TotallyTropicals

When choosing your fish tank, always have a good look around; do not just buy the first tank you see. It is best to start off with a small tank. Maybe around the 2ft mark. There is a great tank made by Jewel which is called the Rekord 70, and it is a perfect little tank for the beginner to the hobby. It is easy to install due to its small size, and all the filtration media and heater etc is installed at one end of the tank, making the set-up really easy to get going. When you go looking for your aquarium, you will no doubt see all different types on display, some will be the usual oblong shape, and others may be hexagonal; all, will be quite sufficient if stocked correctly and maintained to a good standard.

If you want to have plants in your aquarium; which I must add look lovely if chosen carefully, and also double to help keep your tank in good condition, by the way of giving off oxygen during the day and absorbing nitrates. However, if you do wish to have a planted aquarium, please take into consideration that plants need lots of light, so it is best to maybe consider buying a not so deep tank, so the plants will thrive alot better.

When looking for a tank, you may not know anything about filtration, and the different types that can be used with your tank, so it may be worth looking into this before you buy. (I have included some information on different types of filtration, to give you some idea of what is available).

You may find that you would rather buy a bare tank that has no filtration included with it, so you can mould it around how you want it. This option is great if you know a bit about fish keeping, but if you don't, it is best to stick to the tanks that have everything with them. When I say everything with them, I mean - (Filter, heater, pump and light). If you are not familiar with setting up a tank, you could well, inadvertently of course, buy a heater that is not suitable for your tank,(a good guide when buying a heater for your aquarium is 50 watts per 10 gallons.) As you will probably have guessed, it takes more power to heat a larger tank than to heat a small one. There is also the possibility of buying a pump that is not powerful enough to create the desired amount of water movement to promote a healthy tank enviroment etc.

When buying a tank for the first time, I would definately buy an all in one tank that comes with everything you need, and if possible go to a shop that has helpful staff to assist you with your purchase.

Piczo