Ever been to fancy malls or restaurants and noticed these elegantly maintained aquariums? Such a visual delight they are. You can set up an aquarium at home too. Though fishes are not one of those hyper active kinds of pets who could show flexibility in space, nevertheless, some people find it very comforting, peaceful and calming to have fishes for pets. So here are few simple tips to follow if you are interested in setting up an aquarium at home;
Setting up a tank
The selection of an appropriate fish tank is the primary and most important step in setting up aquarium. People have their own opinions and preferences while setting up one, like few people say that a small bowl with two gold fish really gives a classy touch to your living room decor but little do they realize that they are being very selfish. Imagine how it would be like to have yourself locked inside a huge mansion with every facility available at your footstep. You do not lack anything but you would still not like to be locked in a confined space and so is the case with aquariums and fishes. Make sure that the fish tank you pick is large enough so that your fishes have freedom of movement. Aquariums these days comes in lot of shapes, so in case you still have your “living room decor” in mind, there is a huge variety to chose from.
Once you have selected a tank, you cannot just fill it with water and junk and add your fish. There are certain kinds of pH levels that fishes prefer. Ask for a pH testing kit at the pet store and also inquire about pH level requirements of the fish you wish to have in your aquarium. Fill the tank with water and test the pH levels and let it settle for over a week before you add your fish.
accessorizing
Do some homework on types of fishes. You would want to provide a home like environment to them. Since they are more the natural, wild type, you might want to add some gravel stones, rhinestones, sea shells and stuff at the bottom of your tank. This would make the fishes feel at home and your aquarium look beautiful. You can add artificial plastic plants for the wild water effect.
Pick out a nice hood or lid for your aquarium, preferably one with attached lights, fluorescent ones to be precise and switch them on and off in twelve hour intervals. The hood will also prevent the fish from jumping out of the tank since few of the breeds love doing that.
Fishes also like exploring around so make sure you have interesting miniature castles and stuff where your fishes can unleash the Sherlock Holmes in them.
filtration
Invest in a good quality filtration system without which waste from the fishes will poison the tank. Follow the instruction manual while installing it. They come in creative shapes as well so you have decor along with maintenance.
this is where the fish come in
Now that you are done with setting up an aquarium and a favourable environment for your little buddies with fins, it’s time to bring them home. Usually fishes are sold in small plastic bags. When you get the fish home, open the knot of the plastic bag and put it in the aquarium for about half an hour. Let the fish get used to the temperatures of your tank. You can then let your fish out of the plastic bag and let it explore its new home.
The expert at the pet store would definitely let you know about the compatibility levels between different breeds of fishes without asking, make sure you help him help you by providing him with all the details of your tank and the kind of maintenance system you have put up. Sometimes however the pet store owner assumes that you know all there is to know about fishes and doesn’t bother to tell you about compatibility issues as long as he is making money. Don’t just pick up any fish that looks fancy, ask him for every minute detail because you don’t want to go home with a hole in your pocket and your fishes ending up in killing each other.
Food
The pet store will have huge stock of fish food available. Do inquire about the intervals at which you are supposed to feed them to your fish and also the quantity. Excessive consumption may lead to bloating and death of fishes.
cleaning
Regular cleaning of the fish tank is very important. Remove the left out food and other wastes on alternate days and if the water looks dirty, it’s time to replace it with pre aged, pH balanced water, also wash all the accessories as they may have algal layers on them. The pet store may also have certain cleaning fluids available that keep the water clearer for a few days longer.
These were some of the basic steps in aquarium set up and maintenance. If you were planning on setting up one then I hope all the information provided proves to be useful.