| First of all, you will need a proper tank. Buy one | | | | Next, you must have some sort of filter. Under |
| from a specialist supplier and always make sure | | | | gravel filters are quite often sold with new tanks, |
| that you are buying a proper fish tank, not just a | | | | but internal and external filters are much better. |
| glass bowl. How big should your tank be? Well, in | | | | For a small tank an internal filter attached to the |
| fish keeping, the bigger the better. And this is for | | | | side of the tank just below the water level will |
| a very good reason. | | | | work well and can be easily maintained. Whereas, |
| The bigger the tank the more water that it will | | | | for a large tank it is better to use an external |
| hold and therefore, the easier it is to keep the | | | | filter, which occupies less water space and can be |
| water quality levels static. It is very easy to over | | | | very easily maintained without affecting the fish. |
| feed a small 20l tank and send the quality of the | | | | You will also need a good lighting supply, which is |
| water plummeting. Go to an 80l tank and the | | | | usually fitted into the hood of the tank. Any tank |
| margin of error is a lot greater. Increase this to a | | | | without a tight fitting hood could end up losing fish |
| 4 foot or even a 6 foot tank and you are getting | | | | that jump out of the water. Many fish sometimes |
| a stable environment. | | | | leave the water and the underside of the hood |
| Lastly, if you are building a tropical tank then a lot | | | | will return them safely to the water. |
| of the plastic tanks on the market, apart from | | | | Finally, you need decorations. These are not just |
| being very small, might not be safe with a heater, | | | | to make the tank look nice, but they also help to |
| so have to be avoided. | | | | make sure that the fish are happy in the tank. A |
| That brings me nicely to the heater - essential for | | | | few caves and hiding places for quieter fish and |
| a tropical tank! A heater will help to keep the | | | | those, such as Bristlenose Catfish, that will breed |
| water temperature above a minimum level to | | | | successfully in these locations. Live plants also |
| keep your occupants happy. Different fish have | | | | make an excellent hiding place and are much |
| different requirements, so you have to select | | | | better than their fake plastic counterparts as they |
| them carefully, but for tropical fish you use a | | | | will use waste products in the water and help to |
| heater to maintain the minimum temperature. | | | | keep it clean for your fish. |
| However, if you are starting a tank for a goldfish | | | | Now, you just need to add water and |
| collection, a heater should not be used - they | | | | dechlorinator and let the tank settle for a while |
| need the variance of temperature throughout the | | | | before carefully adding your first fish! |
| year to thrive. | | | | |