Leading off our #10 mistakes new fish owners make: plan your fish tank BEFORE you buy ANYTHING!! A little advanced planning will go a long way to ensure your fish will survive those first critical weeks in their new home.
Unlike purchasing a cat or a dog, usually adding a fish tank is a spur of the moment decision. Your kids have been begging you for a puppy or a kitten and you go with a smart compromise – A FISH! Well, I’m very sorry to tell you that fish can be just as much trouble as a cat or dog. Yes, they don’t need regular walks and won’t leave “surprises” in your bed, but they require regular care just like any other pet. BEFORE you go out and buy the new tank, plan your fish tank.
#1: How big of a tank do you think you can manage? The size of the tank you plan on will determine what species of fish you can have. If you can go big – GO BIG! The more water you have and the fewer fish, the less stressful the first few months will be. Once you know how big a tank you want, does the item of furniture you are planning on setting it support the weight of the tank? (Remember: 1 gallon of water = 8.34 lbs or 3.78 kg) This is not the time to show off that antique table. Fish tanks are wet and any item a tank sits on WILL GET WET. Wood is probably not a good idea unless its sealed. And as far as water quality goes, a bigger tank is always better.
Got your tank size and a place to put it? GREAT! Here’s the rest of the checklist to include on your shopping list:
Check List to Plan Your Fish Tank
- _____ Fish tank of _______ gallons
- _____ Table that can hold ______ gallons fish tank (1 gallon of water = 3.78 kg or 8.34 lbs)
- _____ Lid for tank with light
- _____ Filter capable of volume 1.5x ______ gallons (canister or hang-on)
- _____ If tank is >30 gallons, consider adding aerator or powerhead to improve water flow
- ______ Substrate (gravel, rocks, sand, etc.)
- ______ Gravel vacuum
- ______ Decor items (must be FISH SAFE) – for bettas, stick with items that will not snag fins
- ______ Live plants, if you like. Read this guide before you start with live plants. We do NOT recommend them for beginners.
- ______ Dechlorinator to treat tap water for chlorine AND chloramine
- ______ Bucket that can hold at least ~40% of your total water volume (or multiple buckets if necessary)
- ______ Scrub brush for decor
- ______ Algae scraper for acrylic or glass tank (they are DIFFERENT)
- ______ Heater – if your fish need it; did you do your research? Hint: goldfish do NOT, bettas absolutely DO
- ______ Thermometer – to make sure your heater is working properly
- ______ Water quality test kit – this is NOT optional
- ______ Fish food (enough for 6 months), you may want to try a variety to start to see what they like
- ______ Fish, obviously
Notice that we did NOT have bacterial starter, water conditioner other than dechlorinator or additional filter media. YOU DO NOT NEED IT!
Taking the time to plan your fish tank in advance takes 90% of the stress out of fish keeping. You are WAY ahead of most novice fish keepers if you make a plan and stick to it. And a lot of stores allow you to shop online and swing by to pick it up!
Stay tuned for Mistake #9 – Adding Fish Too Early
