I’ve been thinking of getting one — an aquarium, not an aquarium owner hehehe. Nothing fancy! I just want some small fish in a small aquarium. Hindi ko ca-careerin, ladies and gentlemen. Whenever I’d visit my cousin’s home, I find myself getting relaxed by just staring into her fish tank and watching the little fishies go around and around. The bubbles and gliding fishies pacify me.
I don’t know what to start with or where to look. I’ve always had the impression that pet shops in the mall are quite pricey — then again, I don’t know! I’m also not sure what types of fish are best for amateurs. Goldfish? Guppies? I’ll start canvassing this weekend and searching the internet when I have more time.
In the meantime, maybe some of you can help me out? I’d really appreciate it. Thanks!!!
Hi! I'm Toni Tiu,
and I've been blogging at
at Wifely Steps since 2003. This started as a blog to help newly weds adjust to married life. It has evolved into a home and parenting blog. I write about things close to my heart -- good eats, good reads, family, marriage, and the little things that make everyday happy.
Alma
July 14, 2005 at 4:05 pm (19 years ago)Hi Toni! I have a 35 gallon aquarium at home! Try gettting a mid size aquarium. Make sure you know how to clean it since having it cleaned by the “aquarium experts” will cost you more or less P500-800 for labor. Plus an aquarium needs cleaning once or even twice a month depending on the fish. I suggest you get small water fishes first. You need good combination of fishes since some fishes are territorial and tend to fight off and even eat other smaller fishes. Guppies are cute, but I found that they are vulnerable to other fishes like tiger barbs… if you need more advise and have more questions, email me!
jojo
July 14, 2005 at 5:17 pm (19 years ago)we got ours at Bio REsearch. kasi ok kausap yung aquarium man dun. ayoko ng goldfish coz they look so big, parang kakagatin nila ako. so we settled for small ones. the aquarium man will tell you which ones should not go together.
you could also go to cartimar. ang dami dun, and per our experience, mas mahaba buhay ng fish na galing dun, compared to the ones we bought at bio research.
you should also decide first if you want saltwater or fresh water fish. mas mataas and complicated ang maintenance ng saltwater but the fishies are cheaper.
Alma
July 14, 2005 at 5:37 pm (19 years ago)Re: Fishes from Cartimar
Hi Jojo, my fish supplier is actually getting their fishes from Cartimar also. I have been wanting to go there, however, I have no idea where it is, can you help me, please? (General instructions to Cartimar would help me alot!) I bet the fishes there are cheaper too! Thanks in advance!
Lette
July 14, 2005 at 11:12 pm (19 years ago)I started with just a fishbowl & 1 goldfish from a fish shop at Robinson’s Place. I was staying in the dorm then–bawal pa ang pets so I have to sneak it in. I followed the tips & kahit I have to clean the bowl every week–it was worth it–very relaxing panoorin . Taba-taba nung goldfish ko .Once I got the experience & know-how, I upgraded to a bigger tank. Went to Cartimar (in Pasay) for all my aquarium needs/advices/tips. Now, hubby & I have a 120 gallon reef tank (saltwater)–it’s a lot of work but really worth it kasi it’s just really amazing to watch all these corals & fishies thrive in their new home. Reminds us how to respect & appreciate life in all it’s different forms………Goodluck!
Jean
July 15, 2005 at 12:05 am (19 years ago)Hi Toni, my sister has her aquarium and she cleans it every six months (according to her husband). The trick is to buy two filters: the regular filter, which I’m sure everyone has and there’s a bottom filter (it covers the entire floor) that is covered by the rocks. She’s got fresh water so she adds snails to clean the algae.
jeanny
July 15, 2005 at 9:03 am (19 years ago)Hi Toni. I had my own aquarium at my parents place. I have a 2 angelfish, 2 double sword tail and 4 mollies. Matagal ko ng hobby to. I got my aquarium year 2000 pa ata.
I have a suki here na binibilhan ko ng fishes at equipments. I dont buy sa mall kc tingin ko rin mahal mga fishes dun, he he he.
Sana magka time ka to research at makahanap ka na rin ng aquarium.
Happy weekend!
beabear
July 15, 2005 at 10:12 am (19 years ago)For me, the best is to go to cartimar for your shopping. its an experience to remember also.
