It is very important for novice aquarists to know what they need for fish in the aquarium in order to organize everything correctly. Keeping and breeding underwater inhabitants is not only an original hobby, but also a way to achieve peace and harmony, as well as get rid of stress.
Caring for fish is quite simple and does not require too much time. However, first you need to familiarize yourself with the general recommendations to decide how suitable this hobby is.
How to choose the right aquarium
Newbie aquarists often do not know where to start arranging the aquarium, and you need to do this by choosing the most suitable tank. The most important thing is to think about in which place of the apartment or house it will be located. By answering this question, you can decide on the shape of the tank and its design. The vessel can stand on its legs or stand, be suspended or have a frame base. The shape of the aquarium can also be different. In particular, tanks may be:
- square (cubic);
- rectangular (in the form of a parallelepiped);
- panoramic (convex glass);
- prismoidal (installed on the floor);
- round (in the shape of a ball);
- triangular (closed aquariums).
In addition, an important condition for choosing a vessel for fish is to take into account all the main factors of keeping and caring for underwater inhabitants. Proper installation is required for free access to the home aquarium and basic manipulations.
The sun should not fall on the container. This can severely damage fish and some types of algae. The size of the aquarium in liters is selected based on the number and characteristics of its inhabitants. For 1 cm of fish, 1 liter of water is needed so that underwater residents can move freely and feel comfortable.
Aquarium size and installation
When answering the question of what kind of aquarium is needed for fish, it is important to precisely determine its size. Some species of fish grow up to 3-4 cm, while others can be 30-40 cm or more in length. The size of the aquarium will directly depend on this. The larger it is, the more difficult it is to upset its bio-balance after launch. Accordingly, there will be much less problems with it. The most optimal size is considered to be 150 liters, but not less than 100.
It is very important to determine the place of installation of the aquarium. It must be located where there will be no extraneous impact, in particular a heating radiator and direct ultraviolet radiation. Sunlight can heat water, which contributes to a stronger growth of algae on the walls of the aquarium.
Required Aquarium Equipment
What is needed for an aquarium with fish? This question interests many people who are fond of this hobby. You need to purchase equipment such as:
- backlight;
- water heater;
- aerator;
- filter.
When choosing a backlight, you need to calculate the power of the lamps and the duration of the lighting during the day. It largely depends on plants and inhabitants. Usually, the lid that comes with the aquarium already has the required minimum of lamps. It is best if they will be ordinary energy-saving or daylight. For an aquarium volume of 50 liters, lighting of 25-30 watts is enough.
The water heater should automatically maintain the temperature. The filter and aerator for water can be separate and combined. Their power largely depends on the volume of the aquarium. The filter is internal and external. It is best for a beginner to purchase the first option. An aerator is required for atomizing air in water in small bubbles so that the fish have something to breathe.
A thermometer and heater may be required. Most aquarium fish are thermophilic. So that they do not freeze, you need to maintain a temperature of about 22-23 degrees.
Basic accessories
Necessarily requires a pedestal for installing an aquarium or other flat and flat surface. When buying a stand, you must pay attention to some indicators. So, she should:
- be made of moisture resistant material;
- have good strength so that there is no deformation;
- have adjustable legs.
It is worth noting that the heavier the aquarium, the stronger the stand under it should be. When the cabinet is deformed, the weight of the water will cease to be normally distributed. As a result, the glass of the aquarium may burst. It is best to choose a metal stand, as it is characterized by the best strength.
A cover for the aquarium is very important. It is needed in order, first of all, to prevent infection from entering the water. In addition, the lid prevents fish from jumping out of the tank, and also serves as a place for lighting equipment and compressor mounts (on some models).
This is not all that is needed for fish in the aquarium, however, all these devices are simply necessary.
Vegetation selection
Many are interested in what is needed for fish in the aquarium and how to provide them with the most suitable conditions. Be sure to choose the right plants. Algae can be real and artificial. The second ones are much brighter, look more impressive, and also require a minimum of care. They need only to be washed periodically.
Real algae, despite the fact that they are not so bright, but more useful for the inhabitants of the aquarium. They secrete oxygen and various trace elements. Some fish even eat certain types of algae. From plants, you can use wallisneria, duckweed, elodea, hornwort.
Soil selection
Particular attention should be paid to the choice of soil. Do not use sand from the shore of ponds for the bottom of the aquarium. It may contain microbes that will lead to fish diseases. Too shallow soil is not suitable, since it is difficult to cleanse from the vital products of the inhabitants of the aquarium, as well as residues of feed.
