|
Preparing Your Aquarium's Water
Setting Up Your Aquarium
There are as many ways to set up an aquarium as there are aquariums. This is meant to help out those who have no experience or very little experience setting one up.
Here are some basic tips to help you get started:
* Test your aquarium for leaks. Even brand new aquariums may leak, and it is better to take the time and find out in advance if there is a problem.
* Choose the stand and location for your aquarium, making sure that the floor is level and sturdy enough to hold the filled tank. Remember that the water to fill a 50-gallon aquarium will weigh about 484 pounds.
* You will need a pad of Styrofoam or felt to sit under the aquarium; it can be trimmed to the size of the tank. If you have a bottom heating mat, it will be placed on this pad.
* Collect the materials you will need for decoration. The rear wall should now be installed; if you are using an interior wall, make sure the fish can't get trapped behind it.
* Scrub everything; clean the aquarium completely. If there are algae or calcium rings on an old aquarium, use a razor blade. Calcium rings may also be removed with a rag soaked in vinegar.
* Place the large rocks to the sides or rear of the aquarium. Set them directly on the bottom so they can't be undermined by digging fish.
* Smaller pebbles are now added to create a look of variation in the substrate, which is now added.
* Install the appliances, the heater, regulator, filter, and thermostat. Do not turn them on yet.
* Add 1/4 to 1/3 of the water, then allow the water to reach room temperature.
* Begin planting. Take your time, making sure you are happy with the planting pattern. A small hole should be pressed into the bottom for each plant, pressing the plant into the soil can damage the roots.
* Add the rest of the water, and allow the aquarium to establish itself; this includes allowing plants to develop new roots.
This may take up to 10 days with an additional four days before adding your fish, making adjustments to the thermostat as needed.
When the aquarium is completed, leave it alone as much as possible; replanting should be kept to a minimum.
See Also:
Don’t Try To Learn Everything At Once - Take Your Time
Few aquarists would purchase an aquarium if they didn't believe the fish needed them on a daily basis!
As a matter of fact, fish are able to survive several weeks without any care from us at all, but we need to follow a few rules for this to be successful:
* For a couple of weeks before we leave, do not purchase any new fish or move any fish to separate tanks. This is to avoid fighting and disease that we could not notice in time to fix.
* Don't breed any young fish. They wouldn't survive a long fast.
* Only a well-established tank with healthy fish can survive an extended fast. Don't leave them alone without well-thought-out advanced planning.
* Do your monthly chores two days before you plan to leave. The water change and filter cleaning are especially important.
* Lower the water temperature by a few degrees, as fish have a slower metabolism in cooler water. If it is possible to completely turn off the heater in our absence, it is even better.
* We may use an automatic feeder, but they break down rather easily.
* An automatic timer for the lights is a necessity for vacations, as fish and plants are harmed as much from too much light as from too little.
As soon as we return, we should check the fish. When they are fed, they won't seem as hungry as before; this is normal. Water temperature should be reestablished as soon as possible. |
|
More articles:
His Butt is Toxic, and Yet, Eco-Friendly!
Audubon Nature Institute: Audubon Nature Institute: New Orleans Zoo, Aquarium and Entergy IMAX Theater
Don’t Try To Learn Everything At Once - Take Your Time
Oregon Coast Aquarium - Newport
Daily Aquarium Care
The danger is less when it is ignored than when it is fussed over, but you don't want to completely ignore it, either.
The most beneficial thing you can do for your aquarium is to simply sit in front of it and observe it, become familiar with the fish, and how they should look, the kinds of plants you have and how they should be growing. This part of our hobby isn't work, but can be a very relaxing and important part of maintaining our tank.
Don't let anything interfere with the 10 or 15 minutes you spend each day in front of your aquarium! Sit quietly and enjoy it -- that is, after all, why you have it! You decide when you want to spend this time -- early morning, or afternoon, late in the evening when everyone is in bed -- and you can have the quiet time you need.
Related Topics: Aquatic Plants for Your Aquarium ,
Audubon Aquarium of the Americas , Feeding Your Fish
|