a beautiful fish tank, but haven't yet researched what it
takes to pursue this soothing, stress-relieving hobby, here are
a few thoughts on how to get started. First comes selection
of the tank. The bigger the tank, the more fish it can hold and
the more stable the water quality and temperature will be. Starting
with a very small tank can actually be more difficult than using
a larger one. Generally, beginners should select a tank between
15 and 30 gallons. You'll also want a tank stand. A 15-gallon tank
with water, sand, decorations, fish and equipment can weigh 150
pounds. It needs to rest on a stand made to hold up under the weight. Next comes the
decision of the type of fish to keep. Freshwater varieties are usually
best for beginners. Saltwater or marine varieties are very sensitive
to tank conditions … water pH, temperature, salinity, nitrate
content, etc. Freshwater species are more "forgiving". If you start with
a freshwater tank, you may choose between a community tank with
different species or a specialized tank that contains one school
of fish from just one species. Most beginners start with a community
tank. The size of your
tank will determine the number of fish. When selecting fish, find
out how big they will become as adults. Then, compute the total
number of inches of fish you'll eventually have. For example, 10
fish that will grow to be two inches long (not counting the tail)
results in "20 inches of fish". Allow one gallon of water
per inch of fish. So, the10 fish in the example would require a
20-gallon tank. When selecting
species for a community tank, consider whether the species likes
to swim in the top, middle or bottom of the tank. Mix fish from
these three swimming preferences. Good beginner fish
species include White Clouds, Danios, Rasboras and Barbs. These
species will swim in a school when you have six or more and can
provide hours of enjoyment for you as you observe the school's swim
pattern. Upper water layer
fish include Danios and Rasboras. Be sure to select smaller varieties
since some of these fish can grow to six inches long as adults. Barbs generally
swim in the middle to lower regions of the tank. The Cherry Barb
grows to two inches. The Clown Barb is a 4-inch variety. Tiger Barbs
can be unsociable and may bite other fish. Good bottom dwellers
include the Corydoras catfish. They are also known as Corys and
come in many varieties. If you're ready
to take on your first saltwater tank, consider Damselfishes. Don't
keep more than two, however, because groups of them will fight.
Gobies and Blennies are small and colorful. They also help control
algae. Surgeons and Tangs also add variety to the marine tank. Beginners
may want to avoid the more high-maintenance fish such as Triggerfish,
Groupers and Angelfish. These species have special behavior and/or
feeding requirements. Fish keeping is
a hobby that requires patience. Safely adding all the new fish your
tank can accommodate can take up to six months. Make your selections
carefully and allow time between the introduction of one fish and
the addition of the next. Here's a checklist of things you need to consider as you select species and build your tank's population:
It's the detail
and intricacy that create the unending fascination for this hobby.
It can be as simple or as challenging as you choose to make it.
The one thing that most enthusiasts agree upon is that once you're
hooked, you're likely to pursue this fishy business for life. |
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