If you’re starting a new aquarium, the amount of information on the internet can be overwhelming. This is a simple guide that will help address any questions or doubts you may have all in one place!
Shopping List: What to Get Before Buying Fish?
- An aquarium
- A Aquarium Lid
- A heater
- Lights
- A filter
- Substrate & hardscape
- Water conditioner & syphon
How Do You setup a Freshwater Tank for Beginners?
- Set up the aquarium stand or clean the counter space where the tank will go.
- Rinse out any dust from the aquarium and accessories, and install the tank background.
- Put the tank on the aquarium stand, and pour in the substrate.
- Place the filter and heater in the tank, and add decorations to hide the equipment.
- Fill the aquarium with room temperature water and dose the de-chlorinator.
- Plant the aquarium plants.
- Install the lid and light, and wait 30 minutes before turning on the equipment. (The heater requires time to adjust to the water temperature.)Wait 24 hours to make sure everything is working properly and no leaks appear.
- Start cycling the aquarium (e.g. growing beneficial bacteria and/or live plants to make a safe environment for fish to live in)
- Once the aquarium has a healthy ecosystem that can process fish waste, gradually start adding fish. Consider putting all new fish in a separate quarantine tank first to cure them of any diseases before they enter the main tank.
How Much Does It Cost to Set up a Fish Tank?
Because fish are relatively inexpensive pets, many people assume that their aquariums and fish tank accessories will not cost much as well. If you plan on buying brand-new aquarium supplies, be prepared to spend around Rs 1000 to 2000 or more.
How much maintenance can you expect?
To own fish, you will need to dedicate time to keeping the tank clean. Although this does not involve an exorbitant amount of time, it is very important. If the water quality in your tank declines, your fish will become stressed and they will also become more susceptible to disease. Poor water quality in a freshwater tank can also encourage the growth of algae and pathogenic bacteria. On average, you should expect to spend about 10 to 15 minutes a day caring for your tank in addition to an extra 20 minutes per week for a partial water change. Once a month you will also need to set aside extra time to replace your filter media and to perform a larger 25% water change. Your daily maintenance tasks will include feeding your fish, observing your fish for signs of disease, and checking to make sure that all of your tank equipment is functioning properly.
What is a freshwater aquarium?
From a glance, a freshwater aquarium would usually have plenty of plants and have popular fish like Tetras and Bettas.
What fish are good for home aquariums?
This depends on the fishkeeper's interest as there are countless options. It comes down to the tank size, and their availability in terms of maintenance and upkeep.
When you are first starting out in the aquarium hobby you should carefully select the fish you use to stock your first tank. It is wise to begin with a species that is hardy and tolerant of various water parameters because it will take you some time to get the hang of maintaining your new tank. Experienced aquarium hobbyists often recommend livebearers like swordtails, guppies and mollies as beginner fish because they are easy to care for. Many species of tetra like neon tetras, black skirt tetras and cardinal tetras are also easy to care for. The key to stocking your tank properly is to start off small with just a few fish and to gradually add more as you get the hang of things.
What is the ongoing maintenance for a freshwater aquarium?
Maintaining great water quality with regular water changes and adequate filtration is important to help keep your freshwater tank healthy.
Daily: Check filter, water temperature, and other equipment.
Weekly: Test water quality at least once a week. Scrape algae growth as needed.
Weekly to monthly: Change 10–25% of the total volume of water every 2–4 weeks, or as needed; change filter media monthly.
CAUTION: Never use soap or chemicals on any elements of a fish tank. A mixture of water and vinegar 50/50 works very well to clean the exterior of the aquarium and any components needing a refresh. Soap and other chemicals can be harmful to aquatic life.
How do you keep your fish healthy?
An important part of your role as an aquarium hobbyist is to ensure that your aquarium fish remain happy and healthy. In order to achieve this you will need to provide them with both a healthy diet and a healthy environment. A healthy diet for aquarium fish should consist of a variety of foods – you should provide your fish with a staple diet of commercial flakes or pellets supplemented with various live food, frozen and freeze-dried foods. Live foods like brine shrimp, daphnia and bloodworms are an excellent source of protein for fish and will help keep them from getting bored with their diet. To maintain a healthy tank environment you will need to water your tank parameters including the pH, temperature and chemical levels. You will also need to replace your filter media on a monthly basis and perform routine weekly water changes.