A Practical Guide To Starting
A New Freshwater Tropical Aquarium

Introduction

Many people just dive into the fishkeeping hobby thinking all they need to do is to buy a fish tank, fill it with water and chuck the fishes into it! Taking this approach just gets you off to a disastrous start and is undeniably cruel to the fishes! And if that is not enough, when their fishes die (due to this cruel start) they just go out and get some more! Usually with the same consequences as before! I would love to be able to put an end to all the suffering these fishes have to endure...I know this is impossible, the scale of it is too great...I can make a start though, by helping you to get off to a good start in this fascinating hobby!

I've been in this hobby now for over 30 years and it never ceases to amaze me the number of people that comment and show great interest in my aquariums. For children it can be quite educational, like having a science class right in your own home. Feeding them is the highlight of the day, watching them come to surface, or scurrying around the aquarium floor in the case of bottom feeders. Many of my own fish know when their food is coming, as I approach the aquarium they nose up to the surface in eagerness, waiting for their food.

It’s little wonder that the aquarium hobby is going through a period of growth never before known; everything to do with the hobby is all so easy now. All the equipment now is far better that it was in years gone by. Fish supplies are much better and cheaper because of easier importation.

Who wouldn’t want to start an aquarium of their very own?

Once you have a grasp of some very basic, simple understandings that govern aquarium life; which are fully explained throughout the website, your well on your way to owning that dream aquarium..

Just look at some of the topics you will find on the website:

A Brief History of Fishkeeping...

• An article written by me, giving a fairly detailed account of fishkeeping history.

Equipment...

• Your aquarium, what type of aquarium is best and what other equipment will you need?

Setting Up...

• What you should know before and whilst setting it up.
• What is the minimum sized tank you should begin with? Bigger is better, size does matter! Find out why!
• Where to put your aquarium and where NOT to put it.
• Which type of lighting to choose.

Water Quality...

• Why tanks get dirty and how to avoid it.
• Learn the basic principals of water quality.
• Find out the number one thing that you have to get right for your fishes to be healthy and happy.

Maintenance...

• How to maintain your aquarium.

Feeding...

• What to feed, when to feed...
• What foods to avoid because of parasites...

Popular Fish Species...

You will discover from the myriad of fishes that are available, the ones that are suitable for your new aquarium.

• Catfishes
• Labyrinth Fishes
• Cichlids in general
• American Cichlids
• Lake Malawi Cichlid
• Lake Tanganyika Cichlid
• African Non-Lake Cichlids
• Angelfishes
• Discus Fish
• Characins
• Guppy
• Molly
• Platy
• Swordtail.

Disease Control...

• In certain circumstances diseases can affect your tropical fishes; know what to do!
• Many diseases are a direct result of poor water quality; find out how to avoid them!

Breeding...

• Breeding and feeding off-spring in general.

ALL the ESSENTIAL information you will ever need for a SUCCESSFUL aquarium filled with HEALTHY, COLOURFUL tropical freshwater fishes lies within these web pages. This is an easy to understand guide, and by following a few simple rules, and getting to understand the basic principals of aquarium life, you will learn how to set up your first aquarium, and how to maintain it.

Careful Planning!

A carefully planned and well-sited aquarium can be an attractive and focal part of any room. At the moment it may seem a daunting task to the newcomer who would like to create this attraction, it need not be however, my "FWTFK" guide will show you how easy it is.

This website is designed so that it can be followed through from beginning to end, rather like you read a book, so that your knowledge of the hobby builds as you go from step to step. Or it can be used as a reference, whereby you may choose to skip to any specific page or topic from the site map.

Each page deals with a specific topic, and within each page you will find sub-topics that cover each item or procedure concerned with the hobby. For instance: if you go to the Equipment page you can find out what you need to know about Aquarium Heaters, Filters, or Lighting, and so on. Or if you go to the Setting Up page you can find out what you need to know on the subject of Getting Started, Planning, or How Many Fish, and so on.

If you follow my step-by-step guide, and take the trouble to learn the basic principals that govern aquarium life, it won't be long before you will be able to sit back and enjoy a successful aquarium set-up.

Remember,
Your success is my success!
Let's enjoy 'Freshwater Tropical Fishkeeping' success together!
Best Wishes,

Kevin Yates