Choosing an aquarium
Arrangement of the underwater world at home begins with the purchase of a glass home for fish. In specialized stores and on Internet sites you can find aquariums of all sizes. Preference should be given to aquariums of standard rectangular shapes; it is also desirable that it be a sufficiently voluminous tank. The fact is that in large containers intended for keeping fish, the most stable bacterial environment is formed. In addition, in such tanks it is possible to place various algae and house a larger number of fish, which will subsequently breed offspring.
Replacement of vessel fluid
Keeping aquarium fish at home is not difficult. One of the main factors for the safe living of marine life is water, which must be settled.
The water needs to stand for about two to three days. During this time, the bleach has time to evaporate and the liquid reaches the proper level of purity.
In order not to waste so much time, the water can be heated to seventy degrees and cooled to room temperature. This also helps get rid of excess oxygen, which is harmful to aquarium inhabitants.
Water for the aquarium needs to be left for 2-3 days.
Preventative cleaning of the aquarium should be carried out no more than once a week and not in full. Do not change the fluid frequently or completely. Fresh water must be added little by little and only after the bottom of the vessel has been previously cleaned.
If the liquid in the aquarium begins to become cloudy, do not immediately panic, since in some cases this is due to the remains of dry food, and not due to the growth of bacteria.
In such cases, you should do the following:
- clean the bottom of the vessel from dirt;
- do not feed fish with dry food for a while;
- completely evacuate marine animals until their habitat is restored.
If the cloudiness does not go away after some time, it is worth doing a comprehensive cleaning of the vessel.
Water preparation
Before filling the aquarium with water, it is worth preparing it. To do this, you need to stand it for 24 hours. Also make sure that it does not contain large amounts of chlorine and harmful impurities. For the first fill, special tests will be needed to help determine the level of water hardness. For example, some fish are recommended to have softer water, while others need harder water. You can make water softer by boiling or freezing. It is possible to add hardness to the aquatic environment with the help of additional shells and river stones.
Necessary equipment
To provide all the necessary conditions for maintaining the life of fish and plants, you should purchase additional equipment in advance:
- External or internal filter. For small aquariums, an internal filter is suitable, the operation of which will eliminate stagnation and excessive turbidity of the water. To filter liquid in large tanks, you should purchase a more expensive external filter.
- The operation of the lamp will ensure optimal growth of aquarium flora, and will also help create conditions for the fish that are as close as possible to their natural habitat.
- A thermometer and temperature controller are necessary to monitor the temperature and maintain a comfortable temperature.
- Using a compressor to saturate the water with oxygen, you can provide the inhabitants of the aquarium with a comfortable existence.
To care for the aquarium, you should make sure that you have the necessary equipment in advance. First of all, you should buy:
- scraper for cleaning the walls of the tank;
- a net (it is better if it is several nets of different sizes);
- siphon for soil cleaning.
To make the aquarium look more attractive, you should additionally purchase decorations and decorations. They are capable of not only creating a certain atmospheric landscape, but also assisting in the breeding of young animals. Indeed, in decorative snags and the walls of underwater castles, fry very often hide from mature individuals who are capable of eating them.
Aquarium care
The basic instructions for caring for aquarium fish contain several simple points:
- Tank treatment. It must be constantly cleaned with a scraper of stones, various algae, and snags. You also need to sift the soil using funnels. This procedure will help to completely get rid of fish excrement, which in the future can greatly contaminate the container;
- Fish inspection. Do it during the feeding period, when a large number of aquatic animals swim closer to the surface. It is better to use a flashlight for inspection. But remember that there are pets that are hiding from you in different secluded corners. If you notice strange or unhealthy behavior in your fish, try to identify the problem and solve it as best you can. Keep such an inhabitant under control until the alarming symptoms disappear;
- Change of moisture. The volume of the “vessel” affects the frequency of water changes. At the initial stage, you can replace the water by 20%. But you should always monitor the level of nitrates - if they increase, the water for the fish in the aquarium must be completely replaced. This manipulation is carried out using a siphon, the function of which is to pump out the required amount of moisture and then pour in fresh water. They pump out from the bottom and at the same time try to remove detritus;
- Each new decor item added to the “pond” must be disinfected. This will protect aquatic animals from death or illness. The pebbles are washed, cleaned and boiled.
