Are you among those who like to collect fish? But experiencing confusion in making the aquarium? This article is suitable for you.
Fish is one of the animals that can be used as a collection. According to some opinions, collecting and maintaining fish in an aquarium is proven to be able to reduce stress and improve mental health. This has caused many people to start raising fish in an aquarium.
To get the best aquarium for your version, there are a number of things to consider such as the size of the tank, the type of fish you will collect, and the trinkets that you will use to beautify the aquarium.
The problem faced by many people is not knowing how to start. There are several stages that you need to prepare before you fill the aquarium.
Most aquarium shops provide several references to your aquarium. However, most only provide empty tanks of various sizes without providing a complete package.
Knowing a little about your water will give you an advantage when choosing fish. For example if you have very soft water, some fish such as guppy tend to have more problems than fish that prefer soft water such as tetra, ram, angelfish or discus.
Most city water supplies contain additional chemicals such as Chlorine or Chloramine which can both be harmful to the beneficial bacteria in your aquarium and can be harmful to your fish.
Chloramine specifically raises special problems for aquarium enthusiasts because it is a mixture of chlorine and ammonia. Ammonia is very toxic to aquarium fish. If there is chloramine in your water supply, some products used to declorinate your water will not be effective against ammonia in chloramine.
To fix this problem you can use water coolers. You might want to contact your municipality from where your water comes from to find out how your local water supply is processed.
You might also want to know more about your water such as your pH or water hardness. You can buy a test kit to test your water or some pet stores will test your water for you.
If you decide you want to use live plants, which I highly recommend for most aquariums, you want to study which plants are most suitable for your situation and how or if they should be planted.
Besides being beneficial to the aquarium, plants can also be propagated. Beside that, you need to have a special lighting. Many factories have special lighting requirements and may also require the use of CO2.
Beginner aquatic experts may want to find plants that do not have special lighting requirements and do not need CO2. One of my favorites is Cryptocoryne wendtii, which requires a little care in my tank.
How to Set Up an Aquarium for Beginner
Before you start building an Aquarium, you need to prepare a number of equipment such as aquarium tanks, gravel aquariums, filter aquariums, media filters, heter, other decorations, aquarium water test kits, fish food, vacuum aquariums, fish net, aquarium glass scrubbers.
Once you have the equipment needed, it’s time for you to start building an aquarium.
1. Choosing Your Fish
The first thing you need to consider is the type of fish you will collect. This is related to the size of the aquarium tank that will be used, the condition of the water, the equipment needed, and the accessories to be used.
If you experience confusion to choose the type of fish, you can ask the store about it. For beginners, generally collecting small ornamental fish so that the tank capacity needed is not too large.
2. Preparing Aquarium Tank
After you choose the type of fish to collect, the next step is to prepare the aquarium tank. In this step, there are two things you need to do: clean the aquarium tank and put the aquarium tank.
In the phase of cleaning the aquarium tank, you need to make sure that your tank is completely clean. This is to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi that can interfere with the survival of your aquarium.
You must clean all parts, both inside and outside. Once the aquarium tank is clean, you need to check the tank cracks. Fill the tank with a few milliliters of water to make sure your tank has cracks or leaks.
After you make sure there are no leaks or cracks in the aquarium, you can position your tank well. You have to position the aquarium close to the power source and away from the sun.
In addition, you should also pay attention to the aquarium buffer. Is it strong enough to hold the load. Because after an aquarium is filled with water, the aquarium will be quite difficult to move. In addition, the height of your aquarium also needs attention.
3. Adding and Mixing Substrate with Water
The next step is to add the substrate mixed with water. The type of substrate you depend on is your reference. In some circumstances, the type of substrate is also influenced by the type of fish you collect.
For the amount of substrate needed depends on the thickness you want. Once you know the thickness and type of substrate needed, the next step is to clean the substrate.
You can use cold water to clean the substrate. After the filtrate is completely clean, you can put the substrate into the aquarium tank.
4. Adding Water
After everything is ready, you need to put water in the aquarium tank. However, you need to pay attention to the type of water you are entering. Is the water fresh or salt water? For fresh water, you can insert a plate or holder in the place where the water falls.
This is to prevent the substrate that you have entered before falling apart. For salt water, you must ensure that the water you enter has passed the reverse osmosis system. Then you can add the salt mixture to the right amount.
5. Installing the Equipments
The next step is to install filters. You can use internal or external filters. If you use a filter in gravel, you must install it first before adding water. For external filters usually installed under the tank.
After installing the filter, you must install the heater. You have to choose an automatic heater so you don’t have to set it repeatedly. In addition, you can install a thermometer on the other side to ensure that the tank is warmed thoroughly.
6. Adding Decorations
After everything is finished, you arrive at the best stage, which is arranging your pool decoration. Your creation determines the beauty of your aquarium. In addition, you need to choose a decoration that does not interfere with the movement or life of your fish.
7. Cycle the Tank
After you have finished decorating and operating the tank, you must recycle water, known as nitrogen cycle. First, your filter will grow a bacterial culture that converts ammonia to nitrite.
Ammonia and nitrite are compounds that are harmful to your fish, so a full cycle must be done so that these compounds can turn into nitrates.
Such is the procedure for preparing an aquarium for beginners. Happy working!
Keyword: Aquarium Furniture