Maybe you just received a fish tank as a present, or want to keep a small aquarium on your desk at work. You may want to set up an aquarium for your children, or even for yourself. There are all kinds of reasons that people get into fish keeping, and as anyone who has an aquarium can tell you, it can be an addictive hobby.
People love the idea of having an aquarium in their home, but become discouraged when all the fish they purchase die. Patience and consideration are needed when starting up a fish tank. Setting it up properly from the get go will determine if your aquarium becomes a household fixture, or ends up on the curb at a garage sale.
Location
Choosing a suitable spot to situate your new aquarium is essential. The aquarium should be as far away from windows as possible, as too much natural sunlight will cause algae to grow.
Keep the aquarium away from air vents and heat registers. The temperature of an aquarium that is too close to an air vent may fluctuate rapidly, causing the fish inside to become ill.
Make sure that the tank is on level ground, as an uneven waterline in an aquarium is an eyesore. Larger tanks should be placed near support beams. One gallon of water weighs 8.8 lbs, so a 50 gallon aquarium can weigh 500 lbs. Larger tanks like this can cause floor boards to sag, and even break right through to the room below.
Set Up
A fish tank should be left with the filter running for a week before adding any fish. This ensures that the water is well oxygenated. New aquariums often get cloudy within the first couple days, and letting them run is the best way to clear this up.
Water conditioners must be added to new fish tanks. Most municipalities add chloramine to tap water, which is harmful to fish, and will not dissipate no matter how long the water is left standing. Most water conditioners will remove chlorine, chloramine, and any heavy metals from tap water, but it is always wise to read the label to make sure.
Adding gravel to an aquarium not only makes it look nice, but helps create a place for beneficial bacteria to flourish. A fish tank should have at least an inch of gravel at the bottom. When purchasing gravel, a good rule of thumb is to buy one pound of gravel per gallon (i.e., a 10 gallon aquarium needs 10 lbs of gravel).
Adding Fish
The biggest mistake people make when adding their first fish to an aquarium is adding too many too quickly. Start off with a couple of inexpensive, hardy fish. After three weeks, and after testing the water (most pet stores do this for free) to ensure the biological filter is healthy, more fish can be purchased.
Whenever new fish are added to an aquarium, a biological filtration supplement should be added. These supplements contain beneficial bacteria that break down waste products, thus making the aquarium inhabitable for fish. There are quite a few of these supplements on the market, and if you are unsure about which one is right for you, an employee at your pet store can help.
No matter what age you are, an aquarium is a wonderful addition to your living space. People often get discouraged when they make mistakes setting up their first aquarium, and lose all their fish. Setting up a fish tank properly will keep fish loses to a minimum, and bring the hobbyist many years of enjoyment.
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