First Fish tank - What size ?

Don’t worry too much about this question because if you’re thinking this is going to work out expensive, it really doesn’t have to.  Also, there are only two main decisions you have to think about when choosing your first fish tank.

Particularly if you’re new to this hobby, you’re not going to be that well informed about which size freshwater fish tank you should buy.  Please do yourself a favour and make the decision to NOT go out and buy the biggest tank you can find!!! Trust me, you will create so many unwanted and unnecessary problems immediately, and of course, unnecessary cost.

There are a lot of aquariums out there and it is important to get it right especially with your first aquarium.

The way to go about obtaining your first fish tank is to buy a small one first.  When I say small, I am referring to a tank which holds between twenty and forty gallons of water . Please resist the temptation to buy anything substantially larger or smaller.

At this point you’re probably thinking, “I really want a large first fish tank to start so that I don’t have to spend out money again later”.  I know you’re thinking that because that’s what most people think before starting. And that is precisely the reason why a lot of us end up de-motivated or fed up.

They have bought a huge first aquarium with little or no knowledge of aquarium set up,  fish or aquarium maintenance. They don’t know which size fish are appropriate for the size of fish tank that they have.  They don’t know which fish can go with which other fish. They don’t know which is the best substrate for the fish they have. They don’t know how much it will cost to heat the fish tank that they have. And so on and so on it goes.

Alternatively, if you buy a first fish tank that is too small you make life equally difficult for yourself.  Small tanks are for the experts, the experienced water keepers.  Because of the amount of water in a small fish tank, any change causes major changes in water quality.  If you are tempted by some of the mini aquariums, think again, learn the science of caring for the water before you go for one of these very fashionable but difficult to keep smaller tanks.

So think of your  first tank almost like a tester to see if you really are into this hobby or not,  and if you start out correctly, the huge chance is, you will be.

Ok, after you’ve bought this tank and the days, weeks and months have passed by you will then know for sure whether or not you’re into this hobby and just as important – you will have experience and knowledge of how to handle something bigger.

Now, here is my opinion based on experience and knowledge.

Once you have had your small sized tank for a period of time, you will, as said earlier, know if this hobby is for you or not, and as also said earlier, the chances are if you’ve gone about it correctly, it  will be.

Ok, if you know that this hobby is for you, then why go out and buy the next size up, then after a while, the next size up again, and so on. It really is pointless because like almost everyone else, you will eventually end up buying or making the largest freshwater aquarium that you can possibly fit into the space you have available for it anyway. So forget all those gradual tanks.

Save yourself lots of money. Decide where the most space is  where your tank is going to be and  measure up. Forget the other four or five tanks that you were going to buy to eventually reach your chosen goal. Remember, you are only doing this after having a small “tester” tank and have shown to yourself that this hobby is what you want. There is therefore, no wastage of tanks, fish or money.

Buy small – test it  – buy big !!! Do this – save money –  job done!!

John Eddie Aquarium Enthusiast