Fundamental Aquarium Tips for Beginners

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Fundamental Aquarium Tips for Beginners

Tropical Fish keeping is an exciting hobby that is gaining popularity the world-over. This hobby has its history with Romans keeping Anemones unsuccessfully for long durations in saltwater jars. Since then, the fish keeping technology has advanced and people have learnt from their experiences. Technologies and methods now exist on which one can safely rely to enjoy and develop this sophisticated hobby.

Keeping a Marine Aquarium, especially the Reef type is like maintaining a small eco-system. It needs some thorough working, and therefore a beginner aquarist should be mentally prepared for it. The fish keeping responsibilities include daily feeding of fishes and regular tank cleaning, besides various other tasks.

Therefore, though fascinating and exciting, Marine Aquarium keeping is quite vast a field. A beginner should know the following basics for a successful Marine Aquarium keeping, while also saving a lot of money, time, and effort.

Aquarium Type. You need to decide on what type of Marine Aquarium you want. Is it Fish Only, Fish with Live Rock, Fish and Invertebrates Mixed, or Reef Aquarium. Aquarium Type steers the rest of the selections, introductions, and installations in a tank.

Aquarium-size. There are the following aspects to it:

Big tanks are difficult to manage, is a myth. Pollution happens rapidly in small tanks, while it is relatively dilute in the bigger ones.

20-30 gallon tank is considered ideal.

Likewise, very deep tanks can cause difficulties when installing bottom accessories, and will require unusually powerful lights to reach up to the base of the tank.

Fish growth size is also a determinant of the tank capacity.

Location of Aquarium. Aquariums are not easily portable. You should decide their placement well before their installation. Take care to place your aquarium at a site where external heat and light should not affect that of tank's.

Aquarium Stand. The stand should well be able to hold the aquarium’s weight. Multiply aquarium’s capacity in gallons with 10 to get the tank’s approximate weight in pound.

Aquarium Equipment. Filtration requirements of a tank are one of the key considerations in selecting the Aquarium Filter type, such as, Wet & Dry Filters, and Protein Skimmers. Aquarium Heater for heating the tank, Air Pumps, and Aquarium Lights, are also installed. In addition, Gravel, Stones, Live Rocks, Caves, Power Strip, and other accessories are required.

Setting up aquarium. Clean the tank thoroughly with fresh water and not soap water. If you have planned for an Under Gravel Filter, then install it now in the aquarium. Finally put in well-washed Gravels, Plants, Water, and other Decors.

Filling water. Place a metal sheet on the top of Gravels, and then fill up the tank with water. This will avoid any disturbance to any accessory and fitting in the tank base. Do not fill the tank up to the brim until everything is at its respective position and the metal sheet removed. Do not switch on the Heater immediately after installation. Allow 15 minutes for its Thermostat to adjust to the tank Temperature.

Adding Fish. Prior to introducing fish in the tank, acclimatize them to its pH and Temperature. You can do this by letting the Fish Bag flow in the tank water for sometime before actually releasing the fish. This is a real test of patience. In addition, wait until the aquarium is cycled. A decent understanding about Tank Cycling proves very handy in fish keeping. Whatever the case, do not overstock your aquarium.

Tank Maintenance. Regularly change the water of your tank and perform the standard cleaning at the desired frequency.

Feeding the Fish. Be particular in feeding the fish at the right time and in the right quantity. Definitely avoid overfeeding them.

A thorough knowledge of the above steps will certainly help beginners prepare themselves to dive deep and explore the excitement of Marine Aquarium keeping.

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