It is always best to start with gold fish as they are easiest to care for. then you can move on to angel fish and janitor fish.
in our family, most of the homes have a built in cement fish pond. lahat kami mahilig sa pet fish. yes i agree, its very relaxing
have fun toni! show photos when its all set up
may8
July 15, 2005 at 10:46 am (19 years ago)mollies are cute, especially when they have babies. and yes, cartimar is the place to shop for good fishes. this i learned from a friend who now owns three tanks of several, multi-colored fishes.
stel
July 15, 2005 at 3:23 pm (19 years ago)hi toni! my kapwa pusa (mahilig sa isda eh heehee)…
it’s mesmerizing isn’t it? it’s addictive, hypnotic..it lowers your blood pressure and anxiety daw. it’s also a lot of work. have had my fish tank for 9 yrs. now, many different residents in it thru the years op kors.
suggestions: angelfish, rainbow guppies, plecos. clown loaches are fun too.
key words that i listen to when i talk to the fish guys: “community, non-aggressive, placid.”.
also nice to have plants in there.
the “waste” water you must use for your garden/houseplants… plus! feng shui good luck. best wishes!!!
jing
July 15, 2005 at 4:43 pm (19 years ago)Cartimar in Pasay. Thatwas where we use to get our fishes (SALT WATER and Fresh or brackish water) from. malapit lang siya ya LRT line. But i dont remember na how to go there by car.
Start with fresh water fishes, they are less sensitive than the salt water one.
justice
July 16, 2005 at 8:11 pm (19 years ago)uy! mangingisda si toni hehe…for beginners na siguradong tagal ang buhay, hito kaya? 😉
Christine
July 17, 2005 at 5:55 am (19 years ago)Hi Toni. We have an aquarium at my parents’ house in Manila and it was a pain to clean especially if the aquarium gets some sun or light kasi the algae grows faster. My FIL here naman had a small one and he gave up on it after a few weeks kasi he found it such a hassle to clean it every week! hehe
We have a fish tank that we bought from Manila and is away from sun or any direct light and so far it is very easy to maintain. If you want a pic of it, let me know and I will email it to you
meeyagirl
July 17, 2005 at 12:01 pm (19 years ago)toni… cartimar pasay, isdabest (hehe). start small muna. see first kung talagang like mo mag-maintain ng aquarium kasi it really takes a lot of work to clean it (pwera biro) and a huge measure of emotional attachment, baka ma-overwhelm ka
pero bio research is also ok if hassle sa iyo pumunta ng cartimar. i got my mini-aquarium there. you can get a “set” for around 1k dun, that’s for a 5-gallon aquarium, white bato-bato, undergravel filter, flourescent lamp & ballast, real seaweed (na namatay after a few weeks, so better get the fake ones na lang if you want some sort of foliage), a castle fugurine thingy, some small rocks for landscaping, fishies (quantity depends on the kind of fish that you like, in my case i got 8 guppy-sized goldfishes, swerte daw kasi 8 sabi nung miss and better if you raise them starting when they’re still babies para makikita mo ang paglaki nila), and fish food. out of the 8, 5 of them died within the first two weeks, so i went to get more fishies at cartimar para may kasama naman si tina, manilyn, and sheryl. this time i got 2 blackmoors (i named nognog and tisoy), 1 pearlfish (i named mrs potts), 2 redcaps ( i named mayor sanchez and april boy), and i also got a janitor fish (i named johnny). i learned too late that you need a ratio of 1 goldfish is to 1 gallon of water pala. by that time, 1 of each na lang ang natira, including johnny takaw. although lungkot ako that they died, aliw naman ako that the fishies grew really mataba (especially mrs potts na patalbog talbog). i think my fishes helped with me relax during my difficult pregnancy eh (that is, unless they died). one of my daughter’s first words was “fish”, i think subliminally she knows what they are from me having stared at fishies for 9 months, hehe. haay, i miss my fishies 
happy fishing, toni! 😀
eye
July 17, 2005 at 10:55 pm (19 years ago)we have a 75-gallon aquarium at home. nagsimula ang lahat sa 5G, naging 10G hehe! totoong nakaka-relax pagmasdang ang mga isda, sabi nga nila eh parang therapy daw ito lalo na sa mga depressed or may sakit. it’s also a good way to discipline the kids, since they can take care of the fish feeding, tank cleaning, etc.
and oh yeah, cartimar is the place to buy all the stuff you’d need for an aquarium. you’d be amazed, para siyang world’s largest aquarium hehe!
