Setting up a Freshwater Tank
Now that you are ready to get that freshwater tank you've been longing for, it would be great if all you had to do was buy it, throw in a few buckets of water and add some fish, right? Well, needless to say, the process of setting up a freshwater tank is a little more involved than that with several things to consider. For example:
- The type of filtration needed can be very specific to the type of aquarium or fish tank you have.
- To create a community of fish, you will have to consider what species of fish go well together and how many you will want to include in your freshwater tank.
- You will need some additional equipment and accessories such as a heater, decorations, gravel and a light.
Regarding the aquarium itself, you first have to decide whether an acrylic or glass aquarium best meets your needs. In terms of the softness or hardness of the water, the pH levels and the water temperature, a freshwater tank has to be stable. Glass aquariums do not provide as much temperature stability as acrylic aquariums because acrylic is a better insulator than glass. Also, due to their flexibility, acrylic aquariums will not crack or break as readily as glass aquariums and therefore are less likely to leak.
On the downside, acrylic aquariums can be more expensive that glass aquariums of equal size and they tend to scratch easier. That being said, if the higher cost is not an issue, the best choice for a beginning fish owner is an acrylic aquarium.
Of course the size of the tank is a major consideration. If your only going to add a few fish or if there are space limitations where your going to keep the aquarium, a smaller freshwater tank should do nicely. However, if you have the room, a larger aquarium is actually better for the fish. When it comes to purchasing a filter, be sure to get one that includes mechanical, chemical and biological filtration. Having a filter that covers all these bases will make maintaining you tank a lot easier.
The chemical filtration will help prevent the water from developing a yellowish tinge as well as remove plant debris, dissolved food and other waste material. The mechanical filtration will also keep the water clear, while the toxicity of the tank will be reduced by the biological filtration.
You will want to make sure that you do not load the aquarium with an over abundance of fish. It is unhealthy for all of the fish if there are too many inhabitants in the tank. To provide a happy environment for your fish, keep the ratio to about an inch of fish for every three to four gallons of water. You will also want to get the right combination of fish, which may require a little research. If you combine some predatory fish with some weaker slow feeders, the predatory fish will likely end up killing the others. Of course, if you are not concerned about variety, you could only include the same species of fish which should guarantee their peaceful coexistence.
Another important decision is where will you place the aquarium. Since windows and heater vents can effect the temperature and lighting of your freashwater tank, it is best to find a location away from these areas. Also, a gallon of water weighs over eight pounds so you can imagine just how heavy a fish tank completely filled with water can be. Therefore, it is very important that the tank is solidly supported by a firm stand or cabinet.
Before using the fish aquarium equipment, it should be cleaned with water first. When cleaning the tank, its equipment or any containers you use to fill the tank with water, be sure to never use soap or any other cleaning chemical. After everything is clean, the equipment is setup and you have filled the tank with water, let it run for day or so before adding any fish.
And there you have it. A freshwater aquarium that can be a colorful, living work of art that enhances any room.