The most suitable fish for beginner aquarists
Among the most unpretentious fish that are suitable for the role of the first aquarium pets are the following:
- catfish;
- viviparous guppies, swordtails or mollies;
- cardinals;
- lalius;
- Danio rerio.
These fish are not picky about living temperature, water characteristics and feeding. As for food for aquarium inhabitants, it is worth paying attention to ready-made mixtures intended for fish, depending on their size and habitat. So, for small individuals it is worth purchasing food in flakes, for larger pets granules are suitable, and for bottom fish you should stock up on compressed food in the form of tablets.
How to clean
Clean the soil weekly using a siphon. This device is convenient even for beginners; it pulls debris from the bottom, from the space between stones and grottoes. Using current, the siphon sucks up light particles of contaminants, while heavy soil remains in place.
Artificial decorations are taken out and cleaned with brushes, then carefully returned to their place. Clean glass using scrapers. If the tool is equipped with blades, be careful not to scratch the walls of the aquarium.
The filter removes most of the dirt, but also needs regular cleaning. Depending on the type (external, internal, with various fillers), filters are cleaned every 2-6 weeks.
Everything should be cleaned with water from the aquarium. Any other is not suitable, as it upsets the balance of beneficial bacteria.
The filter parts are also washed in this water. Do not use any detergents - this is dangerous for the health of the fish. There is no need to achieve shine, it is only important to remove dirt.
Plants for the home aquarium
To create an aesthetic appearance of the aquarium and a comfortable living for its inhabitants, you should also select aquatic plants. Among their diversity, give preference to the most unpretentious options, including hornwort, elodea, Java mosses, pinnate, and Thai fern.
An important point before adding purchased plants to the aquarium is to treat them with an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide. To prepare the solution, add 1 teaspoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide to a liter of water.
Do not forget to periodically wash the algae, remove dead leaves and shoots, and trim the shoots.
Life in captivity
If you know how to care for an aquarium with fish, you can avoid many problems. This way you will create a corner of the seabed at home. With proper care, your fish will live longer and will not get sick.
The lifespan of aquarium fish largely depends on their species.
Thus, large individuals live longer than small ones; fish that lay eggs often live longer in captivity than viviparous fish. The key to the longevity of your fish is proper nutrition and quality care for them.
This is how long the inhabitants of the aquarium live under proper conditions:
- Arowana - 20 years old.
- Goldfish - 30 years old.
- Guppies - up to 5 years old.
- Neon - 4 years.
- Piranha - 10 years.
- Scalaria - 10 years.
- Gourami - 5 years.
- Botsia - 15 years old.
Let's look at what you need for a home aquarium. For beginners, guppies, swordtails and platies are best. They are very easy to breed and take root better than others, and are more resistant to disease. First of all, you need to select the soil. For swordtails, a smaller one is suitable.
Its layer should be 3–4 cm.
For catfish, there must be driftwood in the aquarium. They play an important role - they clean the walls of the aquarium. It is necessary to check the aquarium for harmful substances.
Plants can be artificial or real. The latter must be in the aquarium, they support the bioflora. The water for the aquarium settles for 3 to 7 days, then drugs are added to it to prepare it. You will also need a light, a water warmer, and a filter.
How to maintain an aquarium? It is strictly forbidden to clean it for the first 2 months after the fish are introduced. After this period it must be done every week. How to properly add fish to an aquarium and how to care for it? After purchasing fish, it is not recommended to immediately move them to a community aquarium.
They need to be quarantined in a separate container.
Then lower the bag with the fish into the aquarium, this is necessary to equalize the temperature. Then add a small amount of aquarium water to the bag and observe their behavior. After this, you can safely release your fish to their relatives.
How to care for an aquarium? To do this, you will need a siphon, a bucket, a sponge, and a glass scraper (preferably with plastic blades). Clean the sight glass from algae and deposits. Also, a mandatory water change must be performed every week. Plants in the aquarium require care: removing curled leaves, pruning and feeding.
Basic rules of care
Those who believe that fish and algae only need feeding and periodic changes of water are deeply mistaken. Caring for an artificial pond is caring for a small artificially created underwater world. The full life of an aquarium depends on constant attention and care from the owner.
