Getting Your Feet Wet

What Is Fishkeeping?

Fishkeeping is the art and science of caring for aquatic life in a contained environment. It’s peaceful, rewarding, and full of learning opportunities.

Choosing Your First Aquarium

Start small, but not too small. A 60–100 liter (15–25 gallon) tank is ideal—big enough to be stable, small enough to manage.

Essential Gear:

• Tank – glass or acrylic

• Filter – sponge, internal, or hang-on-back

• Heater – for tropical setups (24–27°C)

• Substrate – gravel or sand

• Light – simple LED is enough

• Water conditioner & test kit

The Nitrogen Cycle (Simplified)

Before adding fish, you need to “cycle” the tank:

• Fish waste = ammonia (toxic)

• Bacteria convert ammonia → nitrite → nitrate

• Cycle = building this bacterial colony

• Use fishless cycling (ammonia dosing) or hardy fish (like danios)

• Takes 3–6 weeks

First Fish to Consider:

• Guppies

• Platies

• Zebra Danios

• Corydoras

• Neon Tetras

Feeding & Maintenance

• Feed small amounts once or twice a day

• Weekly 20–30% water changes

• Clean glass and check filter monthly

Common Mistakes:

• Overfeeding

• Overstocking

• Skipping water changes

• Not cycling the tank

By the end of this level, you’ll have a healthy, beginner-friendly aquarium and a good grasp of the basics. Ready to level up?