Before you can put fish in the aquarium, a lot of preparation needs to be done. Such as the setup, which size, the filter, heating, which surface, which place in the house. These are all important things that should be taken into account before starting a freshwater aquarium.
The specialist store near you
Take a good look around before purchasing materials and making decisions. Can this store meet your needs? Is the staff friendly? And most importantly, are the aquariums nicely set up and clean? Do the fish look healthy? If dead fish are floating in aquariums, you better go elsewhere. If you see enough customers going in and out, it often means the store is in good standing. Usually it is better to go to a specialty store than to a regular pet store. While many pet stores stock and care for tropical fish under good conditions, they are not specialized. Once you’ve seen all kinds of beautiful exotic fish in the store, you’ll be itching to get started.
The right place for your aquarium
First of all, you need to decide where the aquarium will be. You need to think about this carefully for several reasons. First, the floor must be sturdy enough to support the weight. Water weighs about 1 kg per liter and even a small beginner’s aquarium contains about 55 liters of water. This means a minimum weight of 55 kg. Fortunately, this weight is spread over a considerable area, so unless the floor is rotten or of dubious quality, this usually does not cause any problems. Nevertheless, it is wise to research this carefully.
Also pay attention to whether your aquarium is exposed to the sun. Too much light promotes algae growth. Algae are primitive plants that are not harmful, but they are ugly, so it is best to choose a spot out of the sun.
Try to find a place where you can watch it from the comfort of your home. You will certainly become addicted to the aquarium. The aquarium should occupy an important place and not be an afterthought.
Install filter in your aquarium
All aquariums need a filtration system to keep the water clean and healthy. There are several systems to suit every aquarium and budget. Filters work in 3 ways: mechanical, chemical and biological. Simply put: a mechanical filter removes larger particles floating in the water, a chemical filter changes the chemical balance in the water and a biological filter uses colonies of bacteria to purify the water. In practice, a biological filter does all three.
Heat the aquarium
Usually an aquarium is heated with an electric immersion element, glass tubes with built-in heating and a thermostat. On top is a controller with which you can set the thermostat. The ideal temperature is around 24 degrees Celsius.
How much heat does your aquarium need …
- 60 x 30 x 30 cm, 54 liters, 150 watts.
- 90 x 30 x 40 cm, 104 liters, 250 watts.
- 90 x 30 x 40 cm, 156 liters, 350 watts.
- 120 x 40 x 45 cm, 209 liters, 500 watts.
The above is based on 10 watts per 4.5 liters to maintain a temp of 24 degrees. Heaters for aquariums are often classified in units of 50 watts, so numbers are rounded up.
Illuminate the aquarium.
If your aquarium has a hood, it is best to install fluorescent tubes. These are very similar to regular fluorescent tubes and are available in a variety of sizes. You can install a lamp with light that emphasizes the red colors or a lamp with daylight that gives a cooler and more neutral light. It is better to take different fluorescent lights with different color properties. If you want to grow plants you need at least 4 watts per 4.5 liters and to simulate tropical days you need to keep the light on for 14 hours a day. Use a timer and remember that fish and plants need a dark rest period.
Finishing the aquarium
Your aquarium is almost complete, but there are still some things to be done.
- Apply stones and other basic decorations before you let water run into the tank …. Do secure them well !!
- Plain tap water is fine for filling your aquarium. Mix hot and cold water so that when you put your hand in it, the water feels cool but not cold. Let the water run in slowly so you don’t disturb the gravel and decorations. Running the water over a stone also helps. Continue to within 1 inch from the top.
- When the container is partially filled with water, you can start planting. Start in the back corners and work your way forward. Leave the center clear or low with plants so that the fish can swim around there undisturbed. Remove the rock wool basket or the bob from the plants before putting them in the gravel. If the plant is wrapped with a lead, it is wise to cut off the stems as they are often “bruised”, and the plant can die.
Let the aquarium run for about 2 weeks without fish … then the plants can start and optimize the water quality before the fish gets in.