The following article discusses setting up a basic aquarium. Filtration, heating and choosing the fish are some of the topics covered.
The Eastern Iowa Aquarium Association advice begins with setting up the aquarium long before you purchase the fish. Getting off on the right foot can help make fish keeping an enjoyable experience.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
1. A 20 gallon aquarium or larger is a good starting point, a 10 gallon just isn't large enough to support more than a very few fish in a healthy environment.
2. An undergravel filter with 1 1/2 inches of fine natural gravel for biological filtration...
3. A Power Filter on the outside of the aquarium to mechanically remove particulate from the water.
4. A submergible heater, 5 watts per gallon of water.
5. A thermometer to monitor the heater.
6. Some plants, plastic or real aquatic to give the fish some furniture for their new home.
7. A Gravel Vac to assist you in cleaning the gravel and doing a partial water change twice a month.

EIAA advises buying the best quality you can afford to begin with and to avoid aquarium "Starter Kits" even though the low prices may seem tempting, since the filters and heaters tend to be sub-par and you will end up spending more money to replace them when they breakdown.

PICKING THE FISH:
1. Let the aquarium run with one or two fish for two to three weeks to allow the biological filtration to cycle to it can maintain a larger fish load.
2. Start with freshwater varieties.
3. Ask about the habits of the fish you are interested in. Tetra, Rainbows, Barbs for example are Schooling fish and happier and much more active and interesting if kept in groups of six or more of their species. Other species prefer pairs, or odd numbers. Consult a good book or your dealer.
4. Stay away from dye treated fish often called "painted". These dyes affect the nervous system and the fish only live about six months.
5. Look at all of the fish in the dealer's tank you are buying out of, if even one looks sick, assume all of them have been exposed and wait a week to see if they recover before you buy.

UP KEEP:
1. When it comes to pH and acidity of water, EIAA recommends you find fish that like the pH and acidity of your tap water rather than trying to alter the water chemistry as a beginner. Have your favorite shop run a water test on your tank and then ask them to assist you in finding fish that will enjoy your water chemistry perimeters.
2. Don't Over FEED! Fish have no internal mechanism to tell them when they are full, they don't know when to stop eating. So...only give them as much as they can eat completely in two minutes.
3. DO WATER CHANGES. Twice a month the aquarium needs 1/4 of the water removed and replaced with treated water of the same temperature. (Treated meaning chemicals added by your city water department removed, chlorine and ammonia). (Products such as NovAqua and StressCoat will remove chlorine from your tap water.) This is called a "partial water change". Aquariums should not be totally torn down for cleaning. By using a Gravel Vac, you can remove the water AND clean out the gravel to keep the biological filtration working at optimum efficiency. (Water and gravel swirl around in the larger end of the Gravel Vac, and particulate matter is siphoned out of the aquarium without removing the gravel.)

JOIN AN AQUARIUM CLUB
Whether you are just begining, been at it for years, or are an advanced breeder of exotic marine life, you will find a place in your local aquarium club. Where else will you find friends who will be excited that your praecox are flashing and actually want to see the pictures you took of the event.

Click on the attachment below.