There are several hobbies one can have that turn in to real passion some day. One among them is maintaining an aquarium. This hobby though is a serious one as there is no room for mistakes else you shall land up harming or killing a living creature.
Thee right place to gather ample knowledge about your fish and their house that is the aquarium is the library next door, or the global network that is the World Wide Web or the internet.
There are several starter kits available online. You shall also come across loads of information on some beginner fishes to start with this interesting hobby.
But before diving in to this interesting field here are some essential tips to remember:
1. In order to maintain your fish tank well enough, you must understand the nitrogen cycle. This cycle involves nitrates, ammonia and nitrites. The fishes naturally produce these chemicals in the water they live in. Its your job to balance these chemicals so that the water remains healthy for your fishes to survive.
2. The beginners in this hobby find it difficult to balance the ammonia in the water. In that case you could consider banking on the starter kits available online. These kits contain additives like ammonia. Basically these kits supply you with a mechanism to artificially control the degree of ammonia in the fish tank.
3. These kits also guide you through or at times make available the apt beginner fishes. These types of fishes naturally produce ammonia in an adequate amount.
4. In case you are beginning with a coldwater tank, the best option would be to have a goldfish.
5. Make sure that your fish tank contains ample amount of plants. They not only beautify the fish tank but also purify the water in the tank by absorbing the chemicals & providing oxygen.
6. The water plants break down water and ammonia. Then these plants filter the ammonia & the bad or contaminated pat of the water that is the portion that contains bacteria.
7. Plants maintain the balance between all the chemicals in the fish tank as the fishes produce lot of ammonia.
8. When you are ammonizing your fish tank with the starter fish, be very sure of the quantity of food you are feeding to the fish. Remember that you should feed only small amounts of the food initially.
9. The food that remains settles down at the bottom and rots down finally. This rotten food develops severely toxic chemicals that can kill your fish. So try to maintain the least amount of remaining food. The trick to do it simply is to watch your fish while feeding them. Only put in the amount of food it consumes in the first 2-3 minutes, that to only twice a day. In case of food, also make sure to read through the label of the fish that you always get on the purchase of the fish.
10. Make proper use of the test kits and make sure that you check the ammonia level in the water at regular intervals that is every week.
11. Usually, a proper ammonization process takes about 5 weeks or longer.
12. Before purchasing the fish tank make sure that you purchase the right stand to place this tank well.
13. Remember, the fish tank must not be exposed to direct sunlight and heaters, else more and more algae would develop in the tank thereby killing your fish.
14. Make sure that the gravel you add to the fish tank is absolutely clean. In case you have purchased boiled gravel, rinse it well before adding it to the tank. Else, you must boil it first and then rinse it and then add it to the tank.
15. The right way of adding gravel to the fish tank is to initiate from the back of the tank and then coming to the front.
16. The height of the gravel you add depends on the type of fish and the type of filter you would use. This is more particular for the front of the tank. The gravel layer in the front of the tank must be very light.
17. In case you are using under-gravel filters, the front layer of gravel would be very low.
18. Ideally, installing the filters and heaters is the last step in preparing the fish tank. But in case you are considering using a powered filter, you must install the filter before adding the gravel.
19. After adding the gravel, the next step is to add plants and other ornaments. Make sure that you rinse these additives well enough in order to maintain the purity of the water in the tank.
20. Be sure to select only marine based plants.
21. Initially fill the tank with only half of the total required quantity. Make use of pre-treated water while filling the tank halfway.
22. Once you are done with all the additives you can fill it up with water fully.
23. After filling in the tank with all the water required, keep a regular check on temperature of the water with a thermometer.
24. Now finally, place the filters in the fish tank.
25. Goldfish can be added to your fish tank at the beginning of the ammonization process. In case you are planning to purchase any other, fish you must wait for a few weeks so that the ammonization process gets completed in the fish tank.
26. Also, be sure that you do not add any new fish to the tank until and unless the water in there is crystal clear.
27. Check that the ideal way is to introduce only one fish at a time, and gradually increase the number of fishes in the tank. You could also consider starting with 4 different types of hardy fishes, one of each type.
28. The right way to add a fish in the tank is that you must afloat the fish in a bag in to the aquarium for around 15 minutes prior to leaving them in the tank. This would help your fish get acclimated to the temperature of the water in its new home.
29. Make sure that you do not add the water of the fish bag in to the aquarium as this water might be contaminated, or would at times affect the temperature of the aquarium and the P.H. level of the water in there.
30. You must check that the aquarium has the right amount of lighting. These lights are teamed with a hood that can be fit over the top of the aquarium. The fact is that most of the aquariums these days come along with a hood. Actually, the hood keeps away the critters and maintains the fish inside the tank. The hood id also used to regulate the lights in the tank.
Abhishek is an avid Fish Lover and he has got some great Aquarium Care Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 105 Pages Ebook, "Aquarium Care Made Easy!" from his website http://www.Wonder-Homes.com/636/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.
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