Your skill level -Again, this tank doesn’t require a lot of skill because there won’t be any exotic fish in this tank.  Starter kits will walk you through the setting up the filter, mini heater and any other items that come with the kit. Just like the fish bowl you will need some cultured gravel.

Type of fish you would like to keep – Although goldfish can grab some oxygen form the air like Betta’s this size  tank is still not suitable for goldfish. Some people just don’t realize how big or fast a goldfish can grow.  Again I would recommend getting some white clouds.  Just like the bowl or 5 gallon Betta’s  should thrive in this tank.

Number of fish you want to maintain –  This tank can have about eight to 12 White Cloud fish and a couple of plant and algae eater. Or if you prefer you can have one or two goldfish and keep them healthy, but I actually opt for a 15 gallon.

Amount of work you are willing to put into maintaining your tank – You will still be maintaining a small tank so the weekly water change is a must. Remember that nitrate levels can rise quickly in a small amount of water. If you are keeping this tank as an emergency tank then you won’t have to change the water as often because there won’t be any fish in it on a regular basis. So the ammonia levels from the waste will be minimal. If you plan to use this as starter tank  or a tank for your child, the task will not be overwhelming.

Your cost – This is also an inexpensive tank to purchase and maintain. Depending on the style and theme of your kit you can expect to pay anywhere form 40 to 90 USD.  Be sure to include the  food and bottled water as ongoing expense.

This is the third post in a series about fish tank sizes. 

The five gallon fish tank or aquarium is still pretty small.  This is the size most often found on one’s desk or in a child’s room. They come in different shapes and just like the bowl they can be made of glass or acrylic. The good thing about this size tank is that you can normally purchased them in kits with everything you need to get started. Unlike fish bowls they are large enough for more than one plant, a hide away for fish and they come with equipment to control the temperature.  When you look at the other varibles they are very simalar to the fish bowl: 

Your skill level -Again, this tank doesn’t require a lot of skill because there won’t be any exoctic fish in this tank.  Starter kits will walk you through the setting up the filter, mini heater and any other items that come with the kit. Just like the fish bowl you will need some cultured gravel.

Type of fish you would like to keep – Although goldfish can grab some oxgen form the air like Betta’s this size  tank is still not suitable for goldfish. Some people jsut don’t realize how big or fast a goldfish can grow.  Again I would recommend getting some white clouds.  Betta’s  would do well in this tank since you can now control the temperature.  Some people keep guppies in this size tank. There are also some types of dwarf shirmps, frogs and other species that can live in this size tank, but this blog is about fish so I won’t go into details about them.

Number of fish you want to maintain – The 5 gallon tank is suitable for one Betta fish, a couple of plants, a hide away and a snail. You can now have about five to seven White Cloud fish (which some people mistake for goldfish) a couple of plants and maybe a couple of snails.

Amount of work you are willing to put into maintaining your tank – You still need to perform a 25 to 30 percent water change on a weekly basis. It may vary a little, just keep an eye on the amoina and nitrate levels. Again, if you purchased this tank to teach your child how to take care of a pet, it is a good choice.

Your budget – This is also an inexpensive tank to purchase and maintain. Depending on the style and theme of your kit you can expect to pay anywhere form 40 to 90 USD. Be sure to include the  food and bottled water as ongoing expense.

This is the second post in a series about fish tank sizes. 

I wanted to cover the fish bowl first because a lot of parents used this vehicle for housing a child’s first pet. It is ideal for keeping one or two fish and teaching responsibility to kids because the fish and the fish bowl will need constant care but the tasks to maintain it will not be overwhelming to your child. You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy a fish bowl and they are small enough that you can always find enough space to place them safely in  almost any room.  They range from the very small  to the large 3 gallon fish bowl. I  think it’s best to keep fish in a tank with a filter. However if you want a bowl I recommend no less than a 1.5 gallon fish bowl and the rest of this article pertains to this size bowl. After all even the smallest fish that you keep in a bowl will want some swimming room. The small size of the bowl makes them ideal for a kids bedroom or a small apartment. So let’s talk about some of the other variables you need to think about when purchasing a fish bowl:

