Plants

A lot of aquarists love the sight of lush vegetation swaying gently in a clear aquarium full
of healthy fish. "Natural Aquarium" often refers to an aquarium that has a well-
maintained balance between lush plants and healthy fish, each supplying what the other
needs in a good environment. Plants and fish are the two main inhabitants of most
aquariums. They coexist so well because each complements the other. Plants give out
oxygen during photosynthesis. The oxygen released gets dissolved in the water and is
used up by the fish. In turn, plants use up the nitrogenous waste released by the fish for
their own growth.

In addition to their visual appeal and their capacity to produce oxygen, plants also
provide shade, a home, breeding ground and food for some of the fish. Plants are also a
nesting place for many microorganisms that are vital for the proper and balanced
functioning of an aquarium. As the fish in your aquarium increases, the nitrogenous
compounds also increase. Rich vegetation is a safety barrier that will keep toxicity lower.

Aquatic plants can be both floating and fixed. It is better to have a fair share of the fixed
type in your first aquarium rather than going for the floating variety. While they look
very pretty, floating plants can collect debris in and around them, and are more difficult
to clean out. If you keep fish species that continuously uproot and disturb the plants,
floating vegetation can however be the only feasible option if you want to keep real
plants.

For decorative purposes alone, many aquarists go in for fake plants. Of course, these
plants have numerous advantages. They are easy to clean, do not need any trimming, and
will never decay or die. They have a base that will make them stick easily to the bottom
of the aquarium and they will look perfect and healthy at all times. Artificial plants can
however look very fake, especially if you choose some of the cheaper alternatives. Real
plants will also help reduce the growth rate in algae something that plastic plants don’t.
Algae can therefore be a large problem in aquariums using plastic plants. In some
aquariums it is however impossible to keep real plants, e.g. aquariums with plant eating
fish species.

Some aquarists use a method where they put in plants – a lot of plants – in the aquarium
before they introduce the fish. By using this method, they eliminate the need for normal
cycling of the aquarium (cycling is explained a little later in this book). Using this
method does however require extensive knowledge about the relevant biology and
chemistry and other methods are easier for most beginner aquarists. If you wish to use
this method, you must for instance closely monitor the carbon dioxide levels in the
aquarium. The level of carbon dioxide in the water should be just right when you put in
the fish. It is a good idea to put in algae eaters first, and then gradually add the rest of the
fish over a longer period of time.

Decorations

When setting up your aquarium, it is definitely recommended to add decorations. Your
fish will give you hours of viewing pleasure, and the more natural their environment
look, the greater your pleasure will be since they will display a much wider range of
natural behaviors. There are various kinds of suitable and aquarium safe decorations
available. Your choice is limited only by the amount of money you are willing to spend
and the fish species that you keep.

The primary focus when you decorate your aquarium, besides your fish well being, is to
keep all unsightly equipment well hidden. It is therefore nice to have some sort of scenery
at the back of the aquarium. The décor should be used to hide the equipment that you are
using within the aquarium, so that your aquarium takes on a more natural look. You do
not want wires and tubes peeking from all corners. There are several commercial
backdrops that simulate water, plants etc. They are an excellent buys if you are happy
with the look of these. This makes the fish feel more secure and makes your aquarium
look better. Many of the shy fish feel 'exposed' from all sides, if there is nothing covering
them from behind. Another inexpensive and easy solution is to use colored cardboards as
your backdrop. They are not very hard to make, and can be changed as often as you wish.
There are also more expensive backgrounds that you put inside the aquarium and that
simulate real biotopes in a more realistic way. These are stunning but can unfortunate be
rather expensive.

Painting the glass with your favorite shade is a widely used option, but this has to be done
carefully. Make sure that no paint is spilled into the inside of the aquarium since any
traces of paint in the water after the fish come in can be deadly to them. Also, if you do
not spread the paint evenly, light coming in from the back will show up the bad patches.
Changing the paint once you get tired of it is typically more cumbersome than simply
changing a poster backdrop.

Substrate refers to the material that you use at the bottom of your aquarium, like sand,
pebbles etc. This is not only a form of beautiful aquarium decoration; it will also serve
several purposes in your aquarium. There are some aquarists who advocate putting in
little or no substrate at all, while other can’t imagine an aquarium without it.

Filtration

Basically, there are 3 types of water filtration: mechanical filtration, chemical filtration
and biological filtration.

