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Fishkeeping Articles
Tank Setup and Maintenance
There are some basic requirements when setting up an aquarium, we will concentrate on freshwater tropical tanks initially. Tnhe basic requirements include:
- An Aquarium - the size of which will depend on how much space you have and what type of fish you wish to keep
- Lighting - this will either come with the tank or will need to be added separately
- Filtration - there are many possibilities here, such as internal, external, and undergravel just to name a few. Each have their advantages and disadvantages
- Heating - tropical fish require a heater to maintain the temperature within their tank at an optimal level
- UV Sterilisation - Considered optional but highly recommended to reduce algae and water-borne parasites (depending on flow rate and power)
- Carbon Dioxide Injection - Used in doses to improve plant growth
The main considerations involved in choosing the right aquarium for you are as follows:
- What space do you have to keep a tank?
- What species of aquatic life do you want to house?
- Can you afford the time to keep the aquarium maintained? (This is more of an issue for larger and more heavily planted tanks)
With regards the space and positioning of tanks, the area you select to place you tank should be a secure place, such that the tank cannot easily be damaged.
Placing your tank somewhere where it in risk of being knocked over or cracked isn't ideal! Likewise, placing your tank in a quiet corner might be ideal, but consider
that stray door handle as a potential tank-breaker if someone forgets that the tank is at risk as they walk through the door. Another consideration is that direct sunlight
is not ideal for aquariums, due to the potential increase in algae it may cause. Personally, I'd recommend finding a quiet room which allows you to sit and watch your aquarium
which will easily become the centrepiece of any room it inhabits. Having a beautiful aquarium but not being able to sit opposite and just watch the inhabitants is a real shame.
In terms of size, the aquarium selection is often a compromised between how much space you have and how many fish you'd like to fit into the aquarium. Having a 40 litre tank with a couple of baby pacus
may seem like a good idea but very soon they'll easily outgrow that, and many other, tanks! Bear in mind the final size your desired fish before deciding on your lineup. As a starting guide, I'd recommend
starting with a tank in the region of 100 litres (or 3ft) as it allows enough space for an interesting selection of tankmates, it is not difficult to perform weekly water changes, yet there is enough volume
present to allow stable water parameters (which fluctuate more readily with decreasing tank size).
Usually when buying a branded aquarium, the lighting is usually included in the deal, with more manufacturers aiming to provide the higher output thin T5 tube lighting, instead of the now slightly outdated T8 lighting.
For those who either end up with T8 lighting or without lighting altogether, it is possible to add or update the lighting in your aquarium. The light levels required vary depending on the requirements in the tank.
A heavily planted tank, with high light requirement plants will need more lighting than a tank without plants or a tank with low lighting level plants such as crypts.
A newer introduction to the lighting market is the LED technology, which in theory provides more energy efficient lighting, thus reducing electricity bills, as well as the amount of heat dissipated from the lighting.
One major drawback currently is the price of such systems, which are in the hundreds currently. Furthermore, the spectrum of the lighting produced should be considered before purchasing.
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Latest Blog Comments
some genuinely interesting information, well written and broadly user friendly .
I know, I've been surprised at how uniform the growth is. There are a few that are slightly smaller than the others but last time it was like a sliding scale. I could literally pass on all but about 10 of the fry now. Delighted with their progress!
Wow... this seems to be happening so much quicker than the last time. Well Done!
Hi, i have been using wordpress for a few weeks and have been managing fine with spam. Individual approval is working for me but i guess if the volume of spam increased then it could be an issue. I've never used blogspot but can you not download a plugin to monitor spam? Feel free to contact me if you require more info. Thanks, linz_d87
There is a really clear picture of one tiny fry lol
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