Fish and Aquarium

Goldfish have been kept as pets longer than any other species of fish and are the most common pet found in households today. All goldfish belong to just one species: Carassius auratus. Because of this, all goldfish varieties are similar in their behavior, care and habits. Goldfish are not tropical fish and rarely require a heated aquarium.

Setting up a goldfish tank is a challenging, but rewarding, hobby. If you set up your goldfish aquarium correctly it will be much easier to maintain and manage it. Many factors are involved in the success of a tank, and there are many books available to assist the novice fishkeeper.

Selecting Your Equipment

First, you must decide on the size tank you wish to operate. When it comes to the setup of the fish tank generally the larger the tank the better. It is easier to maintain the correct chemical balance in a bigger tank and most goldfish hobbyists who start with a small tank soon find they want to upgrade. A good beginning size is around 55 gallons.

The size of the tank will determine the size of the fish tank stand needed to hold your aquarium. Be sure to take into account the finished weight of the tank, including all equipment, fish, rocks / gravel, ornaments, and of course, the heaviest component – the water. One gallon (4.5 liters) of water weighs around 10lbs (4.5kgs).

Read the full article on how to set up a goldfish tank …