| It's tempting, when you're just starting out | | | | Do yourself a few favors when looking at |
| in the aquarium-keeping hobby, to keep things | | | | tanks to buy. Start with glass, because |
| small. It seems logical that a goldfish bowl | | | | acrylic has its own tricky issues to master. |
| or a small tank will be easier to maintain | | | | Check the glass or packaging for a safety |
| than one of those wall-sized monsters, but in | | | | symbol, certifying the strength of the |
| fact it's just the opposite. | | | | silicone caulking used to hold the panes of |
| | | | glass together. Also be sure to get a |
| The bigger the tank, the easier it is to care | | | | snug-fitting cover that's easy to clean |
| for. A larger volume of water helps minimize | | | | – you'll need that to keep both feisty |
| the effect of temperature changes, pH swings, | | | | fish and evaporating water in the tank, and |
| and the biological toxins that come from | | | | it's inevitably going to get filmed or crusty |
| decaying plant and fish wastes. With toxins | | | | over time. |
| more widely dispersed in the water, your | | | | |
| filters have more time to do their job, while | | | | Buy a stand that's sufficient to support your |
| your fish stay healthier. All of this means | | | | tank's weight – remember that a 40 |
| that beginning aquarium hobbyists don't have | | | | gallon tank can weigh up to five hundred |
| so much to fear from common early mistakes. | | | | pounds when it's full of water and gravel! |
| | | | Choose the location of your tank carefully, |
| Also remember that small fish are generally | | | | to make sure the floor is level and strong |
| more active than bigger fish, and are much | | | | and, that direct sunlight doesn't fall on the |
| happier with more room to swim around in, so | | | | tank during certain parts of day (this will |
| don't get a small tank just because you like | | | | throw your temperature maintenance off). |
| small fish! | | | | |
| | | | Set up the stand, and do anything you need to |
| In my opinion, the best size to get you | | | | in order to make sure it's absolutely level |
| started is a standard 40 or 55 gallon | | | | – anything out of kilter will put |
| rectangular tank. These are easy to find, | | | | pressure on your tank's glass or joints, and |
| have lots of standard accessories, are | | | | they WILL give eventually. Not a pretty |
| relatively inexpensive, and they're easy to | | | | picture! |
| take care of. It doesn't take too long to | | | | |
| change the water or do other standard | | | | Speaking of which, most modern fish tanks are |
| maintenance, all parts of the tank are easy | | | | never going to leak, break, or fall, but |
| to reach, and you're less likely to have | | | | accidents do happen, and it wouldn't hurt to |
| problems with algae growth than in a smaller, | | | | add a rider on your homeowner's or renter's |
| narrower tank. | | | | insurance to cover potential water damage to |
| | | | your carpet or floorboards. |