Archive for the ‘Fish Tanks’ Category
How to set up a Fish Tank
When you first start to learn how to set up a fish tank it can seem pretty daunting but read carefully this article should help you. There are many different shapes and sizes of fish tank on the market today, they can be made from plastic or glass and come built into cabinets, on stands or for the more imaginative built into the base of a glass coffee table. Plastic or Perspex all in one molded fish tanks, are fine to use as a quarantine tank or for hatching out the eggs but can scratch and scuff very easily, making it hard to view your aquarium fish.
The glass fish tank is the better option as it is easier to clean and will not scratch, these tanks have no frame and are fully sealed with a special aquarium silicone sealant. They come in many different sizes but it is recommended that to begin with you should buy a small fish tank of around 10 – 20 gallon to see if you enjoy your new hobby, this way it will not be as expensive if you decide it is not for you. Once you get used to the set up and the fish you should then buy the largest fish tank you can accommodate for the area you are going to place it, the reason being that a larger tank is much easier to manage because if your fish get infected it will not spread as quickly in a larger volume of water and can quickly be treated, whereas in a small fish tank the infection will have taken over before it has even been spotted.
It is important when you are learning how to set up a fish tank that you position your aquarium in the right spot, not in a dark are of your room as the tank and its contents will look drab and dull. Do not place in direct sunlight as this will produce algal growth covering the sides, plants and gravel very quickly, you will spend most of your time cleaning the tank instead of enjoying the fish. The fish tank must never be placed near a heat source like a radiator as this will interfere with the temperature of the water.
The first thing to do when setting up your aquarium is to decide on the type of gravel you want to use as this comes in many colors like red, blue, green, pink and mixed stones. Pea gravel is one of the best gravels to use because it has a nice smooth rounded shape with no sharp edges and allows good water filtration, this gravel is very similar in size and color to that found in their natural environment, if you decide to go for something more colorful there are quartz or colored spa to choose from. If your tank is a freshwater tank then gravel should always be used, if the fish tank is saltwater then coral sand is the best option rather than gravel as this raises the ph naturally.
The next thing to add when learning how to set up a fish tank is the filter plate which is placed on the bottom of the tank and the uplift tube should be fitted 2 inch below the water level. At this stage it is a good idea to place your background picture onto the back of the tank as this will be difficult to achieve once the tank is full of water and very heavy. Wash the gravel to remove any dust and dirt then place it into the bottom of the fish tank on top of the filter plate, making sure the gravel is at least 3-4 inch deep.
The next step in how to set up a fish tank is to half fill the fish tank with water and remember to check the ph balance and ammonia levels in the water you are using, as fish originate from streams, rivers, lakes, ponds and oceans they will all have a different ph level. Saltwater fish will need an alkaline water with a ph of 7.9 and above, whereas freshwater fish require a lower level of 5.6-7.5, taking into account the ph level will drop at night and rise again during the day. A testing kit can be purchased from any good aquatic centre, the water must be tested every two weeks, the wrong ph can result in the fish becoming very sick and may even lead to death.
When the tank is half full of water you can then place the thermostat unit into the tank, it must not be pushed down into the gravel as it may overheat. There are two different types of thermostat, the stick on thermostat which needs to be stuck onto the outside front section of the tank, or the glass thermostat which is supplied with suckers that are attached to the inside on the front of the aquarium near the surface; it should then be set at 75 degrees.
Fix the light fitting with the fluorescent tube into the lid, then connect the airline to the pump and place it into the top of the uplift tube.
Rocks, driftwood and various ornaments like sunken ships, figurines, old vases and many more can be purchased from the aquatic centre but if you do not want to go to this expense it is quite easy to make your own from pebbles, pieces of slate and rocks that can be found in your garden or on the beach, these items may be glued together to make caves and bridges for your fish to hide within, you must use a special aquarium silicone, do not use an ordinary bathroom sealant as this will give off toxins that will harm the fish. Make sure the rocks etc are scrubbed clean before placing them into the tank. It is much easier when you are learning how to set up your fish tank if you use just half the level of water.
Check the light, filter and thermostat are all working, when you are happy that all is in order you can then add the plants. Plants look very decorative in any tank, but they are not only used to make the tank look nice, they are there for the fish to hide among and feel secure. Plants also give off oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide. They need good light but not direct sunlight, good filtration and food to live, a liquid or pellet can be placed into the aquarium at the base of the plant near to the roots, do not use ordinary houseplant food as this can poison the fish.
Ideal plants for your aquarium are straight vallis, wisteria, bronze bacopa, red hygro, Indian fern, baby tears, moneywort, twisted vallis, elodea, hygro polysperma, cabomba and amazon swords. It is personal choice which plants you use but bear in mind some fish will destroy certain plants very quickly so if you want a well planted aquarium choose your fish accordingly.
When you have placed all the plants into the gravel the tank can then be filled to the level required. A good way to do this is to place a shallow dish on top of the gravel in the centre and pour the water on to it; this stops the gravel from being disturbed by the heavy flow of water.
So now you have learned a few basic steps in how to set up a fish tank and now you can sit back and enjoy all your hard work.
