Rules Of Thumb For Maintaining A Successful Aquarium
Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010Although you are new at fishkeeping, it’s possible for you to have a beautiful aquarium at home. Ensuring the health of the fish, plants, and other organisms in your tank can be tricky, but the rules on keeping an aquarium are quite simple.
The tank material and shape matters.
Consider buying rectangular glass aquariums. Although aquariums come in many kinds, shapes, and sizes, the better option for beginners are glass aquariums, as they are not as expensive as acrylic ones. They are also less prone to scratches and discoloration, so maintaining them won’t be so complicated. As for the shape, narrow cylindrical and spherical aquariums may be pleasing to the eye but are not always suitable for the fish. These types have too little water surface open to air. Fish get oxygen and discharge carbon dioxide through the water surface, so narrower aquariums can be suffocating for fish.
Pay attention to details.
If you want to reduce the risk of contaminating the water in your tank and poisoning the fish, know which materials are dangerous and keep it out of your tank. Since glass aquariums are not prone to scratches and yellowing, you get to avoid using polishing compounds that are normally toxic. Other harmful substances include detergent, paint, plastic, and soap. It’s also important to keep even the slightest hint of metal out of your tank because it poisons the fish.
Buy accessories and decors only from pet shops.
Coral, coral sand, marble chips, and other limestone products are among the materials that should not be placed inside your fish tank. Bits of these dissolve easily and make the water tough for the fish to live in. If you want to keep your fish alive and happy, the best choices are granite, quartz, and sandstone, minerals that can be used to decorate glass aquariums. If you don’t know these rules, you will simply think that any material which seems to look great in an aquarium is suitable. Therefore, it’s best to only use accessories and decor that you can buy from stores selling aquarium supplies, as they are made from materials that are safe for the fish.
Get the location right the first time.
The major setback to glass aquariums is that they’re heavy and more prone to breaking and leaking. Imagine how much heavier any tank is going to be once you fill it with water. For this reason, be sure to choose the right location for your tank right away, as moving it might cause the glass to crack.
Where is the best place to put your aquarium?
Aside from wind- and heat-generating equipment, constant and direct exposure to sunlight tends to overheat the water in your tank. Aside from that, it also causes rapid algae growth. Minimal presence of algae can be beneficial, but if it becomes excessive, algae will turn your tank water green. Algae are not only unattractive, but they also compete against fish and other plants for scarce nutrients in your tank. To avoid these risks, avoid direct sunlight except for very short periods. You may use artificial aquarium lighting instead.
Other aquarium care tips
To protect fish and plants inside your aquarium, place a cover on top. Some people think that using a glass cover will cut the supply of oxygen in an aquarium. This is a myth, however. Aquarium covers are designed such that they can allow adequate supply of air into the tank. Finally, avoid moving your tank once it’s been filled, as this may cause the glass to break or leak.
Even a beginner like you can maintain an aquarium successfully. All you need to do is to follow these simple yet effective tips. You’ll certainly be fulfilled as you watch your fish swim happily in your own aquarium.
Dave Bowman is an aquarium enthusiast who enjoys helping others be successful in raising their fish in glass aquariums. He is a guest speaker at many meetings on complete aquarium systems
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