Your skill level -Anyone can start and maintain a fish bowl successfully as long as they take the time to learn a few tasks. You don’t need to be an expert. You just need to be willing to maintain the bowl. Starting a fish bowl is as simple as buying the bowl (1.5 gallon), putting in about a quarter inch of gravel on the bottom, placing in an aquatic plant such as a Java Fern and  filling it about two inches from the top with bottled water. Do not use tap water! Cover your bowl with an airy top or screen to keep your fish from jumping out. Yes, fish will jump out of the tank, especially the kind that are suitable for keeping in bowls.

Type of fish you would like to keep – Many people refer to a fish bowl as a goldfish bowl. You may have noticed that so far in this article I have referred to this type of tank as a fish bowl. That is because you do not want to put goldfish in a bowl. It may be acceptable for a short stay but your goldfish will quickly out grow the bowl and you will have wasted your money or hurt your fish. 

The best type of fish to keep in bowl are white clouds. They are very sturdy fish. They are small in size and you can have two or three living in the bowl comfortably. A lot of people like to keep Siamese Fighting fish also known as Betta’s in a bowl.  People love the bright colors and flowing fins of this fish. The Betta are sturdy fish and originally come from shallow waters so they can survive comfortably in a bowl as long as there is only one of them.  I feel the need to point out that although these fish come from shallow waters those waters were very warm. You can’t really maintain a steady temperature in a fish bowl. The bowl will be the same temperature as it’s surroundings, so Betta’s really should be in a tank with equipment that can filter and maintain the environment.

If you are thinking about purchasing any other type fish then you should think about a different tank.

Number of fish you want to maintain – The 1.5 gallon fish bowl is suitable for one Betta fish, a plant and maybe a couple of snails. It can hold up to three White Cloud fish (which some people mistake for goldfish) a plant and maybe a couple of snails. If your thinking of any other number than you want to move to a different size tank.

Amount of work you are willing to put into maintaining your tank – I can tell you right now that I’m not willing to maintain a fish bowl. It has to be clean far more often than a larger tank. This is what makes it ideal for teaching kids responsibility. They will have to clean the bowl (changing about 20% of the water) two to three times per week. In addition to feeding their fish, if they fail in their tasks it will be quickly noticed.

Your budget – The amount of money you can afford is often overlooked by the first time fish owner. Luckily a fish bowl isn’t expensive to buy or maintain. You can purchase every thing to start for about twenty-five dollars or less. Maintenance is the cost of food and bottled water. If push came to shove you can skip the expense of bottled water and use conditioned water.

I think that about sizes up the fish bowl.

One of the most common questions that I receive from novice fish owner is about fish tank sizes. Usually they don’t provide enough information for me to answer the question, but still  this questions arises in one form or another. What size fish tank do I need for saltwater fish? What is the rule about number of  fish per gallon of water? How many fish can I keep in a 55 gallon tank? Do I need a larger tank for freshwater fish than I need for my saltwater fish? What size tank do I need to for my fish? Do I need a small tank and a large tank?

The answer isn’t as simple as it sounds, although the widely accepted rule is an inch of fish per gallon of water you can use almost any size fish tank to keep fish. However, depending on the task you are trying to accomplish and the number and type  of  fish you would like to keep, fish tank sizes will become and important factor in the health of your fish community. There’s nothing worse than coming home and seeing your fish go belly up day after day from and over crowed tank or keeping incompatible fish in the same tank.

Since there are so many variables when it come to fish tank sizes, I decided to a mini series on the subject. I will start with the common fish bowl ( a favorite with kids) and work my way up to the 55 gallon tank. Some of the variables that will be covered:

• Your skill level at keeping fish
• Type of fish you would like to keep
• Number of fish that you will maintain
• Amount of work you are willing to put into maintaining your tank
• Your budget

I’ll get started in the next few days. Be sure to get in all your questions before hand and I will do my best to answer them. You might want to include some of  the variables I’ve listed above if you want a detailed answer.

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