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February 10th 05, 03:02 PM
The Successful Aquarium: A Beginners Guide
This information is provided by: AuctionCashOnline.com
**Free reprint rights, providing the above reference
to AuctionCashOnline.com remains visible and unaltered**
Location
Choose a location that is out of direct sunlight, to avoid algae, and
that is not subject to drafts. The location you choose should be in
close proximity to an electrical outlet, should be level (especially
important if your aquarium contains multiple built-in overflows), and
should not obstruct the flow of foot traffic within the home. The most
common locations for aquarium setups are against walls and in corners.
Some aquarium enthusiasts will even opt for in-wall setups. Whatever
location you choose, be sure to also choose an appropriate stand.
Another important aspect to consider is the weight of a completely
stocked aquarium. Water weighs approximately 8lbs per gallon so larger
setups are best suited for ground level floors or directly over a main
support within the home.
Clean the Aquarium
The aquarium should be thoroughly cleaned prior to setup. To clean your
aquarium simply wipe inside and out with a damp cloth or paper towel.
Never use soap to clean your aquarium! When handling a wet aquarium, be
careful; glass can be slippery when wet. Also, try not to rest the
aquarium on its side, bumping the exposed glass edges can cause chips
and cracking.
Filtration
This is one of the most important aspects of aquarium setup and could
mean the difference between success and failure. Basic filter systems
include: under gravel filters, inside box filters, external power
filters, and canister filters. If this is your first aquarium I suggest
that you ask your sales person for their advice on which system to
select. I personally recommend a good external power filter (I use a
Magnum 350 canister filter on my 54 gallon corner aquarium). These
filters remove sediment and particulate matter from the water while
also providing chemical, and biological filtration. If you decide to
use a power filter, do not plug it in until the aquarium and filter are
filled with water. Carefully read and follow the directions for
whatever system you choose.
Gravel
Gravel is necessary to anchor live or artificial plants and comes in a
variety of colors ranging from natural to fluorescent. Choose a color
that matches your room's d=E9cor or go with a hot pink or green to
really catch people's attention! Whatever color you choose, remember
to use about 1.5 pounds of gravel per gallon of water. This should give
you a nice base of about 2 inches of gravel. Most gravel contains a
little dust or fine particles and, therefore, should be rinsed
thoroughly. For best results, put about five pounds of gravel at a time
in a clean bucket. Use a laundry or stationary tub to run water into
the bucket while stirring the gravel. Allow the water to remain running
as you continue stirring until the water is clear. Empty the water from
the bucket and carefully dump the gravel into the aquarium. Continue
this process until all of the gravel has been washed.
Adding Water
Slowly fill your aquarium with fresh, room temperature water. Cold
water causes condensation to form and cause pudding, which could be
mistaken for a leak. I recommend placing a plate or saucer on top the
gravel to diffuse the water and to prevent scattering the gravel. Leave
a couple inches of space at the top, 2 - 3 inches is plenty, to
prevent the aquarium from overflowing when you add the decorations.
Decorating Your Aquarium
Add rocks, driftwood, ornaments and plants to decorate your aquarium
environment. Before starting take the time to visualize where your
decorations would look best. Remember to leave open space in front of
the aquarium where you will feed the fish. To avoid stressing the fish,
it is recommended that you not move the decorations once the aquarium
is stocked.
Water Treatment
To ensure the water is suitable for sustaining a healthy environment
for your fish you should select a quality water conditioner. The main
purpose of this is to remove chlorine, and other harmful chemicals
as-well-as heavy metals. I always, I recommend that you ask your sales
person for advice before making a selection.
Start The Filter
Please read and follow the manufacturer's directions for the filter you
have selected. Most external power filters and canister filters require
that you fill the chamber with water prior to starting them and then
prime the filter once it has been started. The act of priming the
filter, forces water to be drawn into the inlet tube, thereby starting
a continuous siphon.
Heaters and Water Temperature
A heater is required for all tropical fish. When selecting a heater, a
good rule of thumb is about 5 watts per gallon. Again, if this is your
first aquarium, I recommend you ask your sales person for advice. Never
allow a plugged in heater to remain out of water. Check for cracks
before putting the heater in the aquarium and carefully follow the
manufacturer's directions. The water temperature for tropical fish
should be kept between 76=B0 - 78=B0 F.
