| Aquariums can be beautiful, but expensive and | | | | out whether the different species of fish you are |
| complicated to maintain. For the beginner, it is | | | | considering keeping together are compatible. |
| highly recommended that you go with freshwater | | | | Some common choices for beginning freshwater |
| aquariums and fish. While both saltwater and | | | | aquariums keepers are cichlids of various types |
| freshwater aquariums require some setup and | | | | and rainbow fish. Cichlids come in all sorts of |
| maintenance, freshwater aquariums are by far | | | | colors, and can grow to be quite large (3 feet or |
| the cheaper and easier of the two. All you really | | | | so) in the wild. Rainbow fish are from Australia |
| need to start with freshwater is a tank, some | | | | and are usually multicolored and quite pretty. If |
| gravel and/or rocks, light, filter, heater, and | | | | you want a small fish to round out your tank, a |
| thermometer. Fill it with water, let it sit for a few | | | | school of 4-5 Neons can fill the role nicely. They |
| weeks to get a biological filter cycle going, and | | | | never get bigger than large minnow sized, and |
| you are good to go for freshwater fish. And if | | | | have almost fluorescent stripes on otherwise clear |
| you choose well, freshwater fish can be just as | | | | bodies. |
| bright and colorful as their saltwater counterparts. | | | | 2. Care and Maintenance |
| 1. Which Fish Should I Get? | | | | With all of these fish, you will need to pay |
| Probably the most common question a | | | | attention to your water PH, which is a measure |
| freshwater aquarium keep asks is "Which kind of | | | | of how acidic or alkaline it is. Various fish have |
| freshwater aquarium fish should I get?". | | | | different comfort levels, and some fish, like the |
| Freshwater fish come in all shapes, sizes, and | | | | Discus, can actually die if the PH is not precisely |
| colors. Some can be kept with others, some can't. | | | | maintained. |
| Probably the best way to decide is to look around | | | | Watch your temperature, and make sure it is |
| at your local aquarium shop and see what catches | | | | warm or cool enough. A lot of the more colorful |
| your eye. If you don't see anything you like, the | | | | freshwater fish come from tropical freshwater, |
| shopkeeper will likely be able to help you in | | | | and require warm water to be healthy and happy. |
| ordering the ones you want. And be sure and find | | | | |