Having an aquarium with colorful fish is not only a matter of pride, but also good for mental health. It keeps you happy and relaxed, and relieves your stress at the end of the day. But it’s possible only if you take care of your fish and keep them happy and healthy. Here are a few useful tips that will help you create a perfect home aquarium.
You may not aim to create an aquarium as that of Madonna or Steven Spielberg; but you can certainly aim to keep your fish in good shape once you have your aquarium. For this, it’s important to think on what type of fish you’d like to keep. Like all living beings, different fish have different requirements. Although you may find several species labeled “cold-water” or “tropical”, all of them don’t necessarily have the same requirements. You have to learn about factors like the fish diet and temperature of water they need. For this, you’ll have to do some research. For example, this site tells you everything about angelfish or goldfish. You can find such informative sites and know about the species you want to keep in your aquarium.
Avoiding overstocking an aquarium is very important because overstocking can cause diseases and stress. As a rule of thumb, you should have 1 inch of fish per gallon. However, you should avoid keeping a fish that you know will grow up to 10 inches in a 10-gallon tank. Many beginners believe that fish growth depends on the tank size. While it may seem true, these fish can never complete their natural lifespan and usually show irregularities of skull or spine. They have higher stress levels and are more vulnerable to diseases. Therefore, select only species that can thrive in the tank you’ve selected.
Regarding how often and how much the aquarium water should be changed, there are several different views. In general, it depends on how full of fish your tank is for its size. The most recommended percentage of changing is 10% to 15% each week. Lightly stocked tanks can go longer i.e. up to 2 weeks between water changes. Using a siphon is a good idea to change water to vacuum debris from the tank’s bottom. Also, keep in mind that the useful bacteria reside in the sand or gravel as well as in the filter. Prefer not to clean both simultaneously or you’ll lose many of your bacteria and could have to start the cycle all over again.
There is a lot to learn about aquarium fish. You can go on learning and upgrading your tank. You just need to love your fish and a desire to keep them healthy and happy. All the best!