Living in an apartment and being newly married, fish are about the only pets I can afford. I have always loved having fish, I found it very relaxing. It wasn't until working at PetSmart for a while and talking to coworkers that I learned how to properly take care of them. The tank I used to have in my bedroom was overcrowded and algae was always on the sides. I didn't keep up with it because I simply didn't know how. My hope is to teach you the basics for taking care of a happy fish tank! Whatever size tank you end up with, you should be able to walk into your local pet store with confidence about what you are there to achieve.
More often than not, when someone says 'fish tank' the two pictures that come to mind are either a goldfish in a small bowl with maybe a fake plant and some gravel or a fish tank the size of a large wall filled to the brim with colorful live plants and exotic fish. That is not what I think of, however. I picture my 20 gallon tank that sits in my living room with a few fish and fake plants. It is not exactly the Taj Mahal, but for what I am capable to take care of at the time it is perfect.
More often than not, when someone says 'fish tank' the two pictures that come to mind are either a goldfish in a small bowl with maybe a fake plant and some gravel or a fish tank the size of a large wall filled to the brim with colorful live plants and exotic fish. That is not what I think of, however. I picture my 20 gallon tank that sits in my living room with a few fish and fake plants. It is not exactly the Taj Mahal, but for what I am capable to take care of at the time it is perfect.
I have broken this post down into four main sections: Picking Out Your Tank, Picking Out Your Decorations, Upkeep And Basic Maintenance, and finally Picking Out Your Fish. It is important to read all of these before going out and buying a tank to avoid regretting your decision or making a mistake that could have been avoided. I want you to be as educated as possible on the basics so you make good decisions in adding new pets to your family!