Okay, so you have decided to own an aquarium. It is a great idea to start by making out a want to have list prior to purchasing any fish for the aquarium. Keeping a fish tank will require persistence. Unfortunately, it is not sensible to go to the pet store and just begin selecting fish. However, you must go to the pet store in order to collect information and window shop to figure out the types of fish you want to keep in your fish tank. Carefully research these fish to ensure that they are compatible for water temperature levels and P.H., as well as the food that they consume. Take care not to put victim and predator together in the very same tank. Freshwater fish are hardier than the marine range, and will be less prone to water fluctuations.
One key component to consider is the saltwater itself. Much like any living creature, a fish's body requires water in order to function appropriately. Water is taken in through a fish's skin in the freshwater environment. A saltwater fish really needs to drink the seawater, since the body fluids are extracted through the skin by osmosis. The salt is then excreted in the form of highly focused urine. Due to the fact that there is more wiggle space in the water specifications, freshwater fish are a great choice for an inexperienced fish tank owner. Some freshwater fish have a variation of as much as 10 degrees of acceptable water temperature On the other hand, most exotic fish will only permit about 2 degrees of variation in water temperature. This is because sea water remains fairly constant in temperature in local areas of the world, only slowly changing with the seasons, if at all.
It is not unusual for the novice fish keeper to end up being easily disappointed. Water conditions are difficult to control and unfortunately fish, even the freshwater range, are not the hardiest of animals. Often they do not make it through these changes. It is important to be careful. A fish tank needs to run for a minimum of twenty four hours prior to including any fish at all. You may want to enable the tank to run and filter with decorations and any plant life for a couple of days prior to presenting the fish. Make sure to clean the tank accessories and any substrate completely prior to including them to the fish tank.
Aquarium Heaters have come a long way in recent years, previously there were just the automatic non pre-set hang on the back heaters or the submersible glass pre-set thermostatic heaters. Now even in the glass/quartz submersible heaters, they can vary greatly in size and accuracy of the pre-set and variances of 3 degrees Fahrenheit, in either direction, is generally normal for most of these heaters.
It is widely recommended to turn off all heaters when water is to be changed that would expose any part of the heaters sensors or heating elements, which is usually most water changes. Then waiting about 15 minutes for the water and the heater temperatures to equalize before re-starting a heater after a water change.
The larger brand heaters have a temperature accuracy that are good enough for most aquarium applications. In fact, the accuracy with most pre-set Submersible Glass Aquarium Heaters is very close to those heaters, including Titanium, that cost considerably more.
Live plants are highly recommended in new aquariums as they will help to produce the excellent bacteria required to reduce the quantity of ammonia in the tank. It is a smart idea to test the ammonia and nitrite levels prior to including fish to the aquarium. Begin by including only 3 to 4 small fish. A basic guideline is to wait another thirty days prior to including additional fish, because that is the incubation period for most fish health problems. In addition, test the nitrite and ammonia levels prior to including these added fish. The ammonia levels should go back to nil. This can take about a month.
There are a couple of basic suggestions that will keep fish healthy. Any excess food will end up being particles in the tank, and then turns into ammonia, which is harmful to fish. A filter will decrease the interruption to the fish in the aquarium, getting rid of the need to remove the fish from the tank so often to clean the water.
Freshwater fish are an excellent option for an inexperienced fish tank owner due to the fact that there is more wiggle room in the water requirements.