Where should you position your aquarium? Don't put your aquarium in front of a window. Plants and fish aren't really very attractive when this is done, and the natural light causes a huge and fast buildup of bad algae which causes major cleaning problems. Choose a relatively dark to allow its beauty to show without competing with the sunlight. Artificial illumination allows independence from natural light and will help control some algae growth.
When choosing a stand, remember that aquariums are extremely heavy. One gallon of water equals 8.3 pounds without the equipment weight factored in. The water alone in a 50-gallon tank weights about 415 pounds, so the stand needs to be extra strong and well built so it will not wobble from side to side. A tank twice this size doesn't weigh twice as much, it actually weighs about 8 to 10 times the overall size. You don't want the fish sloshing back and forth in the tank without pumps circulation!
Children love aquariums, so if you have little ones around remember that a small tank can be tipped over if it is not sturdy and high enough off the floor. With the weight of the tank, stand, and all the decorative materials an aquarium could easily weigh in at over one ton. Most apartment floors can't handle that kind of weight.
The strength along the walls is much greater than the middle of the floor, but you should still be cautious before setting up a very large aquarium of 200 gallons or more. Check with a level to be sure the floor is level, especially in older homes. Do not place the aquarium directly on the wood or table top, put some type of foam, soft spongy pad or felt down first. For smaller aquariums, there are solid blocks of foam available. Solid foam blocks are lightweight, and offer a surface that is unbroken and is easy to hide.
When selecting your location consider that it should be comfortably viewed from many sitting position to provide viewing relaxation.
Preparing Your Aquarium's Water
Other than the fish and plant environments, the water is the most important facet in an aquarium! Believe it or not, all waters are not created equal. It is up to you to determine the necessary steps to make it a safe and livable place for your aquatic friends.
Most aquarium failures are a result of water problems. The water quality should be checked at least every other day or if the fish refuse to breed or start acting strangely. Your first step should be to CHECK THE WATER.
Most pet stores will guarantee their fish for 72 hours; but, you will need to bring in a water sample for testing in order to utilize their guarantee. This may not seem like a big deal until you realize it is easy to spend hundreds of dollars on fish and have them die without the proper living environment! It is advisable for a beginner to keep the chemistry he uses to a minimum, it can be unnecessary ballast.
If you wish to breed or keep especially sensitive fish, it is a good idea to become familiar with some basic water facts:
* Electrical conductivity is determined by the amount of substances (gases, salts, minerals, and acids) that are dissolved. Water that is manufactured with softening filters has nearly zero conductivity; while almost chemically pure, this water would not sustain fish or plants for long. Mixed with most tap waters, it can become suitable for the majority of tropical fish.
* Most tropical fish come from tropical regions with little or no minerals in the water; this causes them to be adaptable in limited ranges to other waters.
* In order to raise or breed these fish, the water must be made suitable; this is most usually accomplished with chemicals.
*Water temperature also has an effect on water conductivity to a certain extent.
* Electrical conductivity meters are available, but are very expensive, and are not really appropriate for the normal living room aquarium. An aquarist who wishes to breed problem fish will not be able to succeed without his meter.
Reestablishing an Aquarium
The longer an aquarium is established, the less work it requires. This is one of the great joys of this hobby! It could easily be years before a well-maintained aquarium will have to be emptied. There are a few reasons that you may eventually need to reestablish your tank:
* A desire to try something new or different.
* A catastrophe occurs like a fish disease has spread or algae has taken over the tank.
* You move to a new home or want to relocate your aquarium.
If a tank disease has spread to epidemic proportions you will need to clean the substrate, disinfect the plants, substrate, and whole aquarium before starting over again. Wood, rocks, nets, roots, and other like items should be boiled. Water plants should be treated with a solution of potassium permanganate, which is available at pet stores. Use a solution of 1 gram of potassium permanganate to 20 liters of water to soak the plants for five minutes while frequently moving them around.
For the appliances the solution must be quite a bit stronger, 3 grams to 1 liter of water. In most instances it is not necessary to disinfect the tank itself. As a matter of fact, it is best if we can leave as much of the well-established micro-life untouched as possible. This allows much faster reestablishment of the tank than disinfecting everything.
After the appliances have been unplugged, siphon about 1/4 to 1/3 of the original water only from the top of the tank before disturbing any of the items or causing substrate sand to be stirred up. Now remove the appliances and plants, sort the plants by species, and place in bowls or pails of water.
The rocks, roots, and rear wall are removed at this time and placed in pails. Remove the fish and place them in a large container and be sure to cover it so they can't jump out. Rinse the substrate with cool water until the rinse water runs clear. Do not use hot water to rinse as this allows you to save some of the established good tank bacteria.
Now rebuild your tank using the same materials as before. This is a perfect time to try those new ideas you had regarding your tank, replacing items you were not happy with the first time around.
