Tips For Choosing And Maintaining A Freshwater Aquarium
Aquarium fish are wonderful pets and it's an absolute joy to have them in your freshwater aquarium. It's really important to choose the right aquarium, setting it up and maintaining it to ensure you give the fishes a healthy clean environment to live. There are many types of aquariums you can choose from but freshwater aquariums are certainly the most popular one among most aquarium enthusiasts.
Here are a few factors to keep in mind to choose the right aquarium for your fish:
1) Size
Selecting the right tank size is an important determinant when purchasing an aquarium. For example, if you just have a small area in your home where you can set up the aquarium you would like to buy an aquarium with a smaller tank size rather than a larger one. The size of your aquarium will also determine the number and size of fishes you can keep in it.
Freshwater aquariums are available in several sizes like:
Small Tank
This type of tank is ideal if you don't have much space at home to accommodate a large aquarium. These tanks come in various capacities which are within 10 gallons. You will not need any electrical accessories and filter for these aquariums if you want to raise hardy fish such as goldfish in them.
Medium Tank
A medium tank is one which is available in capacities between 10 gallons and 45 gallons. These tanks are heavier in weight in comparison to small tanks and should have an access to an outlet. You should make sure that you have sufficient available space to accommodate a medium tank as they may weigh up to 200 pounds when full of water and without sufficient space it may be inconvenient to clean and maintain them.
Large Tank
Large tanks have a capacity of more than 45 gallons and are available with special cabinets that help to support the heavyweight of these types of tanks.
READ NEXT: Sakura Shrimp
2) Location of Tank
Location of the tank is another important factor that needs to be taken into account before purchasing an aquarium. If you planning to purchase a medium-sized or large tank you should ensure you have sufficient available space to set them up and have enough space to easily clean them from time to time. You should never place your aquariums near any electrical appliances as the area near the aquarium can easily get wet especially while cleaning or filling water in it. You should also ensure that you place your aquarium in a place where the temperature is stable so that you provide a healthy environment for your pet fishes.
3) Shape
Freshwater aquariums are available in various shapes but the most popular ones are a rectangular shaped and small round shaped aquariums. Large tanks are generally made of glass while smaller tanks are available in plastic and acrylic models.
Take some time in choosing the right aquarium as this will help you take proper care of your fish. Most people fail to keep fish in good health because they select the wrong aquarium for them.
Freshwater Aquarium Maintenance
It is extremely important to maintain your aquarium to ensure that your fish stay healthy and you enjoy keeping them as a pet. It is vital to maintain your aquarium but contrary to common belief it's really easy to maintain an aquarium and keep it in good working condition. You should never neglect the maintenance of your aquarium as it helps to keep your fish healthy and in good condition.
Here are a few useful tips maintenance and care of your aquarium:
1) Check the water conditions of the aquarium
You should check the water condition of your aquarium as this is one of the vital aspects of aquarium maintenance. It is mandatory to maintain the right pH level for water in the aquarium. You can consult local pet shop suppliers about the appropriate pH levels ideal for your fish. when you first set up the aquarium it is important to monitor the pH level regularly once every few days for at least the first two to three months. After the first few months, you can check once in a month and over time the pH level will stabilize and you don't need to check on it too often.
2) Organic Waste Elimination
It is extremely important to clean the freshwater aquarium regularly. The aquarium can easily get polluted by organic waste generated from various sources like unconsumed food fragments, waste from the freshwater fishes in the aquarium. If the aquarium is not cleaned regularly it can lead to a contamination level of water in it to rise causing and unhealthy living environment for the fishes.
You should clean the aquarium from time to time and remove these organic waste pollutants and keep the aquarium water clean. You can get an aquarium vacuum or siphon as this makes it a lot easier to clean your aquarium with little time and effort. It is vital to clean and maintain your aquarium if you want to keep your fish in good and healthy condition.
3) Periodically change the water
This is another great tip for maintaining your freshwater aquarium. You should periodically change the water of the aquarium to provide a clean and fresh living condition for your pet fishes. You should change some part of the water in the aquarium every week which will ensure that the aquarium stays clean and well maintained. You should never replace all the water in the aquarium as this may disturb the biological environment inside thereby causing problems for fish health and well being. Changing the water in your aquarium is easy and an effective way to maintain your freshwater aquarium.
READ NEXT: Sulawesi shrimp
4) Check for the tank's filtration
It is vital to check your aquarium tank's filtration system from time to time. There are various techniques that can be applied for effective filtration of an aquarium. You generally get all the essential kits to ensure that your aquarium has an effective filtration system to keep it clean and well maintained. Filters can be of various types but they work towards a common goal to maintain the aquarium water and keep it clean and fresh. For example, biological filters let microorganisms like bacteria to remove contaminants from your aquarium while chemical filters are effective against various pollutants and help remove unwanted colours and odours. You should check your aquarium filters regularly to ensure that they are working efficiently to keep your freshwater aquarium clean and well maintained.