Aquarium Guide: 3 Essential Steps to Start an Awesome Beginner Aquarium Now

Fish

The first thing you should do when planning an aquarium is to figure out which fish to get. This will dictate the entire tank and anything inside it, so this should be carefully thought through. It would help if you also were thinking about where to place this tank and how you are going to maintain it. When adding fish also make sure that the fish you get are compatible and do not get fish that are aggressive or will become aggressive. I have another article where I will be talking about which fish to use and not get any why in more depth but ill show you a few not to right now.

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Top Fish Not to Get for Your First Aquarium

• Oscar
• Neon Tetra
• Dyed or Deformed Fish
• Pleco
• Goldfish

Oscars are on this list because altho they are beautiful fish they can grow to massive sizes and will then eat the other fish in the Aquarium. Oscars often get purchased, grown to a large size, eat all other fish, and then get abandoned.

Neon Tetras are beautiful small schooling fish that beginners often get but they require a larger tank for proper space and often get eaten by other fish in the tank due to their size.

Dyed or deformed fish are another type I would avoid in general as they can be sick or die from the modifications. they are also harder to care for as they are more fragile and sensitive. These fish are also usually costly so most people wait with them until they have more experience.

Plecos are amazing fish, they help clean the tank and are very interesting to watch. One of the big problems people run into alto is that plecos grow fast and will grow to enormous sizes. They need massive tanks in order to be practical long term. This is why these fish are often abandoned in small ponds or lakes.

Goldfish are a very popular fish that almost everyone knows about. they are often recommended as beginner fish but in all reality, they are terrible fish. They are mass bread which means that they have lots of parasites and can be ill when purchased they also grow to massive sizes and eat all plants in the tank.

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Tip: Set up your tank before purchasing fish. This is important so that the water is stable for fish

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Tank

Once you have decided what fish you getting and have got a designated location it’s time to pick out the tank. Now you should be looking for a tank that fits the location and looks good. I recommend buying something with sound ratings as it means that people have purchased it and had a positive experience. there are hundreds of tanks out there each from a different brand and design. in the future, I will be making a blog about my most recommended tanks so watch for that.

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Tip: Make sure your tank fits the fish and decor, but also make sure it fits the heater and filter you choose.

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Decor

Tip: Thoroughly wash any decor before adding to the tank. This will help remove any germs before adding them to the tank.

One other thing I will say with tanks when it comes to scaping is that when you scape try to use more naturalistic items instead of things like SpongeBob decor but instead lean towards more realistic items. Aquariums with bright rainbow pebbles do not make for a good home for fish but instead, make the tank look obnoxious and hard on the eye.