BabyPink
July 17, 2005 at 11:23 pm (19 years ago)tma sila, CARTIMAR isda place!:) i haven’t been there pero lagi kong naririnig.:)
JMom
July 18, 2005 at 12:10 am (19 years ago)Hi Toni! never say never, when you say hindi mo cacareerin. Aquariums are really addicting, espcially if you have OC tendencies
we started out with one gold fish in a bowl, claimed it’s for the kids. That evolved to a 10 gal tank, then 55 gal. Then that lead to a 55 gal saltwater tank, not we also have a 120 gal reef tank in addition to the two 55 gal tanks. That’s all my hubby’s project though, I just like to watch them swim around, I don’t like the maintenance 😉
I always tease my hubby, that for the money he spends on one salt water fish, I could buy a whole salmon that would last us several meal 😉
I can’t believe Jojo’s comment above that saltwater fish there is cheaper than fresh water! Don’t I wish we had the same deal here!
Lette
July 19, 2005 at 9:49 pm (19 years ago)Hi, Toni! Am glad you can now start enjoying your very own aquarium. Our reef shop dealer told us not to get too attach to the fishies (kasi mas mahal ang corals & you can always replace fishies)–lupit naman. Just can’t be that apathetic so when we lost our “Foxy” –fox-faced yellow tang na 1 yr ko ding inalagaann, I really felt bad. Even gave him a decent burial (not the usual toilet flush) in our garden. He was the peacekeeper in the tank & “adopted” our “Blue” (blue tang) when we first got him & made him feel at home. He was a very gentle fish with very good dsposition. We haven’t replaced him though. Blue (he’s like Dora from “NEMO”), took over Foxy’s role & is now protecting Sammy (our clownfish) from Razz (our 6 lined wrasse). Am sure your fishies will do just fine–they have a good home now. Despite having several books about reef keeping, we still find the infos there lacking (& sometimes obsolete) so hubby & I usually check out online reef forums/groups so we can learn from others’ experiences.
Hope you won’t find the cleaning part tiring-it’s really a commitment but a really worthy one.
Glad you enjoyed the pics. Have a good week!
belgianmalie
April 1, 2007 at 11:55 pm (17 years ago)need help on any contact email or cell number of petshops/ supplier of tropical fishes from cartimar. need a stock here in cebu. thanks a lot.
belgianmalie
April 1, 2007 at 11:55 pm (17 years ago)you may reply to my email directly. salamat.
right now bacteria
November 1, 2007 at 7:53 am (17 years ago)remember, smaller aquariums are actually harder than bigger tanks because it doesn’t take much to pollute the water!
Gideon
October 30, 2009 at 5:08 am (15 years ago)A fish-only aquarium is a better way to start out for any one interested in taking up a marine hobby.
It is not recommended to house marine fish in a tank smaller than 20 gallons, even though this is possible. My advice would be to start with a tank size you will be comfortable maintaining. When considering the size of your aquarium tank, it is best to do that with an idea of the number of fish you like to rear. For each inch of fish capacity, you should allow 3 to 5 gallons of tank capacity. As a guiding rule, ten gallon-tank equals two one inch fish.
Some very important items that are needed to successfully keep a marine fish aquarium include a heater and thermometer, to preserve a recommended temperature of 78-80 degrees for tropical fish, a hydrometer, for measuring the aquarium’s salt content and a good filtration system – which is of paramount importance.
The Damselfish is a great starter fish because of their capacity to survive the conditioning period of the tank and their power of endurance. The domino damselfish, the blue chromis and the anemonefishes also known as clownfishes are all genera and species into which the damselfish can be categorized.
.-= Gideon´s last blog ..Tank Stability in the Saltwater Aquarium =-.
Aquarium Freshwater Fish
March 23, 2010 at 5:31 am (14 years ago)There’s a good website and article here on which freshwater fish are best and easiest for your aquarium. Neon tetras and guppies are truly easy fish and basically not aggressive which is good to start out with…
.-= Aquarium Freshwater Fish´s last blog ..How Do You Set Up Your Freshwater Aquarium? =-.
Fish Tank Filters
August 9, 2010 at 7:18 pm (14 years ago)Actually you can go to pet shops and they already have a tank complete with accessories. You just need to select which fish you like.
New Fish Tank
October 6, 2010 at 8:28 pm (14 years ago)Wow, a five year old post and it’s still getting comments. Just wondering if you managed to get that fish tank eventually?
New Fish Tank´s last blog post ..Safe Management of Aquatic Snails In Fish Tank
Aquariums
December 30, 2010 at 4:33 pm (13 years ago)Cleaning a fish tank is an important part of owning an aquarium. Your fish need a clean environment to live if you want them to stay healthy and happy.
Carl b
July 20, 2019 at 5:03 am (5 years ago)Here’s a great fish keeping website if you’re looking to set one up for the first time. http://www.fishkeepingforever.com
Hope it helps.