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Even a beginner can have a successful aquarium with a little work. There are a few simple rules to follow in keeping an aquarium. If you learn what they are and follow them, you will be able to avoid the mistakes that some people often make when they set up their aquariums.

Choose the proper type of tank and the location for it.

It is best to buy a rectangular tank that is a most about three inches higher than it is wide. Globes or tall, narrow tanks are not good because there is too little water surface open to the air. A wider tank will have more open water space. This will help the water take in more oxygen. This is very important for the health of your fish. The water takes in oxygen From the air and the fish breathe in this oxygen through their gills. Fish give of the gas carbon dioxide when they breathe just like humans do. The carbon dioxide that is given off by the fish must escape into the air through the surface of the water or your fish will suffocate and die.

It is important to keep all metal out of a fish tank. Even the smallest amount of metal in the tank can poison your fish. Paints, soaps, detergents, and certain plastics must also be kept out of your tank. Limestone products such as marble chips, shells, coral, and coral sand should also be avoided. They can dissolve into the water and make your water to hard. The best minerals for use in your aquarium would be quartz, sandstone, and granite.

For protection, you should keep a glass cover over your tank. Don't worry about the fish not getting enough air, the covers do not fit tight enough that it keeps out the air that your fish will need.

Finding the right location for the tank is also important. An aquarium should not stand in a drafty spot or near a radiator. The sudden changes in temperature that would cause could be bad for your fish.

Direct sunlight should be avoided except for short periods of time. Artificial lighting is just as good for the fish as they daily sunshine. Too much light will encourage the growth of algae, which in turn will make your water green. Too much direct sunlight will also overheat your water.

A tank filled with water is very heavy. A 13-gallon tank weighs more than 110 pounds when it is filled. That is why the aquarium needs a firm place to stand. It is also why a filled tank should never be moved. If you try, you will more than likely crack it and it will leak.

What you put in your tank

The gravel, water, and plants that you put in your tank are all important to the health

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