Aquarium World

Ok so we know we are going for Goldfish and we have the ideal location for the aquarium. Lets progress.

We need a tank!

Tank size is important. We have already decided how much room we have available so you can look at tanks which will fit in your available space. An ideal size for a small group of fish is 75 litre or higher. There are tanks smaller than this and which can be ok, providing you don’t overcrowd your tank. Remember that most of the fish you see in the store are young ands have not reached adult size yet.

There are two options with the construction of the tank. These are acrylic and glass tanks. Acrylic tanks weigh less than glass but need to be totally supported under the base to avoid damage. Acrylic does also have a reputation of scratching easily, but there are products available to help cover and remove the scratches. Make sure you have something sturdy where the aquarium will be situated. The tank when full will weigh a lot!

Lights

A light is needed if you want live plants on the aquarium. They will also bring out the beauty of your fish and aquarium so they are well worth it, even if you only use if occasionally.

Lid

A lid is cheap so it makes sense to own. They protect your aquarium from accidents. In the future you may wish to change to tropical fish. Some of which are renown for jumping so a lid can save your fish. Lids also reduce the evaporation.

Gravel

Gravel looks nice and in this instance wont affect the fish so it is a personal choice. In some tanks it can cause problem by either changing the pH, harbouring bacteria or causing issues with breeding. But we aren’t covering any of that here.

Heater

A heater would only be necessary if the aquarium were to be in an exceptionally cold room. Goldfish are hardy and are fine in a range of comfortable room temperatures. Again other kinds of fish will definitely need a heater.

Filter

A filter is imperative. Fish constantly excrete chemicals which build up over time and will cause issues. Also other impurities build up which have to be removed. Filters also keep the surface of the water moving which is needed to allow for oxygen to enter the water.
The size of the filter is dictated by the amount of water held in your aquarium.

Plants and Ornaments

Now you can decorate the aquarium to your desire! Just make sure any plants are safe for aquariums.

Once you have all the equipment needed for your aquarium its time to put it all together, make your water safe for the fish and finally add your new friends to the aquarium. Keep a watch out for part 3 where we will go over these final steps to get your aquarium live!