Things to know before buying an aquarium

In many cases, inexperienced aquarium owners have a bad first experience with their first aquarium, eventually leading to giving up before they start. Considering these basic factors and plans will help potential new aquarium owners avoid common pitfalls. Planning is a good idea even for experienced aquarium owners. The two most important and basic issues to consider when setting up a new aquarium are cost and size. In both cases, people often underestimate the resources required and may make concessions that cause problems later.

cost

Potential aquarium owners often see price tags in special packages and make the appropriate assumptions that they can get started for a few dollars. Don't think you will start a hobby for fifty dollars or less. In fact, getting started with decent equipment will cost $ 150 to $ 200. If that investment is too high for your budget, then it is wise to save money until you have enough money to get everything you need. A good way to start here is to check the list you need.

Make list

The cost includes aquariums and shelves, hoods and lights, heaters, filters, gravel, decorations, water treatment, nets and cleaning supplies. Besides fish, there is also their food. Make an exhaustive list and go online or go to a pet store and write down the cost of all the items you are interested in. Sit down and determine your minimum cost before making a decision. You may be surprised at the actual total cost.

If your budget is tight, another option is to ask for help. Make the list you need and let your friends and family know what you want in your birthday, graduation or holiday gift list. This way, you can start using it without having to choose poor quality equipment, and your family can get what they want from it. Maybe they will surprise you and give you what you need without waiting for special occasions. Another option is to look for used equipment. Please note that used water tanks may leak, heaters or filters may not work at all, and it is difficult to test them before purchasing. So please ask questions in advance and don't pay more than 50% of the original price for anything. Don't worry too much about dirty glass or decorations because they are easy to clean. However, scratches and cracks cannot be corrected, so check the used equipment carefully for damage.

size

If you are new to the aquarium, avoid using tanks below 10 gallons. Small aquariums are more difficult to manage than large aquariums, because toxins can build up quickly in small amounts of water. When there are only a few gallons of water, changes in temperature and water chemistry can occur quickly. What must be avoided are those cute little aquariums that range from 2 to 5 gallons. Although the package price of some small aquariums seems reasonable, it is not good for those who are first time owners of aquariums. Use a 20-gallon or larger aquarium whenever possible. You will have more opportunities to make it work, because larger tanks will be more forgiving of mistakes you might make.

Consider weight

Please note that a 15-gallon aquarium that weighs more than 200 pounds should be placed on a shelf, not a shelf or table. You also need a place for the aquarium, which should be protected from direct sunlight or from draughts or extreme temperatures that can harm fish. The location must also be able to get wet from time to time. Performing maintenance, adding or removing fish or other items from the tank will cause water to splash around the tank. So keep this in mind if you plan to place the water tank on a table or bookshelf or other item that might get wet.

Number of fish

Finally, be realistic about the size and number of fish you want to raise. They will determine the size of the required aquarium, which will ultimately affect the space you need to accommodate it. Even if you choose a larger tank, start with a few small fish that are easy to maintain. As you gain experience, you can add more challenging fish.

In short, at the beginning, the tank size should be larger, and the number of fish should be smaller. Plan before you buy equipment or fish and you have a great chance of success.