Fish Tanks / Aquariums
Fish Tank / Aquarium / Fish Tanks / Aquariums / Aquarium fish
The purpose of this website?
This website is being built specifically to help the people of Australia in keeping, breeding and enjoying the wonders of the aquarium hobby, particularly aquarium fish. Most of the information is relevant to everyone else in the English speaking world but there are particular pages on this site which relate to laws in particular states in Australia and laws on importing.
What is a Fish tank/Aquarium? and what is the difference between a Fish tanks and an Aquariums?
Aquariums by definition are a container which is filled with water and which live water animals (such as fish, turtles and snails) and live water plants are kept, usually this container has at least one ‘see-through’ side, through which you can view the inhabitants.
A fish tank is a term coined for a tank which is viewable through all sides and is specifically designed for keeping fish.
These days both terms are used for both the aquarium and fish tank, so for that reason I will use them interchangeably on this website, also the term Aquarium fish is usually used for fish which are suitable for keeping in an aquarium.
Why do people keep Fish tanks / Aquariums?
People have been keeping aquarium fish for hundreds of years, they are mainly kept as pets and because they are kept in an enclosure, they are not messy like many other pets. When some one becomes a true aquarium hobbyist it is because they have found the pure beauty in nature and in the way an ecosystem works simultaneously in harmony. A well set up aquarium will be easy to maintain and keep healthy because it will have the right amount of filtration for the amount of fish in the fish tank. Also someone who is very experienced with keeping fish tanks will set up a biosystem within their fish tanks so that nature does all or most of the cleaning for them.
Many other reasons people keep aquariums are -
1. For breeding aquarium fish and growing plants to make money.
2. Fish such as Garra rufa are used to eat dead skin off people, particularly with diseases such as psoriasis.
3. Some people keep only aquatic plants in their aquariums.
4. Growing up fish to eat.
5. Many fish have also been kept in laboratories for studying and testing.
How many aquarium fish can you put in your Fish Tank / Aquarium?
This is a very common question and because there are so many variances the best and only truly accurate answer is “Do what works for you” and because i realise this is a very frustrating answer the next best answer is go to this website for a stocking calculator. www.aqadvisor.com
How many people keep Fish tanks / Aquariums?
In Australia there is estimated to be 4.5 million households which own fish tanks and many of the serious hobbyists have 20 or 30 fish tanks.
Figures from the 2005/2006 APPMA National Pet Owners Survey report that Americans own approximately 139 million freshwater fish and 9.6 million saltwater fish. Estimates of the numbers of fish kept in aquaria in Germany suggest at least 36 million. The hobby has the strongest following in Europe, Asia, and North America. In the United States, 40 percent of aquarists maintain two or more tanks.
Where to buy a good quality cheap Fish Tank / Aquarium?
This is always an important and valid question because the less money you spend
on the initial set up of the aquarium the more money you can spend on buying beautiful fish, plants and invertebrates. Over time I will endeavour to put together a list of the best places to buy your aquariums. Right now, in Melbourne one of the best aquariums and certainly the cheapest is Mentone Aquarium.
Hope you get great benefit from this site.
Regards,
