Picking The Perfect Goldfish Aquarium

Keeping a goldfish aquarium is a great way for children and adults alike to experience these beautiful fish. However, goldfish are not a care free pet and the tank will require cleaning and water changes.

When considering what kind of an aquarium you want for your goldfish, you want to think carefully because in this case bigger really is better. While 1 goldfish can exist in a goldfish bowl, it's better to get at least a 10 gallon aquarium especially if you plan on having more than one fish.

When selecting an aquarium, the surface area is of utmost importance. This is the area at the top of the tank where the water meets the air. It's important because this is how oxygen gets into the water and goldfish need well oxygenated water. Therefore, it's preferable to have a tank that is short and long as to one that is tall and thin. One way to tell if you have enough surface area is to figure 30 square inches for each inch of fish.

You will also want to be sure to get a good filtrations system. Either an under gravel system or one that hangs on the back of the tank and filters the water by sucking it up through a tube is fine (both are even better!). You also might want a good heater so you can be sure the tank temperature does not fluctuate too much as well as adequate lighting that shows off the beauty of your goldfish.

You'll need to do partial water changes and clean your goldfish aquarium on a regular basis or your fish won't be living very long. Goldfish can be quite messy and the excess food as well as the fish waste causes the water to become polluted. You need to change out about 25% of the water every month or so to keep a healthy environment for your fish.

When cleaning your aquarium you will not need to take everything out and empty the entire tank. Just take any of the decorations out and clean them one by one and then scrub the tank with an algae scrubber. Remove 25% of the water and then replace it with water that is the same temperature as that in the tank and which has been treated to remove chlorine and other harmful substances.

A goldfish aquarium can be a beautiful show piece in your home and there are many different types of goldfish you can buy to add interest to it. Adding some plants and decorations can also help with antithetic appeal but don't go overboard as your fish still need room to roam around!