4 Beginner Tips for Starting Your Aquarium

You are finally pulling the trigger and looking to create an amazing aquarium. There are some important considerations to keep in mind when getting started that will help you make the best decisions:

1) What kind of tank are you looking for? This is probably the most logical, but challenging, place to start. Be careful not to spread yourself into your first aquarium and take on too much to handle. A good tip is to start small, then build up as you gain more experience and proficiency in the hobby. Some good starting size tanks are 10 gallons, 20 gallons, and 29 gallons.

2) What is your budget for this aquarium? This may be obvious to an outsider, but it’s easy to get stuck spending hundreds of dollars on your first store visit. Make sure you plan your expenses before you buy to avoid buying unexpected items. Also, this budget will help determine what type of aquarium you can build. Fresh water is generally easier and less expensive to build. I built a healthy 20 gallon freshwater aquarium for under $ 150, but yours could vary. For a saltwater aquarium, be sure to research product costs and maintenance costs. It is not uncommon to spend more than $ 1,000, especially on a reef aquarium.

3) Building an aquarium is not a sprint, it is a marathon. The key to building a beautiful and attractive aquarium is time. Your new aquarium will need time to filter your water and build the correct levels within the tank to maintain a healthy and survivable environment. Especially for saltwater reef aquariums, time is key to their success. Be patient and enjoy your trip, even when your aquarium is becoming what you want it to be.

4) Understand that maintenance is a recurring task. Maintaining an aquarium can be challenging. Just like you work to keep your home clean, an aquarium requires the same effort on your part to ensure that the aquarium environment remains sustainable. Make sure you have the time to invest in maintaining your aquarium or find an aquarium maintenance company to help you maintain your aquarium for you. Plus, investing in equipment to help you clean your aquarium can be invaluable. Filtration systems are almost always a necessity, protein skimmers can be used for salt water reservoirs, and even live rock and sand can be used as an additional level of filtration.