All concerns can be divided into several groups. We will look at each of them in more detail later.
- Daily procedures include feeding and examining residents, as well as checking equipment. All this takes no more than 10 minutes.
- Weekly maintenance consists of washing the filter, cleaning the walls of algae and the soil of food debris and waste from the inhabitants. All these procedures will take you no more than an hour.
- Monthly care consists of changing water and pruning plants.
Cleaning the walls of the aquarium
To clean glass, use special scrapers and sponges. The use of sponges for washing dishes is strictly prohibited, since detergent may remain on their surface, which is detrimental to the inhabitants of the aquarium.
Recently, special magnetic scrapers have become popular, which are very convenient for cleaning glass not only inside, but also outside at the same time. Also often used for these purposes are scrapers and brushes with long tips, which allow you to clean the walls without getting your hands wet.
Weekly equipment cleaning
The key to proper operation of equipment is its regular cleaning. Filters perform several functions simultaneously: they retain dirt, food residues and particles of dead organic matter, and are also a source of microorganisms and bacteria for the biofilter.
If the jet weakens, the filter should be completely cleaned. To do this, all filter elements must be washed with clean water without adding any detergents. You should also use a clean cotton swab to clean the engine compartment.
Replacing clean water
The frequency of changing water in the aquarium directly depends on the size of the tank and the number of inhabitants. The first time after releasing fish, the water should be changed no earlier than 2 months, otherwise there is a possibility of destruction of the ecosystem so necessary for the life of fish and algae.
After 2-2.5 months, you can carry out a partial water change. In this case, no more than 20% of the total volume should be updated. In the future, for a young aquarium, it is recommended to change the water at least once a month, and after 2 years, when the ecosystem is fully formed, it is necessary to transfuse water much more often - once every two weeks.
When changing water, adhere to the following algorithm:
- Place a mark on the glass of the aquarium to prevent too much liquid from draining.
- Using a hose or siphon, drain some of the water (up to the mark) from the bottom of the aquarium.
- Using a ladle, carefully pour the water that has stood for 36 hours into the container up to the mark. When adding liquid, try not to disturb the inhabitants or damage the decorative elements.
The water in the aquarium should be completely renewed only in emergency cases, which include:
- soil acidification;
- diseases of the inhabitants;
- the appearance of mucus on walls and decorative elements;
- water bloom due to the rapid growth of algae.
Temperature adjustment
During the hot summer, it is very difficult to avoid overheating the water in the aquarium. You can prevent the liquid from heating up from direct sunlight by using thick curtains and drapes. If the water has already become too warm, you can cool it using plastic bags with ice.
Changing the water in the aquarium
Water is the most important thing in the natural environment of fish, so it is necessary to monitor its quality, take into account hardness and the presence of organic substances. The ideal composition can be achieved using a filter and regular water changes. Renewing the water in an aquarium with fish is the most important condition for their long and healthy life, since this aspect is responsible for the balance of the biological equilibrium of the home mini-ecosystem.
There are 2 stages of water change: partial and complete renewal
Partial changes of water in the aquarium help maintain the eco-system and water balance, even with frequent fluid changes. Before changing the water, you need to wait some time after its first start. This usually takes 2 months. Next, the water should be changed once or twice a week, but no more than 20% of the total volume of the aquarium. Changing the water too often has consequences: the quality of the water deteriorates and beneficial microbes die.
A complete water change is only necessary in emergency cases: if all the aquarium inhabitants get sick. If one pet gets sick, you can quarantine it, but if all the fish are sick, all the water should be changed. There are many medications that can help cure pets of the disease, but they contain many chemical compounds that pollute the water, making it no longer suitable for life. In such a situation, replacing water is a necessary condition, because even the highest quality drugs cannot completely cope with dangerous infections and microbes. A complete water change needs to be done using a special tool - an aquarium hose, which can be found at any pet store. When changing the water completely, a hose is used to clean the bottom of accumulated dirt and food debris, and the aquarium itself is washed with a special liquid that protects against plaque. But if this is not a planned cleansing, but an attempt to get rid of the disease, it is necessary to disinfect all parts of the aquarium, and not just change the water.