Mechanical filtration

In mechanical filtration, water is passed through a thin sponge or a screen, which
removes the debris. The size of the debris that can be trapped and the time required to
filter out the water depends on the quality and the density of the material used, as well as
on the power of the pump head. In the course of time, these filters will get clogged and
will need to be cleaned. Thus, mechanical filters help to clear out larger particulate matter
from the aquarium. Under gravel filters are a type of mechanical filters that uses the
aquarium gravel as filter material and trap the debris among the gravel.

Chemical filtration

In chemical filtration, water is passed through Activated Carbon or a natural mineral
called Zeolite. Activated Carbons are used primarily to make water clear and remove
potentially harmful chemical substances. It will remove color and odor producing
substances. Chemical filtration is most useful for removing particles that have got
dissolved in the water and substances that are too small to be removed through
mechanical filters. Usually, it helps to clear the yellow color that develops in aquarium
water over a period of time. Chemical filtration is also very good to remove medicine
lingering in the water after successfully curing a disease in your aquarium.


Biological filtration

Biological filtration uses bacteria that live on gravel, glass surfaces etc to brake down
harmful substances in the water. This is the most effective kind of filtration for reducing
toxic wastes. Fish normally give out ammonia from their gills and in their feces. This
ammonia is toxic for fish. In a natural environment, Ammonia is turned into Nitrite by
one type of bacteria, and the Nitrite is then subsequently turned into Nitrate by another
type of bacteria. Both Nitrate and Nitrate can harm your fish, but Nitrite is much more
damaging than Nitrate. Fish waste products can propagate plant growth in your aquarium,
but it will also propagate undesired algae growth.

Biological filtration will take place in a healthy aquarium without you having to worry
about it, as long as you don’t kill the bacteria by vigorous cleaning or the use of
chemicals. One place where such biological filtration takes places is in the filter of your
mechanical filter and it is therefore very important not to clean this filter in hot water or
using any type of detergent. Clean it cautiously with room temperature water to allow at
least some bacteria to survive in the filter material and start the biological filtration again
as soon as you put the filter back in the aquarium.

Choosing an aquarium

How big should your aquarium be? Aquariums come in many shapes and sizes. It is
advisable to choose an aquarium that is at least 10 gallons/ 40 L, since small aquariums
are much more difficult to maintain. The waste build up in small aquariums is quick and
quite large in comparison with a larger aquarium. A small aquarium will therefore require
very frequent water changes. Changes in temperature or water chemistry will also take
place more quickly in small aquariums. Rapid changes in the temperature or water
chemistry are harmful for fish.

 

I would recommend a 30-gallon/120 L aquarium to novice aquarists, since this will
provide enough room for more fish and is easier to maintain as it has enough water
volume to dilute fish waste. A larger aquarium will naturally be even easier to maintain,
but the benefits of an aquarium that is larger than 30-gallon/120 L is not as significant as
the difference between a 30-gallon/120 L aquarium and a smaller one. A 30-gallon/120 L
aquarium is large enough to buffer against to rapid changes in water values. 30-
gallon/120 L is therefore an ideal beginner size.

Fish aquariums come in many shapes ranging from rectangular to hexagonal or even
cylindrical. While making your purchase, it is not only the beauty of the piece that
counts. Mundane matters like how easy it will be to clean out the aquarium regularly, and
how to keep all the nooks and crannies hygienic are important considerations.

The height of the aquarium is also a very important aspect. An aquarium that is very deep
is complicated to keep for the beginner aquarist. Increased height means greater difficulty
when cleaning and your aquarium might therefore always carry some amounts of waste
even after a thorough clean up. Poor light penetration is another problem with a deep
aquarium. Plants will not thrive in water that has poor light penetration and special
lighting is therefore needed in deep planted aquariums.

Acrylic or Glass Aquarium

Glass aquariums usually cost less and do not get scratches as easily as acrylic aquariums.
Glass aquariums are also stronger, as they are bonded together by a silicone sealant. They
need support only on the edges, unlike acrylic aquariums. Glass aquariums are very
durable, and can last for many years without any problems. Proper lighting will make
glass aquariums look almost as clear as acrylic ones. On a negative note can be said that
glass aquariums are always much heavier than acrylic.

However, if you are looking for irregular shapes, than these are easier to obtain as acrylic
aquariums. Acrylic aquariums are much clearer than glass, and have better insulation.
This means that you can use a smaller heater in your aquarium to maintain the proper
temperature. Acrylic aquariums do however scratch easily and can therefore only be

be quite a troublesome procedure.

The price can also be an important factor when it comes to buying your first aquarium.
Glass aquariums are usually the cheaper alternative and there is also a wider selection of
second hand glass aquariums than there is of second hand acrylic aquarium since glass
aquariums are more durable.