Lights
A full hood is recommended to provide light for your fish, reduce
evaporation, and to keep the fish inside the aquarium. You will find
that all hoods have a cutaway strip in the back to allow room for
heaters, air line tubing and power filters. Fluorescent hoods are the
best because they are more energy efficient than incandescent hoods,
the bulbs last longer, and they evenly distribute light in the. It is
recommended that you provide 8 - 10 hours of light per day for your
aquarium. Too much light could result in algae blooms. You should also
use a timer to have your lights come on and go off at the same time
every day. This will reduce stress to the fish, which in turn will
ensure your fish stay healthier longer.
Testing Water Parameters
Once your aquarium is fully stocked, it is important to test your
aquarium water for unacceptable levels of pH and ammonia. There are
many options for controlling these chemicals. Ask your sales person to
recommend a high quality test kit. Test kits are available in liquid
and dry tab form, some may even use strips that you simply dip into a
water sample from your aquarium.
Stocking you Aquarium
At first, try 1 or 2 inexpensive fish that you wouldn't mind loosing,
to make sure your aquarium is suitably set up. Float the bag in the
aquarium for 10 - 15 minutes then open the bag and add a little of the
aquarium's water. Do this about two or three times and then allow the
fish to swim into the aquarium. After about an hour or so observe the
activity of your fish. They should swim easily and smoothly through
the. Their fins should be erect and they should be moving not laying on
the bottom unless they are catfish, which stay on the bottom most of
the time. When stocking your aquarium try not to exceed 1 inch of fish
per gallon of water. If you want to add more fish, make sure your
filter can handle the job and increase your water changes (see section
below).
Feeding
For variety, use two or three different types of quality fish food to
feed your fish. Do not be tempted to overfeed. You should feed your
fish three or four times per day with no more than the fish can eat in
about a 2 minute time period. This is essential in maintaining a clean,
healthy environment for your fish.
Water Changes
You should do a 10% water change every week. Always use water of the
temperature as your existing aquarium water and treat the water with a
high quality water conditioner prior to adding it to your aquarium.
This will help minimize the stress to your fish! If while testing your
aquarium water, you find that the water parameters are not right, you
should conduct more frequent water changes. Try changing 20% of the
aquarium water 2-3 times a week until the water parameters are back in
check.
The Most Important Step
Enjoy! Keeping fish can be a relaxing hobby and can actually help
reduce stress! Fish keeping is also educational for children and
hobbyists of all ages.
Copyrite 2005 AuctionCashOnline.com
This information is provided by: AuctionCashOnline.com
**Free reprint rights, providing the above reference
to AuctionCashOnline.com remains visible and unaltered**
Location
Choose a location that is out of direct sunlight, to avoid algae, and
that is not subject to drafts. The location you choose should be in
close proximity to an electrical outlet, should be level (especially
important if your aquarium contains multiple built-in overflows), and
should not obstruct the flow of foot traffic within the home. The most
common locations for aquarium setups are against walls and in corners.
Some aquarium enthusiasts will even opt for in-wall setups. Whatever
location you choose, be sure to also choose an appropriate stand.
Another important aspect to consider is the weight of a completely
stocked aquarium. Water weighs approximately 8lbs per gallon so larger
setups are best suited for ground level floors or directly over a main
support within the home.
Clean the Aquarium
The aquarium should be thoroughly cleaned prior to setup. To clean your
aquarium simply wipe inside and out with a damp cloth or paper towel.
Never use soap to clean your aquarium! When handling a wet aquarium, be
careful; glass can be slippery when wet. Also, try not to rest the
aquarium on its side, bumping the exposed glass edges can cause chips
and cracking.
Filtration
This is one of the most important aspects of aquarium setup and could
mean the difference between success and failure. Basic filter systems
include: under gravel filters, inside box filters, external power
filters, and canister filters. If this is your first aquarium I suggest
that you ask your sales person for their advice on which system to
select. I personally recommend a good external power filter (I use a
Magnum 350 canister filter on my 54 gallon corner aquarium). These
filters remove sediment and particulate matter from the water while
also providing chemical, and biological filtration. If you decide to
use a power filter, do not plug it in until the aquarium and filter are
filled with water. Carefully read and follow the directions for
whatever system you choose.
Gravel
Gravel is necessary to anchor live or artificial plants and comes in a
variety of colors ranging from natural to fluorescent. Choose a color
that matches your room's d=E9cor or go with a hot pink or green to
really catch people's attention! Whatever color you choose, remember
to use about 1.5 pounds of gravel per gallon of water. This should give
you a nice base of about 2 inches of gravel. Most gravel contains a
little dust or fine particles and, therefore, should be rinsed
thoroughly. For best results, put about five pounds of gravel at a time
in a clean bucket. Use a laundry or stationary tub to run water into
the bucket while stirring the gravel. Allow the water to remain running
as you continue stirring until the water is clear. Empty the water from
the bucket and carefully dump the gravel into the aquarium. Continue
this process until all of the gravel has been washed.
