Top 11 Secrets to a Successful Home Aquarium

Author: Tim R. O’Brien
Source: ezinearticles.com

Tropical fish make great pets. They are skimpy eaters, they don’t have to be walked, they don’t scratch, they don’t make noise, and you only have to clean up after them every couple weeks.Once everything is going well in your home aquarium, watching and caring for your fish is a great stress buster. The lighted tank with the gently bubbling water adds a touch of serenity, as well as a nice natural decor to any room.

With that said however, purchasing the right equipment and setting up your home aquarium is critical in establishing its long-term success. A great way to start the process is to visit several pet stores, look around and ask questions. Once you find a store that feels right for you, establish a relationship with an expert at that shop and try to stay loyal to both the person and the shop. If they are aware of your home setup they will be very valuable to you in the future when you need professional advice. A well thought out plan is crucial. Don’t come home with a tank and a bag of fish on a whim and expect to immediately set up a tropical watery paradise for the fishes. Once you purchase everything you need and get everything home, it’s important you set it up and maintain it properly.

Frank Bulman, director of husbandry at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Tenn., provides the following suggestions for a successful home aquarium.

Proper size and location.

Water weighs 8.3 lbs per gallon making a large aquarium quite heavy, so make sure the floor can handle the load. A small aquarium requires more maintenance and attention than a larger aquarium but they are lighter and water changes are easier. Avoid locating your aquarium in a south facing window as it will receive too much sun and may overheat in the summer or get too cold in the winter. If this is your first aquarium, it’s recommended you start with a smaller, maybe a 10 or 20 gallon tank and then expand as your knowledge and confidence grows Hint: Locate the aquarium away from heating and air-conditioning vents and make sure it is within reach of a grounded electrical outlet.

Adequate filtration.

Aquariums are miniature eco-systems with waste products being broken down by living bacteria which serve as biological filtration. These bacteria need good water flow and oxygen just like the fish do. There are many types of filters to choose from. Filters that trap particulate waste are mechanical filters. Filters that remove dissolved organic material use activated carbon and are considered chemical filters. Additional Info: A good filtration system will address biological, mechanical and chemical processes and keep your water safe for its inhabitants. Hint: Talk with your pet store professional about the pros and cons of each type of filter to find the one best for your situation.

Creating an Environment.

Once your aquarium is set up and stable and in no danger of toppling over, add two to three inches of gravel to the bottom. Now is the time to add a few decorations, but don’t overdo it – make sure you leave ample room for the fish to swim around. Adding large stones, castles, tunnels, and plants not only helps your tank mimic a natural habitat, but it also provides a valuable place for your fish to hide, rest or get away from their aggressive tank mates. Additional Info: The aquarium’s interior should be designed to fit into the room in which it is located, so carefully consider the colors you choose for the gravel and decorative items. Hint: Use your aquarium to create a focal point of a room. Treat it like a living work of art.

Proper fish selection.

Selecting the right fish is important so do your homework before populating your tank. Know which species are compatible with each other and which species are not. Additional Info: Very often juvenile fish are sold and they soon outgrow the aquarium, so be sure you know how large each one will get. Hint: Don’t purchase all your equipment AND your fish on the same trip. Get the tank set up and ready before you introduce your new family to their habitat.

Healthy fish.

Take time and make sure you select healthy fish. Avoid purchasing fish that are not eating or are staying apart from other fish. Sick fish will often have their fins clamped close to their body or will be scratching or rubbing on objects in the aquarium. A good fish shop will hold fish for a quarantine period and make sure the fish are healthy and eating before they are sold. Additional Info: It may be necessary to set up a separate quarantine tank up at home to make sure new fish are healthy before adding them to your community aquarium. Hint: Look into their eyes. Healthy fish have clear eyes.

Adding new fish.

