Creating a new and better environment for your fish can be a bit intimidating at first, but with the right tips, there isn’t much that you can’t do when it comes to fish tanks. It doesn’t take much effort to maintain an aquarium as long as you’re providing your fish with food and clean space. Of course, there are other things that you need to learn about, so make sure that you check out the tips below.
1. Don’t Be in a Hurry
It’s fairly common for new fish keepers to feel enthused about adding a significant number of fish all at once to their new home. This, however, is a common mistake that you may want to avoid. It’s important to understand that this aquarium isn’t just a tank for the fish; it’s more of a new environment for the fish. It needs to gradually establish its own balance so it can maintain the health of its inhabitants. Try to add a small number of fish, then gradually build-up to the number that you want. Keep in mind that you don’t want to overcrowd the tank, so it’s best that you buy a big tank if you’re going to have a large number of fish.
2. The Bigger the Better
Fish tanks come in different sizes, so if you’re not sure which one to choose, think the bigger the better. Here’s the thing, fish usually thrive in large groups. This means that you might want to give your new friends a healthy environment to live in, which equates to a large aquarium. This will allow you to add a large number of fish without overcrowding their space. Another important fact about large aquariums is that they can contain a large body of water, which is significantly better for your new pets because this provides a more balanced setting for them.
3. Keep It Clean
The cleaning part tends to be a tad confusing for some, but it gets easier once you’ve bought the right equipment and established a system. One of the very first things you need to know is to never clean the aquarium within the first weeks. Wait until the fish have settled in first to create some kind of balance. Within these weeks the overflow box will be filtering the water and cleaning it for you. After this duration ends, you can start cleaning the tank and the filter too.
4. Keep It Simple
If you don’t have any experience with aquariums or you’ve never adopted fish before, then it’s probably best that you buy simple species first. There are a lot of high-maintenance species that you probably don’t want to approach until you’ve gained enough experience. You can start with having hardy fish at your house first; there are different kinds of them, so you’re not really limited to one or two types of fish. You can purchase swordtail, guppy, zebra danios, molly, and so much more. They have adapted to the aquarium life, so you can practice changing the water and feeding them before moving on to more sophisticated species.
5. Join a Fishclub
The best way to acquire knowledge about fish keeping is to join a club, where you get to ask questions, learn, and share your stories. There are a lot of people who have been keeping aquariums for a long time, so they definitely have a lot of advice to offer. Also, what’s better than hanging out with a group of people who share the same passion as you?
6. Day and Night Cycle
Just like you, fish need to sleep in the dark. This means that you need to set an aquarium light with a timer, so it can automatically light up and shut itself down. The fish will naturally sleep after the light goes out. That said, make sure to set the timer from 10 to 12 hours if you have real plants in the tank. However, if you don’t, then you can set it from 6 to 8 hours. These numbers may change depending on the type of fish you have, so make sure to either ask or do your research first.
It doesn’t take much to maintain an aquarium, especially that you’re willing to learn more about fish keeping. Of course, the more you read and interact with your fish, the more you’ll learn. But until you gain this kind of experience, it’s best that you keep a few tips in mind, like adopting simple species first, setting an aquarium light, and cleaning the tank. Finally, don’t forget to join a fish keeping club and to buy big tanks for your fish to live in.