Planning to keep aquarium pets? It can be extremely fun and easy as shelling peas. When you know the correct methods and safety measures of keeping fish, the prizes are exceptionally fulfilling, and its upkeep can be insignificant.
A few things may appear to be overwhelming. You do need to place in a ton of exertion while setting up your very first aquarium and figuring out how to look after it. Be mindful so as not to race into things, and do your exploration beforehand.
Not every fish has the same survival instinct. Some are fragile and some can be very adaptive. But you need to play your role by ensuring the safety of your fish, keeping the aquarium hygienic and safe.
Setting up an aquarium is pretty easy, as one may think. Easy as going out to your nearby shop, buying the aquarium set up, and putting a couple of fish into it to start. However, there are a few things you need to follow and maintain to ensure your fish is healthy.
Buying The Right Aquarium
Buying the fish tank may seem like an uphill task, but it’s the easiest one, among others. You only need to know what species of fish and how many of them you would want for your aquarium. Then you’re good to go to buy the perfect sized fish tank that suits your convenience.
1. Substrate
Adding a substrate to your aquarium can have various purposes. Some of them enhance the look of your setup and some for the healthy habitat of fish. Substrates produce beneficial bacteria, as well. Gravel is very popular. If you’re confused about substrate options, you can use gravel.
It comes in different sizes, shapes, and colors that give variety to your aquarium setup. However, many fish, such as goldfish, can have issues with gravel. Hence, you need to have a minimum idea regarding this.
2. Chlorine Neutralizer
A de-chlorinator is a must while setting up your aquarium. It purifies the chlorine from the water, which could be harmful to your fish. Choose the correct Chlorine Neutralizer. After setting up the fish tank, let the water filter run for at least 24 hours before you put your fish there.
3. Canister Filter
You should already know the importance of a filter. Canister filters are the most popular these days. They absorb the water and make it go through a sheet of filter paper. Depending on the quality of your filter, it could have more layers of natural filters. Those filters also add minerals to your water. Along with dirt and filth, the filter also removes bacteria and other harmful micro organisms and purifies the water.
4. Pump
An aquarium pump is another handy tool to have. This equipment maintains the water movement and helps to keep the water clean and oxidized.
5. Food
Providing quality food for your fish ensures its healthy and long life. Flake foods are preferable. Especially for fish that throws a tantrum. For bottom sinking fish such as catfish, Sinking Pallets are recommended as it goes down quickly in the tank.
6. Test Kit
Testing the water can get difficult after the setting up of your aquarium. So it’s preferable to do the water test before introducing the fish into the tank. Using the water test kit ensures if there’s any chemical imbalance that could be harmful to your fish. It’s highly recommended to use it on a regular basis.
7. Heater
Not every fish can adapt to all temperatures. And since fish do not produce their own body temperature, they have to rely on the temperature of the surroundings. Hence, it is a crucial point in setting up the aquarium.
8. Thermometer
Well, you have to have this on board in your aquatic journey. Though you will find varieties of thermometers, usually a glass thermometer or digital strip thermometer is recommended.
9. Lighting
Lighting is necessary for both the ecosystem’s health and looks. Use natural colors to highlight the aquariums even more. LED lights are the perfect choice. You might want to invest quite a lot here. Because any problem in lighting may lead to a life and death situation. Adding to that is the cost-efficiency of the LED lights.
Photo credit by Teyler Hone on Flickr
10. Decorations
Decoration of your aquarium sums up the taste of your choices, and people may judge you for that. Besides giving aesthetic pleasure, it also makes your fish feel comfortable around their surroundings.
You may decorate your aquarium with caves, rocks, logs, or other showpieces. But the best decoration is live plants. However, they are a story of their own. Aquarium plants need extra care for themselves. But they are essential to building an independent underwater ecosystem.
Thing Not To Do
Now that you know what to do, you also have to focus on what not to do. Here is a list of things that you might deem normal, but are not.
- Do not add fish right away after setting up your aquarium. Give it some time to settle down. Chemical balances and parameters of water need to be stable before you add your fish.
- Live plants always have more preference than plastic plans. I know it might seem a little complicated for beginners. But that is worth a try. However, if you think that you can balance the underwater environment without oxygen-producing plants, you can go for it.
- Do not use a cheap Aquarium Canister Filter. Cheap ones will filter water only twice or thrice an hour, which isn’t good enough. Invest a bit more and look for ones that filter at least four times an hour.
- Do not add too many fish at a time. It’s crucial to complete the nitrogen circle of your fish tank that stabilizes the water chemistry. Add up to three fish at a time is a rule of thumb.
- Do not overfeed your aquarium pets. That is one major mistake that a beginner tends to do. It’s tough to figure out if your fish is hungry or not. In fact, they always seem hungry.
- Fish tend to keep eating if you keep feeding them. That’s where a beginner commits the mistake. Overfeeding will cause a lot of waste in your aquarium, which is likely to disturb the nitrogen cycle. Feed your fish once a day only.
- Do not mix up incompatible fish. Not all fish will get along, and some fish that are carnivorous are likely to eat smaller fish. Get to know a fish’s compatibility with other fish before adding it to your aquarium.
Final Words
I think that covers everything a beginner needs to know about setting up his aquarium. However, there is no alternative to studying marine life. Because every creature has its differences.
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