Freshwater

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Part V: The Part of Tens
A home aquarium is often a prime target for the neighbor’s nasty kid who will
drop all sorts of interesting objects into the tank, such as your cat, coins,
sticks, and peanut butter sandwiches. These offerings will not be appreciated
by your fish and can prove to be lethal as well. It is always best to prohibit
young children from touching your aquariums, and to quickly check your
tank for foreign objects at least once a day.
Become a Hypochondriac Hobbyist
It does not take long for a new hobbyist to get emotionally attached to their
fish. The more we bond with them, the more we tend to overpamper them.
Checking in on your fish every 30 minutes, constantly fiddling around with
the equipment, and rearranging the decorations in order to achieve the perfect
environment just isn’t good for the fish. Maintain your aquariums, enjoy
your fish, but don’t fuss too much.
Buy Used or Cheap Equipment
Always test used equipment before purchasing it if possible. When buying
new stuff from a local dealer, make sure to purchase the best equipment that
your budget allows. Poorly made or worn-out equipment will inevitably lead
to disaster down the road.
Be wary of old electrical aquarium pumps, hoods, and heaters at the neighbor’s
garage sale that look worn or have frayed wires. Don’t get us wrong; we
have purchased some good aquarium equipment at garage sales, but as the
old saying goes, in most cases, you get what you pay for.