Although 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 aquarium systems are quite simple.
Choose your tank well.Aquariums come in many types depending on the material a tank is made from, its shape, and content classification. The most common in homes are freshwater glass aquariums. Good picks for beginners are rectangular glass aquariums. While globular fish tanks may seem cute, their narrow shape makes them quite unsuitable. The wider the tank, the more oxygen supply your fish will have. A wider water surface also makes it easier to release the carbon dioxide breathed out by fish.Pay attention to details.If you want to keep fish and plants healthy for a long time, be careful with allowing substances into your tank. The advantage of using glass aquariums is that you don’t need to use polishing substances, which are extremely harmful, just to keep the tank clean. There should not be any hint of soap and detergent inside it. You should also take care not to let anything with paint and plastic components into your aquarium. The tiniest bit of metal is also poisonous to fish.Be cautious with aquarium decors.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.Choose the right location to place glass aquariums in.Deciding which part of your home to display your aquarium is extremely important. Make sure that you choose a spot that’s not too exposed to wind. Also, don’t place your aquarium close to home appliances that give off heat. Exposure to wind and heat are both bad for your fish, as they are sensitive to drastic changes in water temperature. Also, the breeze causes the water in your tank to evaporate quickly.Keep your tank from direct sunlight.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.Control algae growth.Algae are tiny plants, which are harmless or even beneficial up to a certain degree. When there’s too much of them, the water in your tank will turn a greenish color. With their decay, they poison the water. In addition, they may steal nutrients that should otherwise nourish fish and other plants inside your tank. To keep algae out, reduce lighting in your tank. Keep your tank from direct sunlight and use artificial aquarium lighting, which you can turn on and off at fixed periods.To keep threats out of your tank, a cover should be placed on top. Don’t worry about your fish not getting enough air, since aquarium covers are fitted to allow enough air in and carbon dioxide to escape. By following all these tips, you are on your way to enjoying a beautiful and healthy aquarium for a long time.
