New Fun Fish Facts Feature
Published: Sun, 24 Apr 2011 21:21:31
By: Michael Oleksak
Adding Gravel to Your Aquarium
Did you know that you should clean the gravel before adding it to the aquarium? Cleaning the gravel removes any of the impurities that come with production and packaging of these colorful stones that add personality to the tank.
When cleaning the gravel, use water without any chemicals and rinse it thoroughly. Chemicals can linger on the stones causing fish and other life in the tank harm.
Buying the Right Size Aquarium
Make sure that you buy an aquarium to fit fish when they are fully grown, not when they are tiny! In an aquarium, there should be one inch of fish per gallon of water. Twenty gallons is most popular with first time fish owners – so twenty full grown one inch fish, or ten two inch, full grown fish will do fine in this size.
Buying too small of an aquarium can lead to aggression with the fish – which is never a good thing! If more fish are going to be purchased throughout the life of the tank, it may be a good idea to upgrade now!
How warm is too warm?
Tropical fish need warm water – this is why it is important to have a thermometer in the aquarium with the fish. If the water is too cold, the fish can literally freeze to death, if the water is too warm it begins to lose oxygen and the fish begin to suffocate.
Tropical fish should live in water that is between seventy six and seventy eight degrees Fahrenheit.
Overfeeding Tropical Fish
Did you know that fish do not have the ability to judge when they have had enough food? So, what happens when you overfeed your tropical fish? Overfeeding can lead to digestive disorders, even death!
Keeping the fish on a regular feeding schedule can help the owner avoid these situations – after all, they can’t help it, their meal is in your hands!
How Many Fish Can Fit In the Tank?
Many first time aquarium owners visit the pet store in hopes to purchase lots of fish for their tank. Did you know that for proper growth and health of the fish within the tank there are only supposed to be one inch of fish per gallon of water?
Important things to keep in mind are that fish will grow! Better to buy the right amount of fish now, rather than filling up the tank and having to upgrade later!
Cleaning The Filter in the Aquarium
The filter is a crucial aspect of the fish tank that needs to remain clean in order to function. Every two weeks, the filter should be cleaned to maintain the health of the tank read the instructions that came with the filter to clean it and replace the carbon cartridge within the filter if necessary. Don’t forget, fish shouldn’t be exposed to harsh cleaning chemicals – so, don’t use any toxic cleaning supplies, warm water will do just fine.
What Supplies do First-time Aquarium Owners Need?
What items are required to set up a fish tank? Luckily, many fish stores offer starter kits for beginner fish enthusiasts, but for those who don’t – here is a quick list of everything required to set up the fish tank; an aquarium, a water filter, gravel or sand for the bottom of the tank, lighting and or heaters, a thermometer, food – and of course the fish!
Filter: The Most Important Part of Any Fish Tank!
Fish can’t thrive in dirty water – therefore, it is important to keep the water as clean as possible. Luckily, add-ons like the filter allow us to do just that. Many starter aquarium kits come with a filter, but depending on the amount of fish within the tank and the type of aquarium – you may need to upgrade!
Water Testing Kits - Necessary for A Healthy Aquarium
Do you know how many factors must be at exactly the right level for the aquarium to thrive and the fish to live healthy lives? First, water temperature must be exactly at the right level of seventy six to eighty degrees. Second, pH levels must be in check and can be tested using an alkalinity test. These tests that measure multiple levels of minerals are available at the local pet supply store. Testing includes levels for; calcium, chlorine and nitrates for a fraction of the cost that it would be to test individual levels of these components.
Selecting Tropical Fish
There are more than 4,000 tropical fish worldwide. Selecting tropical fish for your aquarium can be interesting. Study them in the tank and watch how they act. Some tropical fish are bullies and will not get along with other fish. Pick fish that seem friendly toward each other so you won’t have fish fighting when you get them home. You should also know how big a fish is going to get before you buy it. You don’t want a small fish that gets so big that it doesn’t fit in your aquarium. Make sure you choose healthy tropical fish. Bloating, enlarged eyes or foaming at the mouth are sure signs of unhealthy fish.
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