Putting the aquarium in place

When you have selected the best aquarium for your needs, it is time to take it home. Here
is a checklist that you need to consider:

Look for any scratches on the aquarium before you make
the purchase.
Test to see if there are any leaks in the aquarium.
Take care not to load any heavy items inside the aquarium
while you carry it home. This may lead to scratching or even
breakage.

Get a tight fitting hood for the aquarium when you buy it. An open aquarium is never a
healthy option. More water will evaporate form an aquarium where the water is open to
sunlight, heat etc. Evaporation will lead to the water becoming concentrated with waste
and animal- and plant debris, and can also cause water damages and mildew in the room
around the aquarium. Contamination from falling waste is another problem. With an open
aquarium you will also risk casualties since fish often jump out of an open aquarium, and
ending up on the floor is more often than not fatal for the fish unless you immediately
spot it and put it back in the aquarium. Thus an aquarium needs a good and sturdy hood.
These hoods come in various decorative shapes and colors.

There are various accessories that go with your aquarium, other than the hood. An
aquarium is a complete set of a number of equipment that works together.

Choosing equipment

Lighting

The first equipment that you will come across is probably the lighting for the aquarium.
Most hoods come with fluorescent or incandescent lighting. Fluorescent bulbs are a better
choice despite the fact that they are a bit more expensive since they have long-term
benefits. 

 

They burn cooler, thereby not affecting the water temperature at all. Fluorescent

bulbs have another benefit as they uses less electricity. Fluorescent bulbs can be
purchased in sizes that cover the entire aquarium. This will provide even lighting in all
areas of the aquarium. There are a wide variety of fluorescent bulbs that emit different
spectrums of light. Some of these will even assist plant growth. Some will lead to an
increase in algae growth. Optimal plant growth requires a particular wattage, which can
be decided by the size of the aquarium. Usually, 1 gallon of water will require 1.5 watts.

Tropical fish beginner's guide

How to set up an aquarium


An aquarium, to put it simply, is a container that can sustain fish and other aquatic life for
a longer period of time. Acquiring a good aquarium for your fish is not a very difficult
job as long as you give it some thought before you actually get it. There are some obvious
considerations to be taken into account. Setting up and fully stocking a good aquarium
will take anywhere between a couple of weeks and a month. The time that you spend with
these basic steps will save you a lot of time and trouble at a later stage.

 

A good and well stocked aquarium needs quite a bit of equipment. Here is a simple list of
the items that you will need for a basic freshwater aquarium:

An aquarium tank
An aquarium stand
A hood
Lighting equipment
Air pump
Heater
Thermometer
Filters (internal or external)
Gravel
Decorations (optional, but interesting if you have these)
Maintenance items like scrubber, siphon tube etc.

Choosing a spot for your aquarium

First, you will need to think about how much free space you have for your aquarium,
whether that free space is open to sunlight, and which shape that is best suited for that
free space. Never place an aquarium in direct sunlight and keep the aquarium away from
any heating or cooling surfaces. Sunlight and heating or cooling surfaces will cause
sudden and drastic changes in the temperature within the aquarium, and sunlight will also
promote the growth of algae in the water.

Keep your aquarium away from machines that give out a lot of sound or cause vibration,
like the washing machine, since this will stress the fish. Water accessibility and easy
disposal of dirty water and waste are some other important factors to consider while
selecting a good spot for your aquarium as you don’t want to run around with buckets of
water in your entire house. You will need to clean and change water at least monthly and
better once a week. So, choose a place where you can work easily and without any
interference. In a family with children, special care has to be taken to keep the aquarium
away from areas of frequent activity. You do not want your children to push or fall on the
aquarium while they play and injure themselves or break the aquarium glass.

Any good home has a certain décor. While choosing a spot for your aquarium, you must
consider whether the general décor and lighting in the room will make it an attractive
place for the new aquarium. Take the type of biotope you plan to have in your aquarium
into consideration when you decide if an aquarium will work with the décor of the chosen
spot. Different types of biotopes works with different decors. A saltwater reef aquarium
will for instance have a very different look than a well planted South American biotope.

There are several things to consider before you purchase an aquarium. How much time
you are willing to spend on the aquarium? What kind of aquarium do you want to buy?
What is the ideal spot for your aquarium? What kind of fish should you put in your
aquarium? How do you keep your fish and their environment healthy in the easiest and
quickest way? How much time would it all take to maintain? What should you feed your
fish and how much? What should you do when diseases strike? These are just some of the
many questions that you need to think about.