Starting and Maintaining a Tropical Fish Aquarium

(click picture above for a detailed look)

Owning an aquarium is a hobby that can be taxing at times but if you start with a strong, healthy, foundation and set up the tank correctly it can be a relatively low maintenance yet very rewarding hobby. It's a cool feeling to have the ability to set up a thriving habitat for marine aquatic life. Half the fun is maintaining the tank over the years and making small adjustments here and there and adding new fish and decorations. You can get creative and go with any theme that you want, such as pirates, sunken treasure or anything else your imagination can come up with.
There really are no boundaries when it comes to how you want your tank to look. Usually people use their tank as a decorative centerpiece for the home. It has also been proven that having an aquarium in the house can lower your stress level and promote relaxation. Click here for an informative article on the health benefits associated with having fish around. Fish tanks can get expensive but compared to other hobbies, it is actually very affordable. Money is an important issue to everyone which is why I will explain the best ways to get things at greatly reduced prices. I also decided to include some tips that I've picked up over the years from personal experience, these tips will help keep the cost of ownership down to a minimum, they will also assist with maintenance issues.
In this article I will layout the steps necessary to get started in this extraordinary hobby. The steps are simple and easy to follow and can be altered slightly as you see necessary, they are meant to get you started in the right direction. I have put them in list format so they are easier to follow along with.

• Check craigslist, Ebay and your local newspaper classified ads for used items.
  
• Don't rush things, people are constantly selling used fish tank accessories, if you don't find anything today just wait and you will.
• Do the research, figure out what you what type of tank you want. If you want a large number of peaceful fish then you should go for what's called a "community" tank. If you want fewer but larger, aggressive fish then you want to go with an "aggressive" tank.
  
• Make sure you have the time to support the hobby.
  

Okay, now we will get into what equipment you will need and the cost:

The Tank - 29 Gal. is a great starter size and can be purchased for around $50 new, I've seen used 29 gal tanks for as low as $20. Note: The only thing you really need to be concerned about when purchasing a used tank is whether it holds water or not. If the tank is dirty, don't worry about it, tanks clean up easily but is absolutely must not leak or have any visible cracks no matter how small.

Filtration - This is the most important item in your tank and is the one item that I recommend buying new. Ebay has lots of new filters as well as your local pet store. Remember do not worry about over-filtration, there is no such thing. If you can afford it, get a filter rated for more than the capacity of your tank. At a minimum your filter must be rated for the number of gallons in your tank. For a 29 gallon tank, a good filter costs about $30.

Tank Heater - You will have to have a heater in your tank in order to keep the temperature where it needs to be (anywhere from 73 to 78 degrees F is fine). You should be able to find a used heater but if not they can be found at any fish store or at Wal-mart and they sell for about $15.

Lighting - You will need to invest in what is called a "hood" for the tank. It includes the lights and the lids that you will lift up to feed the fish. Again, they can be found used for $10-$30. If you buy a new hood it can cost around $40.

Decor - This part, to most people, is the most enjoyable. After putting in any color gravel, you can add decorations that give your tank a theme. The one thing to remember is that your decorations also need to serve as structure for the fish. They will use the items to hide behind and establish territory.