|
Aquarium Filters
The Community Aquarium
Most frequently found aquariums are community aquariums. They are beautifully planted and decorated with rocks, roots, plants, and a variety of fish. A community aquarium should contain at least 70 liters of water, and even more if possible.
Remember, a larger aquarium is actually easier to maintain than a smaller on since the water in a smaller aquarium become murky much faster.
When preparing a community aquarium, you must remember that plants and fish have certain needs, so we must be able to meet those needs when planning our aquarium.
When planning our aquarium we should make sure that we use fish and plants that have the same light and temperature requirements. While it is much easier to combine plants by this method, it is a different story with fish, as some fish that have the same requirements cannot be put together!
It is difficult to put too many plants into an aquarium at the start, but it is quite easy to put in too many fish. We must always avoid the temptation to purchase more fish than our aquarium can sustain.
There are no hard, fast rules to combining fish in a tank; however, there are a few basics that need to be observed. Schooling fish should never be kept alone or with only a few of their variety.
There are fish that fight viciously with others of the species, especially males when it is time to spawn; these should be kept singly or in pairs. Since they are normally quite accepting of other breeds, it is suitable to put these fish together.
When stocking your aquarium for the first time, it is advisable to obtain a book from your local pet store that has a section on stocking.
These books will not only provide you with information on how many fish can be put into a specific-sized aquarium, they will also give you information on the types of fish that can be safely combined.
See Also:
my setup, and a post-introduction introduction
The water should always be maintained so these heaters are submerged; working out of water also causes them to crack or break. Get in the habit of unplugging them and allowing them to cool before changing water.
* Heating cables are another heater that may cause safety concern to the person who takes care of the tank. However, the heating cable is much better for the plant as they cause a current under the gravel of sand that aids the plants in growth.
* Heating pads have gotten a lot of negative press lately, as they can cause the bottom of the tank to overheat and burst. If you plan on putting large rocks directly on the bottom, the area where the rock sits may get a lot hotter than the rest of the tank bottom and break.
* There are modern pumps that have heaters built in -- the water passes through the pump and returns to the tank heated.
Whichever type of heater you choose, plan on using a good thermostat in addition. This will eliminate your need to constantly monitor the water temperature of your aquarium. |
|
More articles:
The importance of disinfecting plants
Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, New Orleans
Various freshwater snails
A Guide to Buying Pet Products
Various freshwater snails
Introduction to Aquariums
Reestablishing an Aquarium
The longer an aquarium is established, the less work it requires; that is one of the joys of this hobby!
It could easily be years before a well-maintained aquarium will have to be emptied. There are a few reasons that you may eventually need to reestablish your tank:
* A desire to try something new or different
* A catastrophe occurs -- this could be when a fish disease has spread, or algae has taken over the tank
* You move to a new home, or want to relocate your aquarium
Related Topics: The Back Wall of Your Aquarium ,
aquarium, The Back Wall of Your Aquarium
|