The easiest way to get into looking after fish is purchasing a good old fashioned goldfish, however if you don’t fancy this and would like to get your teeth into something different then start with tropical fish (trust me, you do not want to start off with saltwater fish as you need a lot of knowledge to look after them correctly). A tropical freshwater community tank is the perfect way to get into fish keeping, tropical freshwater fish are fairly easy to maintain and a community tank gives you a chance to look after a variety of tropical fish from around the world.  When it comes to choosing your fish make sure you do your research! You are best to start off with a hardy breed of fish such as platies instead of something a bit too exotic, remember that not all fish get along so make sure you get compatible breeds that are happy to live in a community tank.

There are a number of things to consider when choosing the correct tank size, firstly think about how many fish you are going to purchase and research into how big they will grow as this will help determine the minimum tank size you should buy. As a rough guide, there should be 1cm of fish for every 25cm2 of water in the tank. It is very disappointing if your fish outgrow your tank and you have to let them go, so if you are unsure what tank size to purchase then always go for a slightly larger tank then you might need. A larger tank is also easier to maintain and keep good quality water in, it is also better for the fish as they behave more naturally when they have a large area to swim in.

You obviously want to show off your fish and have them in pride of place in your room, but remember that the top priority is the wellbeing of the fish and placing the tank in a bad position could affect their health.

• Try to put the tank in a quite area away from an area of high activity. • Make sure the tank is not placed in direct sunlight in order to avoid algae problems. • Do not place the tank near any sources of heat or cold, i.e. a radiator. • Ensure the tank is not in an area exposed to toxic fumes such as paint fumes. The tank should be in an area where you can carry out water changes, also make sure that something is placed underneath the tank such as polystyrene in order to protect the tank.

After you have picked your tank you will then need to think about what equipment to purchase, there are literally thousands of accessories to choose from but remember to choose equipment that is suitable for the fish you are purchasing.

• Filter • Heater • Light system • Water conditioners

The filter is an absolutely vital piece of equipment, its task is to mechanically filter out the waste from the tank and keep the friendly bacteria for a healthy environment. Without a filter your fish will be swimming around in water with high levels of ammonia and nitrate. Ammonia comes from fish excrete and is toxic to fish; if levels of ammonia get to high in the aquarium then it will ultimately kill your fish. You can purchase internal and external filters but an internal filter is the easiest to install and use, internal filters sit just inside the aquarium slightly below the waterline. Do not buy a cheap filter!! Your fish depend on it to live and to live healthy so make sure you budget for a good quality filter. Make sure that no rocks or plants are in the way of the filter when you install it, otherwise this could affect how efficient the filter works.

The heater obviously controls the temperature of your fish tank and the correct temperate is vital for the wellbeing of the fish. As a rule, tropical fish need water temperate between 24-27 degrees Celsius but double check the recommended temperature with your livestock supplier.  Mostly all heaters have a dial which lets you set a correct, constant temperature. Make sure that your heater is firmly attached to the side of the tank; you may also want to consider purchasing a heater guard to protect both your fish and the heater itself.

A lot of people think that tank lighting is there just for visual effect, but good quality lighting is essential for both plants and fish.  Florescent lighting tubes are recommended as they can cover the full length of your fish tank distributing optimum light and they are also energy efficient. Be advised that some plants require different levels of light; if you intend to have a lot of plants in your tank then we would recommend purchasing lights that are designed for this. It is normally recommended that tank lights should be kept on between 8-12 hours of the day.

It is absolutely vital that you treat the water before you even think about putting fish in it. Tap water contains chlorine that can seriously damage the skin and gill membranes of your fish so it is important all chlorine is removed, to do this you need to treat the water with a “tap water conditioner”. There are lots of these available on the market from all major brands so make so that you purchase a water conditioner.

It is important to recreate a natural environment for your fish so they feel comfortable with their surroundings. Fish naturally like to hide away in places if they feel threatened and if a fish is permanently exposed then this can lead to stress which in turn can lead to health problems.  Remember that a happy fish is a healthy fish! You can create a natural environment by purchasing gravel to cover the bottom of the tank, plants, bogwood, rocks and other decorative items. You have the choice of purchasing live plants or plastic plants. The bottom of your new tank should always be covered in gravel or aquarium sand, if you are using gravel then make sure that you wash it thoroughly first before placing it in the bottom of the tank. If you r new tank is going to have live plants then we would suggest your gravel or sand is between 2 to 3 inches deep, we would recommend purchasing a low calcium beach gravel which allows plant roots to penetrate easily. Also remember that live plants need the correctly lighting levels in order to grow correctly.

Do not expect to buy all of your equipment and your fish in the same day!! After you have decided what equipment to purchase you should setup your tank, fill it with water in the correct way and prepare the tank correctly before adding the fish. Give the filter time to mature the water and make sure you remember to add your tap water conditioner. The tank should be left for five to seven days with the filter running. During this time you can check that all of your equipment is working correctly and make sure that your new tank isn’t leaking. For more information on setting your tank up correctly, see our “setting up your aquarium” article.