Pet Doctor

Although you are new at fishkeeping, it’s possible for you to have a beautiful aquarium at home. Ensuring the health of the fish, plants, and other organisms in your tank can be tricky, but the rules on keeping an aquarium are quite simple.

Find the right tank.

Consider buying rectangular glass aquariums. Although aquariums come in many kinds, shapes, and sizes, the better option for beginners are glass aquariums, as they are not as expensive as acrylic ones. They are also less prone to scratches and discoloration, so maintaining them won\’t be so complicated. As for the shape, narrow cylindrical and spherical aquariums may be pleasing to the eye but are not always suitable for the fish. These types have too little water surface open to air. Fish get oxygen and discharge carbon dioxide through the water surface, so narrower aquariums can be suffocating for fish.

Pay attention to details.

Another important thing about fishkeeping is to know what materials are harmful to fish, so you’ll know what to keep out of your fish tank. Note that the tiniest bit of metal is toxic to fish. Substances such as detergent, paint, plastic, and soap should also be kept out. What\’s great about glass aquariums is that they are either made entirely of glass or glass panes sealed together by silicone.

“Natural” doesn’t make it suitable for decoration.

Coral, coral sand, marble chips, and other limestone products are among the materials that should not be placed inside your fish tank. Bits of these dissolve easily and make the water tough for the fish to live in. If you want to keep your fish alive and happy, the best choices are granite, quartz, and sandstone, minerals that can be used to decorate glass aquariums. If you don’t know these rules, you will simply think that any material which seems to look great in an aquarium is suitable. Therefore, it’s best to only use accessories and decor that you can buy from stores selling aquarium supplies, as they are made from materials that are safe for the fish.

Get the location right the first time.

The major setback to glass aquariums is that they’re heavy and more prone to breaking and leaking. Imagine how much heavier any tank is going to be once you fill it with water. For this reason, be sure to choose the right location for your tank right away, as moving it might cause the glass to crack.

Keep your tank from direct sunlight.

Anywhere that is not exposed to direct sunlight, wind, and heat is all right. Aside from hastening evaporation, the wind may also get harmful objects into your tank without your noticing it. Keeping glass aquariums away from heat-generating appliances is also essential, as abrupt changes in water temperature is detrimental to the health of your fish. Although sunlight exposure is good up to a certain period, prolonged periods will heat up the water and promote the growth of algae.

Control algae growth.

Contrary to popular belief, aquarium covers do not limit the oxygen supply of fish. If you buy a glass cover designed specifically for aquariums, you can be assured that it’s fitted tight enough to keep harmful elements out but loose enough to let a sufficient amount of air in. Also refrain from moving an aquarium after it has been filled. No matter how strong an aquarium is, there’s the risk of breaking the glass.

Even a beginner like you can maintain an aquarium successfully. All you need to do is to follow these simple yet effective tips. You’ll certainly be fulfilled as you watch your fish swim happily in your own aquarium.

Dave Bowman is an aquarium enthusiast who enjoys helping others be successful in raising their fish in glass aquariums. He is also a guest speaker at various meetings on aquarium systems

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