Editor's Note: this post introduces Dennis Wallace, our newest contributing author. Dennis will be writing about freshwater & marine aquariums.
Interested in shiny things? Spend hours staring at a wall and hoping the dots in your eyes aren't in fact caused by a brain tumor? Answer yes to either of these questions? If so, you could be the ideal aquarist!
Many people are inspired by the look of a fish tank, but afraid to actually spend the money and get in to the hobby. It's not as daunting as it seems!
In fact, there are so many different ways to go about the hobby; there is probably something for everyone:
Interested in fast, easy to keep, entertaining fish? We've got that.
How about vibrant color in every possible variety? Check.
Like watching stuff get eaten by other stuff? You've got it.
The variety of the hobby options truly boggles the mind. You could have a small tank. You could have a big tank. You could keep large aggressive fish. You can keep tiny fish, or fish that school, or eat other fish. You literally have all of the world’s aquatic life to play with, and so many neat animals to choose from!
Many of you will be interested in freshwater fish. Colorful, easy to keep freshwater fish are plentiful, without spending much money or worrying about hard-to-keep fish. One common option is the community fresh water tank. Planted tanks are also becoming popular, and beautiful "zen" like nature aquariums are becoming easier to maintain then ever. Editor's Note: stay tuned for our multi-part series on Nature Aquariums, with featured author Merritt Adkins!
Saltwater aquariums, on the other hand, can be a different story, but are not as difficult as you would think! More expensive to maintain, marine aquariums are generally recommended for the hobbyist with a bit of experience under his/her belt. The initial set up cost is more expensive than that of a freshwater aquarium, but it is worth every penny and more. The amount of tropical saltwater fish is mind-boggling!
Another very attractive aspect of salt water is coral. With gorgeous texture and color, reef aquariums are unmatched in terms of beauty, but are expensive and require research.
Now, many of you may be daunted by the initial cost of most aquarium setups. I know I am! A nano tank is just the ticket for those working with a small budget. With smaller, more affordable equipment, any one could keep a small tank full of life, without spending thousands!
I hope this has been a brief window into the hobby for those that aren't yet aquarists, or for those just starting. Captive Aquatics Blog has a wealth of information to help you with your first aquarium!
Editor's Note: The hobby is currently under attack by congress: click here to read more
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