Is a tropical aquarium for me?

Ah, money, that ever-present barrier of affordability. Obviously, it depends what size of tank you are going for as to how expensive it will be, and a small 50 litre aquarium will be far less expensive than a 300 litre one, but you have to keep in mind upkeep as well. You will need to buy equipment with which to clean the glass and gravel, kits to test the water parameters, food for your fish, the plants and substrate of your tank, and of course the fish you decide to buy, which can also become expensive if you buy a shoal of fish or a particularly unusual species.

Be sure to check your budget and make sure you have money to spare for any extra purchases, so that in the future, you don't have to face the prospect of getting rid of your aquarium because you didn't foresee other unpreventable expenditure, like if your dog breaks it's leg or you have to get plumbing work done.

This isn't meant to put you off, as there are many other pets who are far more costly than tropical fish, but just be sure not to disregard it.

Before going and buying a tank, carefully decide on where you will put it, and measure the space you have available. Choose a place people will see it - if you put effort into planting and decorating the aquarium well, they can be a beautiful decorative focal point of a room, so don't hide it away in a corner where no-one will see it. Be sure not to put it in a particularly obtrusive place where it may be knocked into by people walking past, since of course the fish won't like that, and if they are stressed, they are more prone to illness and their colours will not be as vibrant.

Search on the web what sizes of tanks are available to suit the size you have before you go out and buy one, and never impulse buy. The worst thing would be that you take home an ill-fitting tank, as it only wastes your own time. Long tanks are preferable for most fish (except Angelfish) and the more surface area, the better.

When full, aquaria are very heavy, so if it is going on top of a desk, be very sure it will be able to take the weight. A 100 litre aquarium alone will weigh around 11kg (25lbs) plus the 100kg of water going into it, not forgetting several kilograms of substrate and any other rocks/driftwood you use as decoration. Many aquaria come with their own stand which often includes a useful cabinet to keep fish food, test kits, nets etc, so if you're not sure an existing surface will take the weight, the best option is to buy one with a stand included. Do not put the glass directly onto the surface - make sure there is a foam base to absorb any vibrations, because glass is very fragile.

This is perhaps the most important question to consider, as it is often one overlooked, because people generally underestimate the effort it takes to maintain a tropical aquarium. Unfortunately, it's not quite as simple as making sure your fish are fed, as you need to do a water-change of around 30% of the volume of water weekly, sift dirt from the substrate, make sure the water parameters (ammonia, nitrate and nitrite are within adequate levels), clean the filter and prune the plants.

Of course, you also want to have time to enjoy your aquarium as well, and it can be very relaxing to watch and can help you destress a lot better than a TV can, so you might want to rethink if you're never at home. It shouldn't be a chore, and if you think that's what it will become, it's better not to buy an aquarium in the first place. Unlike other animals that can simply be taken back to the shop, with fish it's more difficult if you can no longer look after them.

This doesn't really require much explaining and it's a question you can only really answer yourself. People often see fish as an 'easy' pet to have as they don't require a lot of maintenance, and people often just replace them if they die - for many they don't hold as much emotional attachment as say a cat or dog, which is understandable since you can't interact with them in the same way you can with a furry pet, but it doesn't mean you should ever be negligent of them.

Your aquarium must be cycled before it is safe to house fish, and you need to have the dedication to look after your fish well. Again, I don't mean to put you off, but fish, especially tropical fish, are all too often forgotten about and even left to die, so you have to be absolutely committed to caring for them before going and buying them.

This one shouldn't worry you too much, as everyone is a beginner at some stage, and if you know nothing at all, that's perfectly fine, as long as you're willing to read up about how to care for your fish and tank and what type of fish are suitable for your size of tank, as well as compatibility issues between fish. It may seem a lot to take in, but just take it slow and do lots of reading, and you'll be fine.
In the next module, I have put a list of useful links to help you, and I will be posting more lenses on this topic in the near future, so stay tuned.