How to Start With a Freshwater Aquarium
Most people are impressed by the beauty of a well maintained aquarium and watching the activity within can be very relaxing.
For some it sparks the desire to own a tank and so the aquarist is born.
For your freshwater tank to be a success it’s important to remember that you need to replicate a natural environment as closely as possible and there are many items on the market today to help you to do that.
The first item you will need is the tank itself.
Large tanks are always preferable to small ones as they’re better for the fish and require less maintenance.
Space is important, not height, so opt for a rectangular tank that you can accommodate and afford.
It’s important not to keep the tank near to a large light source such as a window as this will promote rapid algae growth which is not desirable.
Filters not only remove toxic wastes they also aerate the water.
Of course too much oxygen will not benefit the plants in the tank so this must not be overlooked.
Choose a good quality internal or external filter and remember that larger freshwater tanks will require more than one filter.
Aquarium lighting is not only necessary for the plants, which require at least 10 – 12 hours of lighting per day, but also adds to the beauty of the tank.
A good fluorescent tube will suit your needs quite satisfactorily.
Heaters are not always needed but it’s important that you maintain the proper water temperature for your fish.
Certain species require warmer water than others and it’s therefore important to bear this in mind when you select fish for your tank.
Gravel is also an important part of your freshwater tank and not only from an aesthetic point of view.
Choose dark instead of light gravel that isn’t too fine so that the necessary bacteria can move through it.
Ideally the gravel should slope from about 10cm at the back to 5cm in the front of the tank.
Depending upon your preferences you can choose to add stones and other ornamentation.
These will help to make the tank more attractive and interesting for you and the fish.
They are excellent for concealing the tubing and wiring.
Plants are very important in any freshwater tank and provide oxygen for the fish.
They also help to prevent algae growth, however certain plants are easier to care for than others and therefore you should take the time to find out about the different plants available.
When selecting fish for your tank it is advisable to begin with species that are not too demanding, such as Tetras and Guppies.
Although you may think that your tank is large enough to accommodate many fish it’s important to remember that you will need around 1 gallon of water for 1 inch of fish length to avoid overcrowding.
Freshwater aquariums don’t require that much maintenance, especially if you’ve taken the time to do things properly from the start.
Fish need feeding twice a day but only as much as they can consume with as little as possible reaching the gravel.
Filters should be cleaned every two months as frequent cleaning will destroy necessary bacteria in the tank.
To keep ideal water conditions a 20% water change is advised every fortnight.
Algae growth on the glass can be removed with a scraper and old and discolored leaves can simply be cut off the plants.
Before starting do some more research on keeping a freshwater aquarium, as this will minimize difficulties and problems for you and the fish themselves.
Keeping a fresh water aquarium is both a pleasurable and rewarding hobby that can provide years of enjoyment while always being an interesting conversation point.
They add beauty to almost any home when they are properly cared for and maintained.
3 Critical Tips For the Maintenance of Your Freshwater Aquarium
When well maintained, fish aquariums are beautiful pieces of art.
A freshwater aquarium full of clean water, sparkling rocks, and bright active fish makes a very eye appealing centerpiece for a home or office.
However, a fish aquarium that appears to lack maintenance with dirty water, unhealthy fish, and algae can be an eye sore.
While most aquariums are not maintenance free, a healthy aquarium is not a hard goal to achieve.
There are several steps that one can take to keep an attractive aquarium with little effort at all.
The first noticed sign of a dirty aquarium is dirty water.
The fish in your tank do not appreciate the nasty water any more than you do.
Therefore, keeping healthy and fresh water in your tank is important for the health of the fish as well as for keeping your freshwater aquarium looking good.
The easiest way to keep the water clean is with a power filter.
Power filters are designed for most aquariums that contain 10 gallons of water and over.
These filters continuously recycle water in the aquarium clearing the water of debris and other waste products that lead to dirty water.
Most filters clean with carbon. While a power filter works well with little daily attention from you, there is a need to ensure that the filter cartridges are clean.
