Non-heated Freshwater Aquariums
Aquariums are very interesting and peaceful to look at in the home. The set up of a non-heated Freshwater Aquarium is not all that difficult though a little forethought can go a long way towards the success of the project.
Beginners should start with a smaller tank and do some research before heading off to the local pet store and buying the first one you see.
There are hundreds of species of freshwater fish suitable for a cold aquarium so the list below only lists some of the more common breeds.
For more information:
10 Best Freshwater Aquarium Fish For Beginners
Wiki – How to Set-up a Freshwater Aquarium
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Goldfish | There are many varieties of Goldfish and are found in most pet shops as well as Fancy Goldfish. The Fancy ones are more expensive. |
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Bloodfin Tetras | These fish have silver bodies and red fins. They are very hardy and can live up to 10 years. |
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White Cloud | These fish do not require a heater. They are hardy, prefer to live in a group and live in the middle and top areas of the tank. |
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Paradise Fish | These fish survive very well at room temperature and eat just about anything! |
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Danio | The Danio is good in smaller tanks and room temperature is fine. The Danio like to be in a school, so for them, the more in the tank the merrier they are. |
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Killifish | Room temperature is fine for these fish. The males are larger and more colourful and they jump! They live about 2 years and prefer to have plants in the tank. |
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Dragon Fish | These fish are usually hardy, easy to keep and are peaceful. They often don’t find food before the other fish in the aquarium have eaten it all. |
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Rainbowfish | Just as easy to keep as any other fish it is happy at normal room temperatures. Is is happy in a school or will also happily co-exist with other breeds. |
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Gudgeon | Gudgeons are carnivorous fish and exhibit territorial behaviour with each other but are generally peaceful with other fish. (Empire Gudgeon pictured) |
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Ornate Rainbowfish or Rhad | This is an excellent community fish. There are many different kinds of Rainbowfish. |
Tropical Freshwater Aquarium
There is a lot of setting up to be done prior to you purchasing fish to put in your tropical aquarium. They can also be quite expensive!
There are many of species of Tropical fish suitable for a tropical freshwater aquarium, below are listed some readily available and popular breeds.
For detailed information on the pros and cons of a tropical aquarium and how to go about setting one up, do your research first. These are a few websites that offer step by step directions and some sound advice:
For more information:
Wiki – How to Set-up a Tropical Freshwater Aquarium
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Angelfish | These are beautiful fish with long graceful fins. They are peaceful, can grow to 15cm and live up to 10 years. |
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Siamese Fighting Fish | The male has a fabulous display and colourful fins – the females are dark and drab! The males need to be kept as solitary fish – as a solitary fish they are good for a beginner. They grow up to 7.5cm and live up to 5 years. |
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Fantail Guppy | The males have colourful tails but the females are quite plain. They tolerate almost any water condition, grow up to 7.5cm and live up to 3 years. |
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Corydoras | Cories, or cory catfish, are small armoured catfish. They scavenge the bottom of the bak for leftover food and debris. They are a schooling fish and need to be in a shoal of at least six, although more the better. |
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Kissing Gourami | This is a mostly peaceful fish but does prefer a big tank with stones. They can grow to 20cm and live to 5 years |
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Molly Fish | These are a peaceful community fish and are good algae eaters. They grow up to 7.5cm and have a life span of 1-2 years. |
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Neon Tetra | This little fish is probably the most popular aquarium fish. They are peaceful and do well in schools of 3 to 5. They grow to about 2cm and live up to 10 years. |
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Harlequin Rasbora | These fish make great tank mates. They are small and very docile. |
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Swordtail Platy | Possibly the most peaceful community fish with bright coloration. They tolerate a wide range of water conditions, grow up to 5cm and live between 1-2 years. |
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Zebra Danios | These are active fish. The male is a fabulous blue with silver stripes. They are easy to keep and tolerate a range of water conditions and are great for beginners. They grow to 5cm and live up to 5 years. |
Saltwater Aquarium
Saltwater aquariums take a great deal of time and effort to keep in good condition, however, they can are absolutely beautiful, exotic, full of colour and very soothing.
You will need to research setting one up carefully prior to actually commencing your project. It can be a very expensive project too!
Below are listed some items and fish that are iconic in a saltwater aquarium.
For more information:
Wiki – How to Start a Saltwater Aquarium
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Clownfish | Looking for Nemo? The Clownfish should be in small groups of the same species and introduced at the same time into the aquarium. |
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Coral Beauty or Twospined Angelfish | The Coral Beauty Angelfish is one of the easiest angels to care for. It requires lots of hiding places. It is not a good reef sweller and will nip at soft corals. |
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Bicolor Blenny | The males are generally larger than the females. They are normally peaceful but can do damage to corals in smaller aquariums. |
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Tangs | These are beautiful fish but they can be aggressive towards other Tangs. There are many different species with many different temperaments. |
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Firefish | These are small fish, colourful and graceful. They are easygoing and get along with other species. |
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Chalk Bass | A small fish that is ideal for smaller aquariums and is resistant to illness. They are a good fish for a beginner but if you want more than one, add them to the tank at the same time. |
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Dottyback | These swim in a snake-like slithering motion. Tank bred Dottybacks are particularly hardy. Again, if you want more than one, add them all at the same time. |
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Honeycomb, Star, Wreath & Moon Corals | These are considered to be a good coral for novices as they survive under strong water current and bright lighting |
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Sea Mat & Button Polyp Corals | These colourful corals like bright light and prefer a moderate to strong current. They have a high reproductive rate and are considered to be a good beginner coral. |
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Pulsating Flower Corals | These are some of the most endearing corals and used by many reef enthusiasts. They create a mesmerising affect and tend to grow in the direction of the water flow. |
