Tank | Decor | Water Quality | Plants | Lighting | Filtration | Choosing Fish

Tank

The size of the tank to be purchased is dependant on a few factors:

• Area of space in which to accommodate the tank,

• How many fish the buyer wishes to keep within the tank

• Does the buyer wish to breed the fish

• The budget of the buyer – not just the cost of the tank itself, but also the ancillary equipment to be purchased, the cost of the fish to add to the tank and the cost of the food to feed the fish need to be taken into consideration.

Tanks these days come in a wide range of sizes and shapes and are usually made of glass. Whatever size and shape chosen, the glass must be thick enough to withstand the weight of the water it is to contain. The glass pieces may be glued together with silicone, or aluminium or stainless steel strips may be used.

Normal household furniture is generally not strong enough to support an aquarium. Therefore a stand specifically designed for supporting the tank and its contents should be utilised. It is recommended a sheet of polystyrene be placed between the tank and the stand to assist in distributing the weight of the tank and its contents and cushion the tank against any unevenness.

A hood is essential to the aquarium in that it will prevent evaporation of the tank water, reduce heat loss, prevent fish from jumping out and provide protection from predators such as the family cat.

The tank should be positioned in an area in the house that is free from drafts, heaters and direct sunlight. Also take into consideration the flooring on which the tank and stand will be situated. Concrete if properly laid is likely to withstand any weight placed on it. The same cannot be said however about timber floors. Please ask our staff for advice on positioning your tank in your home.

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Decor

Aquarium décor or ‘furniture' serves the purpose to provide shelter and shade for the fish and to create an aesthetically pleasing landscape for onlookers. When choosing décor, the physical and psychological considerations of the fishes should be of primary importance. The décor can be divided into the substrate, the interior and the background.

Substrate

The substrate is essentially the base to be used in the tank. It provides a natural base which fish are more used to, provides an anchor for plants and it forms an important part of the chemical and biological filtration system. It also provides a medium into which those fish that wish to can burrow.

The substrate can consist of pebbles, gravel, sand limestone chips, coral and so on. Care must be taken that the substrate does not chemically affect the water condition of the tank, nor cause blockages and such like within the filter.

Please ask our staff for the substrate most suitable for your filter and fish types.

Interior

When choosing furnishings for a fish tank, it pays to bear in mind the desired water chemistry, the fish species being kept, swimming space, shelter and so on. A tank environment should ideally replicate the normal habitat of its inhabitant.

Suitable furnishings include:

• Rock

• Clay pots or pipes

• Food grade plastic

• Coral or shells (marine tanks only)

• Aged bogwood or coconut shells

Furnishings specifically manufactured for aquariums available from your pet shop are ideal. These include realistic looking pieces of bogwood, rock formations, buried treasure, sunken ships (sometimes complete with skeletons!), mermaids, turtles – the list is endless. Always be sure to thoroughly clean any item of décor to be placed in the tank beforehand with clean fresh water – no detergents.

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Water Quality

The specie or breed of fish you buy will be determined by a number of factors. These include the type of water (fresh or marine), the hardness of the water, the alkalinity or acidity of the water, the temperature of the water, whether the water is flowing or moving or still, rocky habitats, plant jungles, open space or bright or dim light.

Hardness is the measure of dissolved mineral salts within the water. The more the mineral saturation of the water, the harder the water. Care should be taken when choosing ‘furniture' or décor for your tank as pieces such as rocks, coral, shells, wood, plastic, ceramic pots and plants will all affect the hardness of the water in your tank. Test kits are available to help you determine the hardness of the water in your tank. Please ask our staff for assistance.

The scale used to determine whether water is acidic or alkaline is known as pH. Most fish best tolerate a pH of between 5.5 and 9.0. Kits can be bought commercially to adjust the pH of tank water and are simple to use, however, exact measures must be used, so please ask our staff for assistance.

Water quality of the tank is also compromised by chemicals entering the tank. This can be from outside factors such as insecticidal sprays or from internal factors such as organic wastes. Outside factors contaminating the quality of the water can be prevented by turning off the air inlet and by covering the tank when spraying aerosols nearby. Internal factors from organic wastes such as fish excreta and plant debris are easily controlled using a filtration system within the tank.

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Plants

A wide range of plants are available for aquariums. For most, true aquatic plants are required, that is, plants that spend all of their time submerged.

When choosing the plant for your tank, it is best to speak to one of our staff members first as, like fish, some plants grow better in certain conditions. Considerations include, water type (brackish, soft or hard, acidic, alkaline) and water temperature. The size of the plant will grow to within the tank ay also be a consideration.

The substrate used within the tank must allow free passage for the roots to grow and allow water to pass the roots. Always plant the taller plants towards the base of the tank. The plants should be spaced to allow the light to penetrate to all plants and to allow space for the leaves to spread.

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Lighting

On average, twelve hours of light is required all day for optimum fish health and plant growth. Light can be provided through natural lighting (although too much sunlight may cause algal blooms in the tank), fluorescent bulbs or through special aquaria spotlights.

Fluorescent bulbs and spotlights must be carefully protected from the water itself or be waterproof to avoid electrocution and other associated dangers.

Too much artificial light can be harmful or uncomfortable to some species of fish. This can be remedied by providing shade though floating plants or by providing hiding places for the fish. This latter option however defeats the purpose as having the aquarium as an object of beauty to look at.

Ask one of our staff members for advice on the type of lighting required to optimise the plant growth and appearance of the fish in your tank.

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Filtration

There are three filtration systems available for aquariums:

1. Mechanical filtration traps solids such as plant and excess food. Foam filters are a good example of mechanical filtration.
2. Chemical filtration alters the pH of the water, increase or decrease the hardness of the water and removes metabolic substances such as carbon dioxide and ammonia using activated carbon or zeolite.
3. Biological filtration provides ideal conditions for populations of natural bacteria to thrive. Bacteria are required in the tank in order to turn toxic chemicals such as ammonia into useful nitrates. Filtration medium useful for this include ceramic tubes, which create a surface on which the bacteria live and breed; oxygen and a flow of water; and wastes on which to feed. Aquarium owners should be aware that bacteria are an essential component of tanks and thus care should be taken NOT to clean the filtration unit too thoroughly. Please ask our staff for further advice.

When purchasing a filtration unit, one that utilises at least two of the above mentioned systems is preferred. Examples of filtration units include: under gravel filters, canister filters, box filters, foam filters, trickle filters and protein skimmers if setting up a marine aquarium. Please ask our staff for advice on the most suitable filtration unit for your aquarium based on your water movement and type; tank size; fish size and feeding habits; and personal requirements.

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Choosing Fish

The maximum number of fish that can be kept in an aquarium is calculated by using the fish length to area of surface water ratio, i.e.:

Fresh water fish – 2.5cm of fish to 194cm square of surface water

Tropical water fish – 2.5cm of fish up to 64cm square of surface water

Marine fish is calculated using fish length to volume of water ratio, i.e. 2.5cms of fish per 18 litres of water.

When choosing fish to live together, a rule of thumb is the smallest fish should be too big to fit into the mouth of the larges fish. Please read our section on fish breeds to determine suitability of housing certain fish together.

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