Fish as Pets

Fish as pets

Are you an aquarium person?

Having an aquarium can be fun and relaxing. Starting out you don't have to go big right from the start. Starting small is the best way if you're new to keeping fish. Start with a ten-gallon tank they are less expensive and readily available at many larger department store. However, I suggest supporting one of your local pet store or aquarium stores. 

 

Starting with a ten-gallon tank has two very good reasons.

1.  You can learn what it takes to establish a good fish environment. With less expense in equipment and livestock.
2.  As you grow in the comforts of keeping an aquarium and decide to graduate to a larger environment with the more delicate tropical fish you will have a good isolation tank for the times you need to treat a condition that a fish may have or you find that you have an aggressive bully in the tank and can isolate it for a while.

So what's needed to get started

As mentioned above I would start with a ten-gallon tank your local Walmart carries these in there pet department or you can shop on Amazon as well. The components needed are 

• Ten Gallon Tank
• Filter and Pump
• Rock for the bottom ( 1/2" to 1" deep I suggest a minimum of 1" )
• Aquarium Decorations ( like plants and some large to medium rock)
• Aquarium Stand 
• Chlorine remover ( I like Start Right by Jungle )
• A  Clean 5-gallon Bucket ( Mark this with Aquarium Use Only)
• Aquarium Heater 

Start with rinsing out your new tank with warm water from the tap rinse out completely being sure that all the residue has been removed.

Now do the same with your new rock in a strainer rinse until all the cloudy residue becomes clear.

Find the place you want to have your Aquarium and stand to sit in your home and begin by adding your clean rock to the bottom spreading evenly across the tank. 

One of my Angel Fish in a 20 Gallon tank Taken June of 2019

Next, I would then add water to one half of the tank and then begin placing your ornaments where you would like them to be. 

Next finish filling the tank, affix your filter and pump to the tank, and start it up ( you may need to prime the by adding water to the reservoir of the pump) once this is done allow it to run for up to three days to begin aerating the water, add your Start Right water conditioner. 

After 3 or 4 days you can add up to 3 small fish to start seasoning the tank. Use more hardy fish like Tetras, Guppies, and Gold fish after they have been in the tank for a couple weeks and everything is going well. You can start adding more fish to your Aquarium. In a 10-gallon tank, the rule is 1 small fish per gallon like a neon tetra. 

After your tank has been seasoned and everything is doing well plus your experience has grown you may be able to add and maintain 2 small fish per gallon. 

Neon Tetra

So there is setting up a 10-gallon Aquarium, in a nutshell, to get you started. I would encourage you to invest in a trip to your local library and pick up some books on the aquarium hobby. Below are some links to Aquarium books and products that can help you get started. 

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