Aquariums are expensive and you may end up spending a lot of money for it. A smart buying exercise will help you get a good aquarium within reasonable price. Before you start looking for an aquarium it will be wise to know a few things. You should be clear as to the number of fish, type of fish and the kind of decor you would like to have.

If this is your first aquarium you may be thinking that you should start off with a small tank and just a couple of fish. However, this may not be the way to go. When you are setting up an aquarium you are essentially trying to setup a mini ecosystem with the proper pH balance and even living plant life. The smaller the tank the harder this is to accomplish. Twenty gallons is a good size to start with. This may seem like a lot but you certainly don't want your fish to be cramped.

When choosing the fish it will have to be decided whether you want salt or fresh water fish. The tropical fish are fresh water fish. They both cannot be kept together. You can start with a few fish, say four or five. You can always increase the number when you desire.

It is essential to understand the compatibility of the fish with each other. Some fish do not get along with others and eat the smaller fish. Take the advice of the employee at the pet store or you can look for this information on the Internet.

Now that you know the tank and the fish you want, it's time to think about decorations. There are a lot of choices at the pet store, and the right ones depend only on what you like. That doesn't mean however, that you can just put anything in the water. Gravel especially must come from a pet store, since it won't have an adverse affect on your aquarium system, like beach gravel would. You don't want to upset the balance you've worked so hard to establish.

After having your fish and decided upon the aquarium you would like, next you will have to bring in the water. The chlorine in the normal tap water is harmful for the plants and the fish. This is the most important factor. You will have to treat the tap water to remove the chlorine content. Use a chlorine remover before adding the water to the aquarium.

The fish is very sensitive to the water temperature in the aquarium. Any incorrect temperature can be fatal for the fish. Use a thermometer to ensure that the temperature is not too hot or too cold. It is recommended to maintain the water temperature between 70 and 80 degree Fahrenheit.

The next thing to be considered is the food for the fish. Most fish are not fussy about the food they are given, fish flakes and pellets are both fine with the fish. Recommendation for any special food can be ascertained from the pet store.

Successfully setting up and maintaining your own aquarium can be very rewarding and enjoyable. Many people think it's as easy as throwing a couple of gold fish into a bowl and the fish will be fine. However, aquariums take much more work and can be much more rewarding than a fish bowl.