In most cases, they need changing about once a month.
Another often unsightly and very noticeable sign of a freshwater aquarium in need of maintenance is algae.
Algae can quickly take over the sides and ornaments in a tank by covering them with a green slimy film.
Once again, the solution is fairly simple.
Some fish enjoy devouring the algae that grows in an aquarium.
Purchasing one of these algae eating fish, such as a Plecostomus, is usually the easiest solution.
The size of your tank will determine the size or number of Plecostomus that are needed.
It is also important to keep in mind that once the tank is clean, you may need to actually add algae pellets to ensure that your Plecsotomus has food for feeding.
When your tank does need a refreshment of water, it is best to use an aquarium siphon to vacuum debris from the rocks at the bottom.
Using a siphon is much more effective at removing dirty water than scooping water out from the top.
Only about 20% of the tank capacity of water should be removed at one cleaning.
This ensures that your fishes’ natural environment is not completely turned upside down.
Add fresh, clean water back to the tank to replace the water that was removed.
Be cautious about the temperature of water that is placed back into the tank and be careful about chemicals that come from your water tap.
You will likely need to add aquarium drops to remove chlorine from the water that is added.
Once you get your aquarium in good shape, it is fairly easy to maintain.
It is much more practical in regards to time and money to maintain your freshwater aquarium regularly.
This will prevent dirty water, algae, and odor rather than waiting for them to occur and then trying to address the problem.
How to Choose the Freshwater Fish For Your Tank
Choosing the fish for your freshwater aquarium is critical in the success of this hobby.
A fish aquarium can be a very relaxing view for a home or for an office.
Many people find tranquility in watching the fish swim to and from one side of the tank to another.
Fish aquariums are found in a variety of styles, sizes, and shapes.
In addition, the types of fish that are suitable for aquarium life also vary greatly.
The most common type of fish that is chosen by aquarium beginners is freshwater fish.
Before making your trip to the pet store and purchasing fish for your freshwater aquarium, it is important to know what type of fish will work best for you:
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The size of your aquarium,
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the amount of fish that you want,
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the color of fish that you want, and
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the maintenance needs of the fish all come into play when selecting your fresh water aquarium fish.
The two most common types of freshwater fish for an aquarium are tropical fish and goldfish.
Most tropical fish need a heater in the tank to maintain a warmer water temperature than goldfish require.
One common type of fish selection for those just setting up a tank is community fish.
Community fish have a milder personality and can often be mixed in the same tank with several breeds.
These fish are typically smaller in size compared to some others. Popular community fish include guppies, swordtails, platties, and mollies.
Many of these fish give live birth to their young and will quickly populate a tank.
This is another important factor to consider before buying your fish.
Without careful consideration of your purchase, the tank can be crowded and over populated within a little amount of time.
Discuss this concern with your pet shop attendant. In most cases, proper female to male ratio for breeding fish is three females per one male fish.
Larger and more aggressive fish should not be mixed with smaller community fish.
Aggressive fish will attack and eat the young of the smaller and milder tempered fish.
It is suggested that most aggressive fresh water fish not be mixed with other breeds.
These breeds include Cichlids, Oscars, and Gouramis.
When adding fish to a tank, it is also important to consider feeding needs.
It is much more reasonable to select breeds of fish that require similar needs.
Some fish simply require a mixture of tropical floating fish food flakes. However, other fish need sinking pellets, bloodworms, and other special dietary foods.
If the needs of all of the fish in the tank are not met, some of the fish will not survive and others will be forced to become aggressive eaters.
The key to buying freshwater aquarium fish is knowledge.
Always make your decisions based on the goal of long life span of the fish not the eye appeal.
Many people choose to load their tanks with fish simply because they think the fish are pretty, not because the fish are suitable for the living conditions.
Money can be wasted by buying fish without careful consideration given to the breed of fish, the living conditions, and the feeding habits in the tank.
