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Selecting the Correct Aquarium Tank
There are many things you have to do when you actually decide to buy your tank. The size of the tank, the volume of water it holds and the general shape will be factors that will choose which fish you will end up buying. Previously we have discussed the different shapes of aquariums and sizes involved, so buying the correct tank to house your fish of choose, whether it’s an individual species or a large community tank you have got your first step done correctly.
Tank Size
When you plan to set up your freshwater aquarium minimum you should look at 10 gallons to ensure a stable environment for your fish. Smaller aquariums become difficult to work with as the fish become crowded very quick and they are prone to poor water conditions. Also you will be unable to fit many decorations or plants if you bought a small tank.
Aim to buy the biggest tank that your budget and location can allow, as the increase surface area will allow for better oxygen absorption and carbon dioxide exchange and will improve the stability of your overall tank.
Small aquarium tanks will quickly lose their temperature if the heater as faults and if the filter stops very quickly decrease the quality of water which will lead to further problems.
Tank Shape
Odd shaped tanks can look very impressive in your living room, but they can have several drawbacks, mainly the shape will affect the oxygen exchange in the water.
The exchange between the oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs on the water surface therefore a tall tower tank will have a low surface area compared to its total volume of water will have a lower exchange compared to a short tank with a large surface area.
Consider the other products you will have to buy as an odd sized tank will give you difficulties to buy items like hoods, lights and other equipment. Even you can find the right fit for these it probably cost more than standard sizes.
Cleaning an odd size tank will give difficulties as you may not be able to reach the corners especially if they are tall and thin.
Fish Capacity
Fish capacity is simply the total number of fish in your aquarium without affecting the aquariums stability. Again a tall and narrow tank will not be able to carry as many fish as a tank with a larger surface area. Always remember fish will grow so buy fish with the knowledge of the fish’s final size.
What kind Aquarium do you want?
You are setting out on the freshwater side of the hobby or why else would you be here…right? This site wll go though the processes to set up your aquarium, but before we go to far into freshwater aquariums lets have a quick glimpse what you may want move into after you mastered the basic freshwater aquarium guide.
The aquarium hobby has three basic systems:
- Freshwater System
- Saltwater System
- Brackish System
The fish, plants, equipment, tanks and management will be different for each type of system. We will discuss over the next few articles a brief overview of each type of set up and give you ideas of initial set up cost, difficultly level, space considerations and availability of speices.
Freshwater Systems
freshwater aquariums are the most commonly practiced hobby and ideal for a beginner for a few reasons:
A freshwater system is not quite as expensive as a saltwater aquarium- Saltwater aquariums require additional equipment and genrally larger tanks.
- Freshwater fish are generally cheaper than marine fish- its always better to work wth less expensive fish an buying exensice fish and lsing them.
- Freshwater fish are generally more ready available from most aquarium shops than the marine fish- Marine fish are more sensitive to water conditions than freshwater fish which can have a more varied water conditions and still survive.
- Generally freshwater fish breed more easily- you may have the opportunity to sell yout fih back to your local fish shop.
- You can have more fish- With the same size tank you can keep more freshwater fish than you could mariine fish.
Freshwater systems can come in two types either tropical or coldwater.
Freshwater Tropical Aquariums
A freshwater tropical aquarium offers huge numbers of variety for both fish and plants and will give you endless ideas for your aquarium. Most tropical fish are easy to keep and very inexpensive which is why they are ideal for the beginner hobbyist. There is plenty of ready available kits for sale at your local fish shop which will include, tank,hood,light,filter and heater but these sets will exclude fish,plants and gravel but can be brought seperately.
Freshwater Coldwater Aquariums
These fish will come from colder waters than there tropical cousins, kits can be brought much alike the tropical kit, but they will not have any heater. Tanks or ponds will need to be larger as the fish are largr and consume more oxygen.
When keeping freshwater coldwater aquariums the room temperature they are kept in is important, as a warm room will heat up the tank. Generally getting fish for this setup is difficult except for goldfishsoyou may have to source though the internet to find the fish you want.
Marine Systems
The saltwater used for these type of aquariums is normally made form combining freshwater and a manufactured salt. A good filtration system is required in marine tanks as the fish require higher oxygen levels and lower ammonia levels.
Its recommended before you start out with saltwater aquariums is that you have basic knowledge with freshwater aquariums, you can actually go straight to saltwater aquariums but they are expensive and a little mistake could put you off aquariums for good.
You may want take a look at Saltwater Aquarium Guide to have a better understanding of whats required.
Brackish Systems
The brackish aquarium is the least popular of the three types of aquariums because they are hard to find at your local fish shop and generally they are more expensive than freshwater fish.The water in a brackish aquarium lies some where between the other two in terms of salt content.
The equipment is the same as a freshwater aquarium system but the plants are different as they need tolerate a brackish system.
Rosy Barb (Barbus Conchonius)
Name: Rosy Barb
Latin Name: Barbus Conchonius
Ideal fish for any beginner aquariumist as they are suited for most water conditions and will eat anything from algae and plants to flake,tablet,and live foods.
Rosy Barbs are peaceful and tolerant of other speices and mix well with other similar-sized barbs.
Ideal Conditions:
- Water: Slighty acidic,slighty soft
- Temperature: 64-73F (8-23C)
- Food: small live or frozen aquatic invertebrates, such as daphnia, mosquito larvae, and blood worm. Flake foods. Green foods
- Min number in the aquarium: 2
- Min Aquarium Size: 24inch (60cm)
- Tank Region: Bottom, middle and top
For complete Rosy Barb fish profile.
For more information on Cyrinids or more freshwater fish profiles click here.
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