Having an aquarium in your home or office can be a delight or a nightmare, if you do not do research before you start. It is very important to know what you are expecting out of your fish tank before you begin with this task. Aquariums are a great addition to any room and often bring a sense of relaxation to all that view it. Before you begin on this amazing quest to have the perfect aquarium in your home or office there are a few things you should know.
WHICH TYPE OF AQUARIUM IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
When choosing between a saltwater and a freshwater tank you need to think about how much space you are willing to dedicate to your new aquarium. Generally, saltwater tanks take up more space then freshwater tanks. If your space is limited freshwater would be a better route for you to pursue, because saltwater tanks have many more pumps and filter systems that will require the extra room. Is money an issue? If so then once again, you are better off sticking to a freshwater tank.
GLASS OR ACRYLIC?
There are 2 main mediums fish tanks are made from. Glass and acrylic. Glass tanks are much heavier and bulkier. They are harder to scratch when cleaning and cost less. Acrylic on the other hand are sealed more tightly and look nicer. If you are looking for a specific shape to your tank acrylic is the way to go.
SETTING UP YOUR NEW TANK
Now comes the fun part. You have selected your tank, you know where you want to put it, and now you get to fill your tank with all kinds of interesting fish, plants, rocks, and accessories. When starting a new tank it is important that you have also purchased to following items:
1. A hood with a lighting system
2. Light bulbs (If not included in your hood)
3. Filtration system
4. Gravel for the bottom of your tank
5. Plants, fake or live (I prefer live they help to make it more realistic)
6. Rocks for your fish to hide behind
7. Air pump (This is optional I like it because it helps to add oxygen to the water)
8. Any accessories you want to add to make your tank more pleasing to the eye
9. Airline tubing
10. Water conditioner
11. Fishnet
12. Fish food
13. Heater
14. Thermometer
Tank Setup: (It is a good idea not to set up your tank in direct sunlight, as it can cause excess algae growth)
1. Add the gravel to your tank. You need 1 pound of gravel for every gallon of tank you have(If you have a 20 gallon tank buy 20 pounds of gravel). It is important that you rinse the gravel thoroughly before adding it. If you have an air pump add that in before you put the gravel in, so it is covered up and not seen.
2. Your gravel needs to be slanted so that there is less in the front than there is in the back.
3. Now you need to add the water. Place a bowl in the tank and pour your water over the bowl so that you do not mess up the gravel you just added.
4. Treat your water with a product that will de chlorinate the water. You will need to let the tank run for 3-5 days before you can add fish.
5. Add your plants and rocks to the tank and have them setup any way you like.
6. Add your filter to the tank and plug it in. Now you just wait and let your tank cycle the water and particles for a few days.
7. After a few days add some starter fish (goldfish) and allow them to help the tanks nitrogen cycle get rolling. After a couple weeks of the starter fish you can then add fish of your choice.
MAINTAINING A HEALTHY TANK:
Once you have fish in your tank, keeping up with the maintenance of the tank is important to ensure the health of your fish.
1.You want to make sure that you feed your fish daily. Once or twice a day (As much food as they can eat in 3-5 minutes)
2. Check the temperature of the water daily to make sure it is suitable for the species you have chosen. If you have a heater this temperature will remain fairly constant
3. Check the pH weekly.
4. Remove dead leaves from your plants as necessary, and check for proper water filtration.
5. Once a month do a partial water change 20-30%
6. Clean the algae from the tank sides and rocks monthly
7. Clean your filter monthly, if you have 2 filters it is a good idea to change them one at a time so that the bacteria levels remain constant and do not plummet.
Once you have your tank up and running if setup properly it will pretty much run itself. With consistent cleaning and the right types of fish, debris and algae will be minimal. Make sure that you have bottom feeders and algae eaters to help you out in the cleaning process. Good luck to you and your new aquarium!
Adam Wiese is a middle school science teacher and a fish enthusiast. He has owned and maintained many different types of aquariums throughout his life. For more information on how to select and maintain an aquarium please visit http://properfishtankmaintenance.blogspot.com/
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