by Pete Grey

Created on: May 22, 2008

Fish keeping is a good hobby. In fact it is a good treatment for mental stress. You can enjoy the benefit of keeping fish by choosing the right fish tank. Here are some tips which you should consider when choosing your tank.

1.Size of the Tank
The more volume the tank has, you can put more fish into it. However, maintenance and moving the tank around becomes difficult. If you are too busy with your work and/or you are a beginner it is better to use a moderate size tank. Your fish should be able to swim at least two feet without changing direction.

2.Shape of the Tank
The most common shape available is the rectangular type. Hexagonal, coffee table, bowl types are also available. The rectangular tanks are preferred as they have more surface area so that the fish can swim for a longer distance one way. Also in rectangular tanks it is easier to calculate the total volume of water. This is important when you have to add medicine or other chemicals to your tank. It is easier to clean a tank with more surface area.

3.Location of the Tank
Fish like to be in a calm environment. Therefore, you should keep your tank at an area with less rush. Otherwise fish will panic and may harm the peace of the tank.

4.Tank Condition
If you are buying the tank directly from a vendor with fish in it, rather than setting it up yourself, you need to be careful about the parasites in the tank. These can be microscopic creatures and you may not aware of their presence. Make sure the fish are swimming freely without any exaggerated movement and are looking healthy. Healthy fish are active. One simple test that will work on many times is to test the fish with a small amount of fish food. If they do not show any interest on the food, then the chances are such that they are infected.

5.Accessories
You need to choose the right kind of accessories to your tank. Accessories do add glamor to your tank. However you should give priority to the most necessary things first. They are the water filters, heaters and lighting systems. Thereafter you can choose items to make your tank colourful. You have to remember not to overload your tank with the accessories, as your fish needs more space to swim freely.

6.Choosing the Fish
Not all the fish are alike. Some are peaceful, while some are aggressive. Some fish may school well with a one kind but will fight to death with another type. Some fish like beta will fight amongst each other of the same species. Some fish are territorial so that they reserve a place for them in the tank. You can't have too many of those in one tank. You can't put bigger fish with smaller one, as the bigger ones will eventually consume the smaller ones for their diet. Some fish will breed so regularly, making the tank crowded. You must have a method to put off the additional fish. Good practice is to give it to one of your friend.
When adding the fish to the tank, consider the female to male fish ratio. Some fish like guppies, mollies and platys require 4 or 5 females to one male. Otherwise, the male will harass the female and eventually the female will get exhausted.

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