Keeping fish tanks can be a great hobby, not only are they fairly easy and cheap to get started, but offer an amazing relaxing pastime. Getting started with this hobby can sometimes be a little overwhelming as there are so many options of tanks, fish and accessories to choose from and all require to be matched together well. This article is designed to give you a good overview of all the aspects you need to think about when starting your own aquariums so that you can avoid making the mistakes that others make whenjust jumping into it without a plan or basic knowledge you need to keep the fish happy and alive.

There are a few main categories of fish that you need to know about. These are Freshwater or tropical fish, saltwater or marine fish, Cichlids, and of course gold fish. The main differences between these are: freshwater/ tropical fish are kept in fresh water and come from warm water tropical climate areas such as south America, Africa and Asia. Saltwater/ marine fish come from the sea and are found in reef areas such as the Great Barrier Reef and include the now famous clown fish thanks to Nemo. Cichlids are fish like Angels, Oscars and Discus which are also fresh water fish, but require different water conditions to tropical fish. Gold fish and Koi are the type of fish that are easily kept by the beginner as they require the least detailed care and can survive in un-heated fresh water.

Some of the best beginner types of fish to keep although not uninteresting nor unchallenging, are Guppies and Mollies. Many people start with these types of fish for good reasons. They are relatively good looking and interesting fish while being fairly hardy and resistant to poorly looked after fish tanks, They are fairly cheap to buy. and are tropical fish which can be the easiest yet most beautiful type of tank to set up. Both types of fish are live bearers meaning they are quite easy to breed.

You absolutely must consider the size and amount of fish you wish to keep before purchasing your fish tanks. It is generally a good rule to get a tank that is twice as big as you thought you wanted to accommodate all the fish and allow for expansion. The larger tanks allow for much more planting, ornaments and filtration along with the fish. The larger tanks will also take a lot longer for the water to become toxic without adequate filtration. You must also consider when deciding on which fish to buy if the particular fish are compatible and won't eat each other or require different water conditions.

Setting up a tropical aquarium is not as simple as getting a tank, filling it with water and chucking the fish in. You will need accessories that will keep the water clean and healthy. The first major thing you will need is a good filter to remove the waste and harmful chemicals from the water. get the best filter you can afford! Next you will need a aquarium heater to keep the tank at the correct temperature for the type of fish you intend to keep. Another major thing you will need is a water test kit that can test for things like ammonia and ph so you know if there is a potential problem and can rectify it before fish start dying. Other things that will be useful are gravel, gravel siphon cleaner, water conditioner, fish net etc. If you are interested in keeping guppies and mollies think about the things you will need to keep the water in a ph range of 7.5 and temperature of 25 degrees Celsius.

Mollies and Guppies are livebearers and will breed like mad if there are males and females in the same tank. This is great if you want a great supply of new fish and have enough space for it but can also be a major problem if your tank is too small to handle an extra 20 or so fish every time they give birth. Breeding them can be very rewarding though and interesting to see what colour combinations you can make from different parents.

One of the biggest problems you can face with tropical fish tanks is disease of the fish. Fish need to be carefully monitored to ensure they are not sick. There are a few obvious signs that your fish are sick like: white spots on the fish, not eating, bulging eyes, rotting fins, unusual behaviour, panting and hanging just below the water surface. If you notice any of these symptoms, immediately make sure the water is clean and do a water test for ph, ammonia etc. First try a 30% water change with fresh water that has been treated to remove chlorine and other chemicals. if there is no improvement take note of the symptoms and a small water sample to your local pet store and ask their advise on treatment.

Keep in mind the above guidelines when setting up you fish tanks and you should have a better experience than most who just jump straight in. You will love your new hobby and the time spent looking after them.