Is it worth it?

[kissygoose]

After a visit to the "rainforest" in cleveland my DH suggested getting a fish tank for our 16 month old twins as they were both mesmerized by watching the fish there. I know nothing about keeping an aquarium but wanted to look up some info. So far it seems extreemly overwhelming. I'm already getting a headache just from trying to understand a lot of the terms. I'm just wondering if fish keeping is worth it? Do kids really enjoy watching the fish or is it something they eventually grow out of. Personally I think it would be soothing if not almost hypnotic. But that's just me. Is it normal to feel this overwhellmed when starting out?

[DaisyTattoo]

It can be very overwhelming. Once you understand what is going on, it really isnt that difficult. Yes, children do enjoy tanks very much. At least my son does. He will be 2 next month and he watches my 55g all the time. He does leave his little fingerprints all over the glass as well. If you want to get into the hobby, please do! It is worth every minute. But make sure you do all the proper research, make sure your tank is cycled before adding any fish, and make sure you research your fishies before putting them in a tank. This will stop you from having the same problems many of us have had to deal with. It does take quite a bit of work to keep a tank, but as long as you can deal with that, GO FOR IT! :D

[jennypenny]

Overwhelmed is a normal feeling, but I would say that yes it is worth it. Just start slow. Find out just what you want from this fish tank. Peaceful fish? schooling fish? Active fish? Then pick the one or two types of fish that will be best for you. If you find you love the hobby you can expand.

If this tank is for your children I would suggest using simple fake plants a decor that will go with the room the tank will be in. Good luck with finding the perfect fish for you.

[mtbikerj]

Yes, it's normal to feel overwhelmed. Kids lose some interest, as my 2 1/2 year old has, but she still loves to feed the fish and watch them swim around. She's just not as entrhalled as she was when she was only 12 months. I started up my tank again for her and now I'm the one that enjoys them most. Tanks aren't that much trouble, especially if you get 29 gallons or more. Doing weekly water changes is the hardest part and it's much better than cleaning the catbox.

[DaisyTattoo]

Doing weekly water changes is the hardest part and it's much better than cleaning the catbox.
Couldn't have said it better myself lol.

[kissygoose]

Ok so here is probably a stupid question. I plan to try to get some books from the library and read up on here so maybe that will answer my questions but I'll ask it any way. Can you get a tank and have it ready for fish before you decide what kind of fish you want or does the kind of fish you want determin the set up of your tank. I am planning on staying with fresh water fish.

[mtbikerj]

Definitely set up the tank first. Very few fish require strange water conditions. You'll probably want to test your water after your tank is all set up (and cycled - definitely read up on that). Then you can get fish that go with the Ph and conditions of your water.

[DaisyTattoo]

I would also like to add that many books are outdated and-or have very bad information. You would be better off asking any questions here on the boards. The first things you will want to start with is doing a search for cycling a tank. That is where you will begin.

[graphicdesign_r]

Check the newbie forum stickies. If you have any terminology questions post them in this thread. Choosing the correct fish for your tank size is vital, so address what you are thinking of for fish here as well.

Also, be sure once the kids hit toddler stage to child proof the tank. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but rest assured fish are no big fan either!

[TastierWay]

Some kids lose interest, some don't. I'm almost sixteen and live a "normal" - partying, jobs, pimples, boyfriends - teenage life and still absolutely love sitting down and watching my fish. I feel a bit isolated at times seeing as it's hard to find a lot of people my age into this hobby, but it's still worth it.

[sumthin fishy]

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64301

If you read the above article, it explains how a fishtanks filter works. In short there are bacteria that will grow in the filter. Fish need these little guys to breakdown waste. If you add the fish right away, there is a lot of work involved keeping thier harmful waste levels to a minimum untill the bacteria start to grow. There are a couple different methods of culturing the bacteria. The "fishless cycle" involves adding amonia to the tank in controlled ammounts (to simulate the fish waste) over the course of a few weeks. This will give you the time to make decisions on what you want in the tank. While it will require some learning on your part (you need a water test kit, and will start to learn some basic chemistry) there are no fish in there to die if you make mistakes.

[kissygoose]

i probably will go with fishless cycle as it sounds the safest and I'd like to do things that would least endanger any fish we get.

[mtbikerj]

Cycling with fish, rather than buying extra chemicals, isn't that hard as long as you research and get hardy fish and keep up with your water changes.