| As a beginner first learning the ins and outs of | | | | keep it small and simple. Tell them how many fish |
| keeping an aquarium healthy, things can get a bit | | | | you intend to keep, and whether you would like |
| overwhelming. There is so much terminology and | | | | to add fish later. Always do some research |
| equipment, it is enough to make anyone's head | | | | before buying a product you are not familiar with. |
| spin. Learning it all a piece at a time is | | | | There are a ton of accessories and products |
| recommended. Patience is key in many things | | | | associated with aquariums and fish. Doing some |
| relating to keeping aquariums. A fish often | | | | research beforehand can keep you from buying |
| recommended to beginners is the goldfish. | | | | products you don't need. |
| Commonly available, and quite pretty when | | | | Unless you have access to well water, your tap |
| healthy, the goldfish is one of the easier fish to | | | | water probably contains chlorine or ammonia. |
| keep healthy and happy. Be prepared to do some | | | | These substances are very harmful to your |
| reading, however. There are terms and | | | | goldfish, and can even kill them if you have |
| procedures to become familiar with. | | | | particularly chlorinated water. There are products |
| The aquarium is absolutely critical to being able to | | | | available that you simply mix thoroughly into your |
| keep healthy fish, no matter what kind of fish it | | | | tap water after filling the aquarium. They usually |
| is. Proper care and maintenance of your aquarium | | | | remove chlorine as well as adding things to the |
| is necessary, and there are daily and weekly | | | | water to help your fish form its slime coat and |
| procedures that must be followed. The first step | | | | fight off ick (a small parasite that is extremely |
| in keeping a goldfish is choosing the aquarium. | | | | common on fish that are stressed). If you would |
| While you may see goldfish in bowls and other | | | | rather use distilled or reverse osmosis purified |
| small containers on television and even in real life, | | | | water, there are other additives that restore |
| this is really a bad idea. While a goldfish can live | | | | needed minerals into these too-pure waters. |
| for a while in a small bowl like that, they will never | | | | Make sure you check the filters once a week, |
| really thrive, and will be more susceptible to | | | | and rinse them out with dechlorinated water of |
| disease and death. A 10 gallon minimum aquarium | | | | some type. It is okay to use distilled water for |
| with filtration should be the minimum you consider | | | | this. It is common to get snails living on your |
| for keeping a goldfish. The filter running into the | | | | filters. Try not to crush them, and remove them |
| aquarium agitates the surface of the water and | | | | during your weekly cleaning. It is not |
| provides more oxygen to the water, which in turn | | | | recommended that you put these types of snails |
| means the fish has plenty of oxygen and is | | | | back into your aquarium, because they tend to |
| healthier. More room to swim, and even some | | | | over-breed and eat every bit of plant matter in |
| currents from the filtration, make sure that the | | | | your aquarium. |
| goldfish stays happy and in shape. Don't forget to | | | | It is also necessary to keep the aquarium at a |
| take the number of goldfish into account! More | | | | fairly constant temperature. An aquarium heater |
| than one goldfish will require more space. | | | | can be used to control the water temperature |
| Ask the guys at your local pet store or aquarium | | | | with some precision. You should also have an |
| shop (recommended) what they recommend. | | | | aquarium thermometer to verify the water |
| Don't buy too much tank at first though. Try to | | | | temperature. |