Pet fish provide hours of enjoyment and are one of the more popular pet options when you are looking for a pet that requires less maintenance. Although easier to take care of, pet fish still need to have the right type of marine environment with regular feeding and care. Here are some recommendations to help you get started out with a new fish tank setup.

Choose a Tank

To keep your fish safe and healthy, they will need an appropriate aquarium where they can live, play, eat, and sleep. The type of aquarium you choose for your new pets will depend on a few different factors, such as where you want to set up your aquarium, how many fish you want to own, and what type of fish you are going to go after. The fish tank should be made of durable glass without any damage, such as cracks along the corners or top edges. If you buy a used aquarium, thoroughly inspect the tank glass for signs of damage or wear before you settle on a price. This can be a great way to get a good deal on a nice large tank. Just be sure you look for a tank that is tall and long rather than deep, which will provide you a better view into your tank to see all your marine wildlife. 

Consider the size of the tank that you want to start with. A smaller tank may seem like it will be a better way to start out with keeping fish, however, as a beginner, a larger tank can be easier to maintain. The larger-sized tanks will have more water and are less likely to get overwhelmed with algae. Also, it will be easier to keep the water cleaned through water filtering and to manage the water temperature properly. In a smaller tank with less water, for example, changes can happen more quickly to the water and the fish environment. 

The tank that you purchase should be the right price as well as the right capacity. Look for a selection of discount aquariums at a local pet retailer or online to see a good variety of shapes and sizes.

Select the Tank Design

Within the tank, you need to take some time and plan out a healthy habitat and environment for your fish. You will need lighting that creates a proper day and night schedule, a thermostat to keep the water at the right warmth, filters to clean, filter, and add oxygen to the water, and decor inside the tank where your fish can hide. Some tank decor may include real or plastic plants, gravel to cover the bottom, and structures for fish hide-and-seek.

Place the tank away from heat sources and windows so your fish aren't exposed to extreme temperature changes. And plan to clean the filters regularly and scrub out the inside of the tank to remove any algae build-up. Then, whenever you add new water to your tank, be sure to balance the water to the proper pH for your fish.

Reach out to a company like Northeast Aquariums for more information.