It is best to add a few fish at a few at a time to a new aquarium. This gives the bacteria population time to grow. A necessary purchase is a test kit to check ammonia and nitrite levels in your water. Here’s an easy chemistry lesson: Ammonia is the main waste product in an aquarium and it’s very toxic to fish. This is where your healthy bacteria population comes into play. They convert ammonia into nitrite, which is less toxic than ammonia but is still harmful. Other bacteria will then metabolize the nitrite and convert it to nitrate which is not harmful to your fish. Additional Info: A good pet shop should willingly check these levels for you if you bring them a water sample. The ammonia and nitrite levels should be close to 0 ppm before adding additional animals. Hint: Don’t just dump your new fish into the tank. Float them in the plastic bag in which them came so they can slowly adjust to the temperature of their new home. Fifteen minutes is usually enough.

Don’t over feed.

Feed your fish s a little pinch of food at a time and don’t add more food until the first has been eaten. When the fish start eating slower, stop feeding. Never add more food than the fish can eat in about five minutes. Uneaten food will foul the water creating high ammonia levels. Additional Info: Some fish are vegetarian and will feed on algae and debris. These fish are helpful for keeping the aquarium clean. Hint: Make sure you are feeding the proper type of food for the species you have selected.

Don’t over clean.

Resist the temptation to remove everything from the aquarium and thoroughly clean. This will wipe out the beneficial bacteria and will result in toxic water conditions. Instead wipe down the windows and walls of the aquarium with a clean sponge or non-abrasive cloth. The dirt and debris trapped in the gravel is best removed by siphoning the gravel with a hydro clean tube. This allows the light waste material to flow out with the water leaving the heavier cleaned gravel behind. Replace the water that has been removed with new water that has had the chlorine neutralized and is similar temperature as the aquarium. An established aquarium should have no more than 25% of its water removed per month during cleaning. Additional Info: Mechanical filters will eventually need to be cleaned. Keep in mind substantial colonies of beneficial bacteria will colonize and live in these filters. After cleaning, keep an eye on the water’s ammonia level and feed lightly until the bacteria have a chance to repopulate. Hint: Keep a bucket or plastic water bottle handy in which to siphon the dirty water from the aquarium. Use that water in turn to water your plants!

Provide proper lighting.

Your aquarium should have a consistent light period, which provides natural periods of light and dark. This can be accomplished by using a timer or turning lights on in the morning and off in the evening. Natural light may be adequate but avoid direct sunlight. Additional Info: If the light fixture does not cover the top of the aquarium, a screen should be used to keep fish from jumping out. Hint: Too long of a light period can result in excess algae growth.

Maintain proper temperature.

Many aquarium fish are tropical and must live in water that is 73 – 82 degrees F. Most often the ambient room temperature is too cool and a submersible heater is necessary. Do not use too large a heater or too small a heater, generally 2-5 watts per gallon is adequate. Additional Info: If the aquarium overheats and becomes too warm, try directing a fan toward it and that will usually cool it down to acceptable levels. Hint: Unplug your heater when cleaning. Exposing a hot submersible heater to air will cause it to break.

Be Aware of Your New Eco-system.

It’s important to pay attention to the behavior of your fish. Watch for those who are lethargic or are scratching or keeping their fins clamped. These are signs of possible disease problems and if caught soon can be treated successfully with salt or medications. Overly aggressive ones should be removed or isolated from other fish. Your pet shop team will be able to help diagnose problems. Additional Info: Pay attention during feeding. In an aquarium with a large fish population it’s just as important to watch for the fish that are not eating as it is to watch for those who are. Hint: Name each fish and each morning when you feed them, look for each one and say good morning to it. That way, you will see each fish every day and can catch any problems very early.

Tim R. O’Brien is vice president of communications for Ripley Entertainment, owners of the two Ripley’s aquariums. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies (http://www.ripleysaquariumofthesmokies.com), the second most attended attraction in Tennessee, was Voted The Number One Aquarium in America by TripAdvisor.com and Forbes Traveler has named it one of America’s best aquariums. More than 100,000 exotic sea creatures live in its 1.4 million gallons of water. The aquarium is known for its shark exhibit that features 11-foot sharks and one of the longest underwater tunnels in the world. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is part of the Ripley Entertainment Inc. family of worldwide entertainment facilities that includes another world class aquarium – Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach, S.C. More than 13 million people visit Ripley’s 70-plus attractions in 13 countries each year. Ripley Entertainment Inc. is a division of the Jim Pattison Group, the third largest privately held company in Canada.