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Snails Aren't Slow in Your Aquarium
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:
How To Nurture A Thriving Plant Community In Your Aquarium
There are several fun tests you can perform with your schooling fish as a means of observing the different reactions of the fish.
Divide the fish into species, put each species in a different glass tube, and put the two tubes on opposite ends of the aquarium. Remove one fish from one of the tubes, and put him in the center of the aquarium.
Over a specified time frame, notice how many times he crosses over the center divide of the aquarium. Does he go to the tube with his own species, or the other tube?
How do the two species interact with each other when all fish are turned loose in the tank? Do they mix or gravitate towards their own species? Do there appear to be leaders in the different species? |
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When you begin the siphoning, put your finger over the end of the hose to stop curious fish from ending up in the hose, or you can put a net of sieve over the end of it.
Using your finger allows you to use the end of the hose as a vacuum to suck up excess debris from the bottom of the tank.
Refill the aquarium carefully with water that has been allowed to sit for a few days, testing the temperature as it is poured into the aquarium. If the water is too cold, try adding a little warm water from the tap; since you are not replacing all of the water, it won't hurt the fish to use some water from the tap.
Related Topics: Aquarium Techniques ,
The Importance of Plants in Your Aquarium , The Back Wall of Your Aquarium
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