| Owning your own aquarium is great fun,
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| | starting with one species is probably
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| and I have been maintaining my own with
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| | simplest.
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| love for many years! There's over 60
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| | Next, I'd get a good book about basic
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| million of us "aquarists" worldwide, and
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| | aquarium care, and read it before you get
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| if this is a hobby you're interested in,
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| | started!
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| it's worth a little time to learn what
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| | Then, start collecting your tank and
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| it's all about before you start.
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| | equipment. You'll want to look for a
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| So what's an aquarium? In the simplest
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| | sturdy aquarium that's big enough to give
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| terms, it's a transparent container where
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| | you room to add fish as your experience
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| you can keep, nurture, observe and enjoy
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| | grows. Practical home fish tanks range
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| live fish. The goldfish bowl with a
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| | from about 11 liters (3 U.S. gallons) up
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| single fish in it counts, but what most
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| | to about one cubic meter (300 U.S.
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| people mean when they talk about
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| | gallons) in size.
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| aquariums is a large fish tank (usually
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| | You'll need gravel, or another substrate,
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| rectangular) with several different types
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| | for the bottom of the tank. You'll need
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| of fish and aquatic plants living in
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| | a filtration system, to remove waste and
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| balance with each other.
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| | phosphates from the water, and a heater
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| There are two basic types of aquarium
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| | or cooler mechanism to keep the water
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| environment – fresh water and salt
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| | temperature right. You may need an air
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| water. Fresh water is definitely easier
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| | pump to oxygenate the water, depending on
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| for people who are new to the hobby, as
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| | your tank setup. Also ask about a small
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| the salt water (or "marine") tanks take a
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| | chemical kit for measuring and correcting
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| great deal of attention and skill to keep
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| | the pH balance in the water.
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| the fish alive.
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| | You'll want to investigate the plants,
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| So your next step is probably to find out
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| | rocks, and other "aquarium furniture"
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| what types of fish you like. If you're
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| | that goes into the tank. Choose
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| lucky, you have fishy friends you can ask
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| | carefully, because the wrong materials
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| questions of, but even a trip to your
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| | can be harmful or even poisonous to your
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| local pet store or specialty fish store
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| | fish!
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| will get you lots of good advice from the
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| | Get your tank set up, and make sure that
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| sales clerks. Tell them you're a
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| | the water temperature and pH balance is
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| beginner, and that you want to look at
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| | correct BEFORE you go back to the store
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| freshwater fish, and they will give you
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| | to get your fish! If you've done
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| lots of choices! Finding the one fish
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| | everything correctly, your fish will be
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| that calls out to you will tell you what
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| | healthy and happy, and you'll have a
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| temperature your tank needs to be, and
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| | fascinating new hobby to learn and love!
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