Adding Water
Slowly fill your aquarium with fresh, room temperature water. Cold
water causes condensation to form and cause pudding, which could be
mistaken for a leak. I recommend placing a plate or saucer on top the
gravel to diffuse the water and to prevent scattering the gravel. Leave
a couple inches of space at the top, 2 - 3 inches is plenty, to
prevent the aquarium from overflowing when you add the decorations.
Decorating Your Aquarium
Add rocks, driftwood, ornaments and plants to decorate your aquarium
environment. Before starting take the time to visualize where your
decorations would look best. Remember to leave open space in front of
the aquarium where you will feed the fish. To avoid stressing the fish,
it is recommended that you not move the decorations once the aquarium
is stocked.
Water Treatment
To ensure the water is suitable for sustaining a healthy environment
for your fish you should select a quality water conditioner. The main
purpose of this is to remove chlorine, and other harmful chemicals
as-well-as heavy metals. I always, I recommend that you ask your sales
person for advice before making a selection.
Start The Filter
Please read and follow the manufacturer's directions for the filter you
have selected. Most external power filters and canister filters require
that you fill the chamber with water prior to starting them and then
prime the filter once it has been started. The act of priming the
filter, forces water to be drawn into the inlet tube, thereby starting
a continuous siphon.
Heaters and Water Temperature
A heater is required for all tropical fish. When selecting a heater, a
good rule of thumb is about 5 watts per gallon. Again, if this is your
first aquarium, I recommend you ask your sales person for advice. Never
allow a plugged in heater to remain out of water. Check for cracks
before putting the heater in the aquarium and carefully follow the
manufacturer's directions. The water temperature for tropical fish
should be kept between 76=B0 - 78=B0 F.
Lights
A full hood is recommended to provide light for your fish, reduce
evaporation, and to keep the fish inside the aquarium. You will find
that all hoods have a cutaway strip in the back to allow room for
heaters, air line tubing and power filters. Fluorescent hoods are the
best because they are more energy efficient than incandescent hoods,
the bulbs last longer, and they evenly distribute light in the. It is
recommended that you provide 8 - 10 hours of light per day for your
aquarium. Too much light could result in algae blooms. You should also
use a timer to have your lights come on and go off at the same time
every day. This will reduce stress to the fish, which in turn will
ensure your fish stay healthier longer.
Testing Water Parameters
Once your aquarium is fully stocked, it is important to test your
aquarium water for unacceptable levels of pH and ammonia. There are
many options for controlling these chemicals. Ask your sales person to
recommend a high quality test kit. Test kits are available in liquid
and dry tab form, some may even use strips that you simply dip into a
water sample from your aquarium.
Stocking you Aquarium
At first, try 1 or 2 inexpensive fish that you wouldn't mind loosing,
to make sure your aquarium is suitably set up. Float the bag in the
aquarium for 10 - 15 minutes then open the bag and add a little of the
aquarium's water. Do this about two or three times and then allow the
fish to swim into the aquarium. After about an hour or so observe the
activity of your fish. They should swim easily and smoothly through
the. Their fins should be erect and they should be moving not laying on
the bottom unless they are catfish, which stay on the bottom most of
the time. When stocking your aquarium try not to exceed 1 inch of fish
per gallon of water. If you want to add more fish, make sure your
filter can handle the job and increase your water changes (see section
below).
Feeding
For variety, use two or three different types of quality fish food to
feed your fish. Do not be tempted to overfeed. You should feed your
fish three or four times per day with no more than the fish can eat in
about a 2 minute time period. This is essential in maintaining a clean,
healthy environment for your fish.
Water Changes
You should do a 10% water change every week. Always use water of the
temperature as your existing aquarium water and treat the water with a
high quality water conditioner prior to adding it to your aquarium.
This will help minimize the stress to your fish! If while testing your
aquarium water, you find that the water parameters are not right, you
should conduct more frequent water changes. Try changing 20% of the
aquarium water 2-3 times a week until the water parameters are back in
check.
The Most Important Step
Enjoy! Keeping fish can be a relaxing hobby and can actually help
reduce stress! Fish keeping is also educational for children and
hobbyists of all ages.
Copyrite 2005 AuctionCashOnline.com