An ideal option would be basalt soil. It is not only easy to maintain, which is a big plus, but also softens tap water. Soil can be poured with a layer of 4-8 cm. Much depends on the plants, as well as the characteristics of their root system.
Dark soil reflects the color of the fish much better. If the soil is very bright, then the fish will appear faded and not colorful. Before you fill up the sand, you need to disinfect it well, and to remove dirt, rinse it several times under running water, and then boil it in salt for 20 minutes.
Fish selection
There are a lot of fish in the pet store, which is why it is very difficult to choose for yourself pets that will delight and do not require complicated care. It is better to launch the most unpretentious inhabitants into the aquarium of beginners. These include:
- guppies;
- swordsmen;
- barbs;
- gourami;
- catfish.
Guppies are the most popular fish. Bright males and gray females can live in almost any environment. With proper care, they can please the offspring. Pecilia, swordsmen, mollies are viviparous fish of bright colors.
Gurami are beautiful and unpretentious individuals. They have lower fins in the form of a long whiskers. Barbuses are striped and very mobile pets. They are best kept separately, as many individuals are characterized by a cocky character and offend more peaceful fish. It is very interesting to watch catfish in the aquarium. A fun flock of zebrafish will help decorate any aquarium.
Launch
Now you know what you need for fish in the aquarium. In addition, it is important to know how to organize everything correctly. Before you can release the fish into the aquarium, it takes about 2 weeks. Initially, you need to spend:
- test filling of the aquarium to check the strength of the seams;
- soil laying and planting;
- installation of heating, lighting, filter;
- filling with tap water;
- turn on the heating and filter.
After this, you need to wait a week for the biological balance of the aquarium to be established during this time. Various air conditioners can be added to the water to improve water parameters. Before using them, you need to consult a specialist.
After a week, you can gradually launch the first most hardy inhabitants - snails, frogs, shrimps, newts. They positively affect the state of the ecosystem in the aquarium.
The water in the indoor pond becomes stable for 1 month and may become cloudy. Over time, it is cleaned and will be completely transparent. After a week, you can already run more hardy fish.
Fish Care Features
Buying fish is an important stage that you need to take as seriously as possible. It is necessary to pay maximum attention to this issue. When purchasing, it is important to adhere to the basic rules.
You need to carefully select the fish for cohabitation, if you need to start several different species. There are heat-loving and cold-resistant, prey or predators. Even nutrition can vary greatly. For this reason, when acquiring the inhabitants of an aquarium, you need to know everything about them, as well as compatibility.
These are rather unpretentious pets, and if no serious mistakes are made in the diet, then this is a guarantee that they will be healthy and live for quite a long time. It is important to know exactly how much to feed the fish in the aquarium, as well as how to properly organize the nutrition. You need to adhere to principles such as:
- food schedule;
- reflexes
- know the limits;
- diversity.
It is better to feed aquarium inhabitants at the same time. Before pouring food, you need to lightly tap on the glass. This produces a reflex.
Answering the question of how much food the fish need in the aquarium, it is worth noting that it is important to know the measure. No need to overfeed them, as one meal per day is enough. When feeding, pay attention to the bottom of the aquarium. If the pet is full, then the unfinished food settles at the bottom. Food should not accumulate, as it will begin to rot and poison the water.
It should also be varied - ice cream, refined, dry, lively. However, you need to be very careful with live food, as it can cause fish infection.
Many people wonder if the fish need light in the aquarium and how to choose the right lighting. Plants and fish need a very special beam spectrum. Special lamps provide better growth and development. A 100-liter aquarium needs 60 W. When answering the question whether the fish need light in the aquarium at night, it should be said that the lighting should be moderate but stable.
Keeping the water clean
How much water the fish need in the aquarium, largely depends on the size of its inhabitants. In addition, water purification is very important. That is why you need to purchase a filter.
For its normal functioning, it is recommended to wash the filter in aquarium water. Be sure to rinse the sponge located inside. This will help keep the amount of recycled water at the required level. It is strictly forbidden to use detergents for cleaning. Periodically it is necessary to carry out a partial and complete replacement of water.
Key recommendations
It is difficult for beginners to immediately determine which aquarium is needed for the goldfish and other inhabitants, so it is worth listening to the recommendations of experts. Knowing the rules of aquaristics will help facilitate the process of understanding the underwater life.
It is recommended to select classic tank models, namely rectangular or square. Aquariums of 100-110 l are considered to be the easiest to care for and adapt fish, since the internal ecosystem is very well formed in them.
It is important to purchase a thermometer, as temperature changes can lead to the death of fish. It is recommended that you have several tests to determine the composition of the water. Caring for the aquarium can be complicated depending on the rarity of the species of its inhabitants.