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Getting your first saltwater tank can be such an exciting event. You will finally be able to sit and enjoy the soothing beauty of your aquarium. However, it can also be frustrating and a bit overwhelming. What equipment do you need? Which fish are best for beginners? Here are some tips to help you start off right.

The first thing you should consider is the actual tank. An acrylic tank is a better insulator than a glass tank and is more stable in terms of temperature. Acrylic tanks are flexible, less prone to leakage and strong, which means they don’t break as easily as glass aquariums. Acrylic is also lighter and easier to drill into, which is important for installing certain filters. If your budget allows it, an acrylic tank would be a good idea.

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By Allen Jesson

Choose the nearest length to the rectangular aquarium you are going to set up, and this guide will help you choose the size and quantity of all you need. Special shapes can be worked out from the guides after the rectangular aquariums.

Aquarium Length 45cm (18in)
Water Volume approx 49 litres (11galls)
Gravel/Coral Sand Minimum = 5kgs
Thermostatic Heater = 50watt (Tronic)
Filter Internal 200 litres per hour = (Fluval One)
Fluorescent Tube and Starter unit Length/Power 15in/14watt.
Additional items; Thermometer, New water conditioner.
Marine items; Sea Salt mix, Hydrometer, Nitrite test kit

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A Goldfish Bowl is Not a Good Home

By Ong Hui Woo

Goldfish bowls are cute, and they fit the deco of your room easily, but they are not ideal for keeping goldfishes. If you intend to keep goldfish for long, a tank would be more suitable, plus your goldfishes would be happier too. A tank would be the best home for your goldfish, it would give you more space for a filter, decorations and plants.

Goldfish are often mistreated in the belief that they are sturdy and will survive in all conditions. This belief has led to the death of many fish and disappointment for many owners. The fact to begin with is: GOLDFISH ARE DIRTY!

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Aquarium Medications, Treatments, and How They Work

By Carl Strohmeyer

This article (which will continue to grow with information) is informational about different aquarium (and pond) treatments. I give the gram negative or gram positive applications where they apply. Many aquarium antibiotics and chemical treatments are explained.

When you have fish that are sick (bacterial, fungal, protozoan, or other parasites), you want to try and isolate them in a hospital aquarium whenever possible. Regular water changes before each treatment allow for a more effective treatment, especially when treated in the display aquarium. Sponge filters work well in hospital aquariums. Remember to remove carbon, as carbon will remove many medications. Also not that silicone in the aquarium will absorb malachite green, methylene blue, and copper sulfate. Most corals (crushed and otherwise), and ceramic decorations will also absorb medications such as malachite green, methylene blue, and copper sulfate.

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Aquariums - The Different Kinds

By Michael Russell

There are many different types of aquariums. There is pretty much one for each level of enthusiast and not all aquariums are for fish. There are aquatic plant aquariums as well and they are very beautiful.

One of the simplest of aquariums is a fish bowl. A fish bowl can even be part of a table arrangement. When one chooses a fish bowl it should be a big one. At least a gallon. You’ll also need a small net and two 1 gallon bottles of drinking water that is not distilled or de-ionized, as tap water isn’t safe for your fish. Even if water is treated with water conditioners it still wouldn’t be safe. You will also need some floating fish food. You will need to fill your fish bowl 2′ form the top of the bowl. Then you will need to cover your bowl with a clean plastic cover. Sometimes a clean lid from a coffee can will do. You don’t want your fish to jump out or another pet jumping in! You will need to replace about 20% of the water twice weekly and you can make your own bottled water by using the following method. Fill a bottle with tap water and leave about 2″ of empty space at the top of the bottle. Add about five drops of water conditioner and then replace the cap tightly. You will need to let the bottle of water sit for at least three days before you use it for your fish.

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Which Fish Tank Heater is Best?

By Keith Londrie

Buying a new fish tank heater can sometimes be perplexing due to all of the options that are available. There are a couple of places that you can go for help when looking to purchase a fish tank heater. It is essential that if you do not know what anything about fish tank heaters that you do a lot of research or seek the advice of an experienced professional. Friends or neighbors experienced with fish tanks can prove to be valuable resources.

These resources can be found in a number of places, and most of them are free of cost. A fish tank heater is very important to the overall health of your fish, so you want to make sure that you get the set up that is appropriate for your tank. Your fish need a certain temperature in order to thrive and the correct fish tank heater will make that happen for you.

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Starting a Freshwater Aquarium

By D Green

So you have decided to start an aquarium fish hobby, but now you need to know how to set up all that equipment. Does it matter what order things get done? Yes it does, and it matter how it is done too. If you get your new aquarium off to a proper start, you will have a successful, relaxing hobby. If you start off on the wrong foot, you will run into problems for a while down the road, wasted money, dying fish, smelly water… you may even give up! It is very important to follow proper steps, here are some guidelines that you should follow:

Step 1: Make sure the aquarium stand is level. This is very important for even weight distribution so that your aquarium does not crack.

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Aquarium Supplies Part 1 — My First Experience With Bettas

By Jonathan Wangsa

Keeping fish as pets takes more than just feeding them and changing the water every once in a while. Sadly, many people aren’t aware of that and they just buy aquarium fish because they’re attractive. After a short while the fish start to get sick and die one after the other, and the newbie would lose interest in the hobby and give it up all together.

Basic knowledge of fish keeping, together with the right aquarium supplies, is crucial to the livelihood and longevity of your fish. It’s important to maintain the optimum living conditions for your fish and other living things you may have in your aquarium if you are to enjoy them for a long time.

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Aquarium Supplies Part 2 — My First Experience With Goldfish

By Jonathan Wangsa

If you are seriously considering keeping fish as pets or are just starting out, I would like to stress again the importance of having some basic knowledge about aquariums and fish keeping in order to enjoy the hobby for a significant length of time and to avoid frustrations and disappointments.

In the first article I illustrated this by sharing my own childhood experience with bettas, and now I shall share my experience with goldfish.

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How To Care For Your Fishes Without Spending A Fortune

By Partha Mitra

Whether you have a big sized aquarium with lots of fishes or just a glass bowl on your table with a couple of Gold fishes, they give you great pleasure and tranquility to see them. Fishes are most soothing pets, but they can be real delicate too. However you can take a good care for your fishes by remembering some small tips. Whether you are out for a couple of days, your fishes will be there waiting for you when you come back. Here are some tips to keep your fishes healthy.

1) Cleaning your aquarium or tank

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