A lot of kids have goldfish in a bowl as a pet. These fish are pretty easy to take care of, and don’t require much maintenance. A fish tank, on the other hand, requires quite a bit of maintenance. I have learned quite a bit about this from personal experience and if you would like to know some tips and tricks continue reading.

First off, you obviously need a tank! The first tank I got was a 5 gallon, which is pretty small. A year ago I upgraded to a 20 gallon which is quite a bit larger. When you first get your fish tank you should make sure that you have a table to put it on. I would recommend having a towel or cloth underneath the tank because there might be some water that lands on the table. When you have the tank on a table, I would take a baby wipe or wet towel and clean the inside of the tank to make sure that there isn’t any dirt. After you have done all this you will need to go to a pet store to find the items you will be needing. In Emporia, I would highly recommend going to L&L Pets downtown on Commercial St. They will help you in getting everything you need. I have provided a list of the things you will most definitely need though there might be other items also.

• Chlorine Remover (If you don’t already have purified water)
• Water
• Gravel
• Decor (Optional)
• Filter and filters
• Fish Food
• Heater (Optional, though highly suggested)
• Light
• Aerator (Bubbler)
• Any other chemicals your tank needs
• Fish!

You can make your tank as colorful and fun as you want with decorations. This is one of my favorite parts of having a fish tank because you can make it all about you! I have only had a freshwater tank, and saltwater tanks from here on out will be requiring more difficult care.

Obviously, the point of having a fish tank is to have fish and maybe other aquatic animals. I have had a very large variety of fish. I like to choose fish that catch my eye. A lot of fish are very bright and colorful and tend to make you want to look at them. Sadly, there is a hidden limit to how many fish you can have in your tank. It isn’t a law or something, but if you add too many fish a lot of them will start dying and the ecosystem will fail. I have done this before and it is a horrible mistake to make. The easiest way to remember this is 1 fish per gallon (unless you are buying very large fish). You will need to ask an employee or do some research on which fish get along. Certain species will not get along in your tank and there will be some issues like fighting and cannibalism (eating each other).

Chemicals! Something you might not have thought would have mattered all that much. Trust, me though it does matter. The most common things you will need to test are the PH and the ammonia levels.  L&L Pets will test your water and help you fix it if there is an issue. You might have to buy chemicals, but this way you don’t have to buy more fish because they all died. Simple tips and tricks for a healthy, thriving tank are; getting an algae eater or bottom feeder, changing the filter regularly, siphon your tank regularly, feed on a normal basis, and pay attention to the tank!

Fish tanks are beautiful and wonderful to have. They can help with anxiety if you look at the fish swimming. If you would like to start your own fish tank, you can stop into L&L Pets and they can help you or your local pet store. Following my steps above should help you start your own tank.  I think that fish tanks are amazing and that more people should have one. They require a mid-level amount of maintenance and are really enjoyable. Maybe you will start your own fish tank sometime, or just look at someone else’s!