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Choosing the right fresh water aquarium for your home |
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Choosing the right fresh water aquarium for your home
Did you know that a 10 gallon aquarium is far too small for most fresh water fish? Learn what size tank, and why, would be right for your aquarium set-up.
Nothing compares to the quiet beauty of a well set up, freshwater aquarium. Filled with sparkling clean water, a peaceful assortment of fish, and lush green plants, an aquarium adds a touch of interest to any room. But before you head out to shop for tanks and fish, take a few minutes to learn the basics of aquariums.
First, decide where in your home you will be setting up the new fish tank. Since water weighs a bit over eight pounds per gallon, even a small tank will be heavy. You will also want to cover the bottom of the tank with a layer of gravel, which will displace some of the water, and add to the total weight of the finished aquarium. A small tank could be placed anywhere in your home, but if you are considering a much larger one, such as a 100 gallon tank, think about placing it along an outside, or weight bearing, wall.
Aquariums come in many shapes and sizes. Curved bow fronts, rectangular and square, round, even tanks designed to fit into a corner, are all available. Choose a design that will best fit into, and complement, your home. Next, think about where you intend to place the tank. Too near a window is not a good idea as the sunlight will encourage excess algae growth. The tank should not be placed in a high traffic area, where it might be bumped. You will want it to be the focal point of the room, so choose a site where the tank is stable, out of direct sunlight, and safely out of danger of being jostled or cracked.
What size tank do you have in mind? Don't purchase a small tank, thinking that you will learn with it and later ‘work your way up' to a larger tank. Smaller tanks are harder to keep stable than large tanks and you can't keep as many fish in a small tank. A 10 gallon tank will only comfortably, and safely, house a few fish. Forget about the tanks crammed with what looks like hundreds of fish in the pet store; those fish are sold quickly and moved out of the crowded tanks. That is only a temporary situation, and not one you should try to duplicate in a home aquarium.
Your tank will require filtration, a heater (if you're going to be keeping tropical fish) and a cover with a light. Mechanical filtration is necessary to remove debris and gases from the water. There are many types of filters on the market. Ask the store personnel to help you choose the right system for your tank. Biological filtration, which occurs when the tank has ‘cycled', consists of healthy bacteria that consume the harmful bacteria found in the water. With weekly water changes of about 25%, the water quality of your tank should be safe. You can purchase test kits at any pet store to monitor the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels.
If you intend to keep tropical fish, purchase a safe heater designed to heat a tank the size you plan to set up. For tropical fish, temperatures need to be kept in the range of 72 - 78 degrees Fahrenheit. If goldfish are more your style, remember that they are cold water creatures and should be kept at 62 - 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Never mix goldfish and tropical fish; the water requirements are so different that the fish will suffer.
Purchase the largest tank you can afford, but if a small tank is all you want; you can still have a beautiful aquarium. It's important to remember that a 10 gallon tank is only large enough for a few small fish. It could house a single male betta, a couple of small corydora catfish, and a few neons. This arrangement would be colorful, pretty to look at, and easy to maintain. You might also keep a few live bearers, such as guppies, swordtails or platys in a 10 gallon, but be aware that these fish multiply rapidly. In a short time, you could find yourself with a tank full of too many fish! If a 10 gallon tank is all you can handle, then consider going with some of the many attractive species of fish that are not live bearers, such as tetras or danios.
An aquarium of 20 or more gallons will allow you to keep more fish. But before you begin adding fish to your collection, remember not to crowd the tank, and never add too many fish at once. Overcrowding leads to unhealthy water conditions and adding too many fish too rapidly will increase the ammonia in the water to a dangerous level. Fish waste and uneaten food all foul the water, and adding more fish to the mix is sure to result in fish loss. Be patient, add only a couple of fish every few weeks, and slowly build your collection.
Pick up a couple of aquarium magazines or books and read up on the fish that interest you. You might be surprised to discover that the fish you wanted to put in the same tank are not compatible at all. By taking the time to search out information, you can avoid unnecessary fighting and aggression in your tank. And, with a little thought and planning, you can have a stunning, healthy tank that your family and visitors will enjoy.
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