Three Great Fish For Starting Your Fish Tank

If you recently purchased a fish tank, you might be wondering what the next step is. The first thing you should know is, the next step is not to add fish just yet - before you can do that, you need to know what it takes to make a tank run. You will need lights for your fish tank, and a working heater, and a working filter, and balanced water levels. But there is a step before even any of this, and that is deciding what sort of fish you will have! You can choose among freshwater, brackish, and saltwater fish; all of these have unique benefits and drawbacks, but there is one thing that remains the same across the board: all of them require research and understanding. Once you have decided what kind of tank you wish to have, you need to set up the tank and let it run for a few days before you can add fish, making sure all the levels are balanced and stable. Once the time to add fish arrives, you will hopefully have learned what you need to do to have success with your fish tank, and you can pick out a fish that will be a good beginner fish.

If you are thinking about keeping it simple at first by going with a freshwater fish, you should purchase one that is inexpensive and easy to take care of. One such fish is the tetra, which is a small, vivid fish that usually costs under $3. As tetras are schooling fish, you might even think about starting out with three or four. After adding these fish, wait a couple weeks; make sure you have the hang of taking care of the tank. As you wait, practice, and learn, these little fish will keep your fish tank bright!

The fish that usually live in the waters between the streams and the oceans are called brackish fish. These fish thrive when the water is mostly fresh, with just a little bit of saltwater added. A good, hardy brackish fish for beginners is the killifish. These fish are very colorful, which will liven your tank up while you wait to make sure you have the hang of things.

Finally, you may be considering taking a chance by getting your feet wet with a saltwater tank. The drawbacks of a saltwater tank is that the fish are more expensive, and the tanks are more work; saltwater tanks are also well worth the price, however, if you can do it just right. A clown-fish is a great "first fish" once you have established that you can keep the water in good shape without any issues. After all, everyone with a saltwater tank needs at least one clown-fish! And they are inexpensive, hardy, and extremely entertaining.

Once you get the hang of running your fish tank, it will all be very easy. These fish can help you get started, regardless of the kind of tank you choose to have.