Introduction to Aquariums. Most people fail to resist the beauty, peace and tranquility of a fully functional aquarium. However, after a very short time many relegate this wonder world of peace and color to the attic, spare room, or even the first garage sale. Many don't believe they can properly care for an aquarium, therefore they don't even try!
With all the gadgets on the market today, people mistakenly believe that creating an aquarium takes little to no work from them. Wrong answer! Although you do not have to be a slave to maintenance, there are things that need to be done each day, weekly, and monthly to get the full enjoyment from your aquarium. Even though gadgets make it easier, maintaining an aquarium doesn't require any special studies regarding chemicals, water, or biology.
It does require the basics which can be gleaned from a book. These books are very easy to read and follow. Think of it this way, setting up an aquarium is a lot like building a home! It is just built out of glass, water, gravel, and fish. So prepare like you are doing just that, building a home for your fish. Make a few decisions right off the bat like whether you want a salt water or fresh water tank.
If you have never had an aquarium before my recommendation is to start with a fresh water tank. It will give you an idea of what is involved in maintaining an aquarium without the cost of a saltwater tank. Sometimes simple is better when you get started, especially if this is for a young child. Get them a small tank with a couple of goldfish. This will let you know how interested they really are. My first experience with fish was a goldfish bowl and it has progressed from there.
If you want a little more color for the first tank, get a male beta, also called Siamese Fighting Fish. Just remember that male betas will kill each other, so only put one adult in a tank. Your pet store attendant can give you information on what kind of fish can be put together, without having any casualties. Using their knowledge and a good aquarium book you can start on the right path to a relaxing beautiful ocean world encased in glass.
Lighting Your Aquarium
For the process of photosynthesis (allows plants to create nutrients for fish) to work, aquarium lighting is a necessity. Natural light is seldom satisfactory because during the summer there is too much light and during the winter there isn't enough light. For an aquarium lighting has to relatively constant just like the water temperature. There are three types of lighting available:
* Incandescent bulbs
* Fluorescent lamps
* Mercury vapor lamps
Incandescent bulbs were used almost exclusively at one time and are still used occasionally. Incandescent lights work well in very small aquariums and as spotlights in larger aquariums to light a specific group of plants.
Most aquariums now use a combination of hot white and actinic fluorescent lighting. While the power consumption is the same as incandescent bulbs, they provide about four times the light. These lights are available in many colors; however, not all of these colors are appropriate for aquarium use.
Mercury vapor lamps are now being widely used and they are very economical to use. These are more expensive, but far more economical because the output doesn't diminish even after long periods of use.
Plants require the blue-violet light (for cell division) and red (for individual cell growth) parts of the light spectrum for most efficient growth potential. The same lights that nurseries use successfully are also used by aquarium enthusiasts.
An aquarium should be lit for at least 12 hours a day and not more than 16 hours a day; stronger lights do not make up for this time period! Lighting more than 16 hours a day is not beneficial to either the fish or the plants and can actually cause harm to both.
Setting a timer for a 13-hour elimination time is ideal. For the plants, most aquariums get too little light during a 24-hour period. Too much light is not harmful; a good rule of thumb is for each liter of water, 0.5 watts of light is required. Remember also that dirty aquarium glass can filter up to 20% of the light in an aquarium. A lamp should come with a reflector to maximize the light it provides. All aquarium tubes should be replaced after a year, or about 5,000 hours of use.
Monthly Aquarium Care
There are several jobs that should be done each month, so go and roll up your sleeves and dig in! The monthly care includes:
* Cleaning the inside and outside aquarium glass
* Partial water change replacing 1/4 to 1/3 of the tank water
* Siphoning of debris from the tank bottom
* Thinning excess growth from the plants
* Cleaning and changing the filter and media
Start with cleaning the glass. This also allows you to siphon off debris and algae that is removed from the glass.
Next, begin siphoning off the water. Use a hose like a vacuum to siphon off the surface debris then the tank bottom. With a good bit of care the fish and plants will still be still in the tank and not the hose. UNPLUG ALL electrical appliances before you begin this process to avoid electrocution!
Siphoning can be accomplished by placing one end of the hose in the aquarium and the other end lower in a bucket or bathroom sink. Start the siphon either two ways. Suck on the hose strongly to start the flow or submerge the hose in the tank until it is completely filled with water, then hold your finger over the end until you put it in the lower bucket. While sucking on it may be the easiest way, it may take a few times before you learn this method without getting a mouthful of water!
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 or 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.
I realize this seems like quite a large list, but you will soon develop a routine. After a few times it will take about 30 minutes to do the monthly care on a medium-sized aquarium.
