by Jennifer Searle

Created on: November 21, 2008

A low maintenance fish tank does not require a lot of skill or time for upkeep, but it does require a little prior planning. If you just recently purchased a fish tank on a whim, or are looking to purchase a fish tank to start your aquatic adventures then you have found your guide to this amazing world of fish.

To start your low maintenance aquarium you will need at least 50 days for your tank to age before you put in your permanent fish tank residents. You will need some basic fish tank equipment, which can cost a little bit of money. If you have acquired a fish tank or are looking to purchase one there are a few things you will need to know about the tank before you begin.

* The Tank Set up:

- A glass tank, gallon size depends on how many and what kind of fish you will be putting in it. Always research the fish you are looking at to get full adult size estimate on the fish. For example, those tiny little gold fancy gold fish can grow up to 6 inches in length and will need about 3 gallons per inch due to their dirtiness. Tetra's can range between an inch and three inches full sized. As a rule of thumb most tropical fresh water fish need at least a gallon of water per inch of fish. Over crowded tanks can result in needing frequent water changes.

- A proper tank hood with florescent lights. If the tank you buy does not come with a hood or comes with one but does not have an acrylic plate to cover over the water, you must purchase one. You do not want water splashing on your lights causing them to short out and shock you. Florescent lights are what I prefer, however, it can require that you treat your tank monthly for algae growth.

- A filtration system for your fish tank. You will want to put an under gravel filter in your tank as well as an external carbon/bio filter. This will eliminate much of the muck that can build up in a tank and reduce the amount of water changes you will have to do.

- A tank heater. Most tropical fish prefer a tank that is at least 70 degrees F. Heaters come in a variety of sizes to fit most tank needs. You will also want a small thermometer that can stick to the inside of your tank.

- Chemicals you will need to keep your fish tank healthy: You will need chlorine remover to treat the tap water used in the tank (buying water from pet stores is expensive and unnecessary.) There are several different brands, I recommend Seachem's Neutral Regulator, because it removes chlorine and ammonia as well as adjusting the ph balance to 7.0. Most fish need

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