Maintaining an Aquarium

Many people choose to have fish as pets, but keeping an aquarium is not as easy as it looks, and every day we have clients in the shop with “fish-problems.”

There are several choices available, so first you must decide if you want tropical (sweet water) or salt water fish. And, of course, size does matter when it comes to aquariums, since it will limit the number and type of fish you can keep. There are also many other points of attention when setting up an aquarium, such as:

-- The location of the aquarium is very important. Make sure that they never catch direct sunlight. An aquarium next to a door is not very good. Closing and opening the door might cause vibrations which causes stress in the fish, resulting in health problems.

-- The stand or table on which the aquarium is placed must be very strong and stable. When filled with water, an aquarium becomes very heavy…and don’t forget that the floor must be able to carry all that weight.

-- Lots of aquaria have a lid with light, but stay away from metal ones, which can cause electrical shocks.  Modern aquarium lids are made out of plastic and the light is inside the lid. One with little slits are best because there will not be any problem with condensation.

-- Most aquariums also require a heating element, which range between bottom heaters, filter heaters or elements which hang in the aquarium.  

-- Different types of filters are available to keep the water clean and the fish healthy. Choosing the best filter depends on what type of fish you plan to keep.

-- The ph factor of the water must be around 7.  The acid level can be adjusted by putting a few pieces of peat in some water and then adding this water to the aquarium.

-- Water temperature should be between 23 and 26 degrees Centigrade. This depends, again, on the type of fish in the tank.

-- The composition of the water is very, very important. Just the right levels of magnesium, iron, calcium and ammonia must be maintained.  Most good pet shops have testing equipment available and they will give you more information if you need it.  

Special Note: The right number of fish occupying the space is crucial.  With overcrowded tanks, there will be a shortage of oxygen, which will lead to other problems.

A good trick to figure out how many fish will fit in the tank is that every gram of fish needs about three litres of water. This does not seem much but most aquarium fish weigh only one or two grams. For example, if the tank contains 54 litres of water, divide by three, which means you can keep 18 grams of fish.

Always remember that, when choosing your pet fish, make sure they are compatible, since certain species fight with each other. The shop where you buy your aquatic pets will advise you on this matter.

Having fish for pets can be as satisfying and rewarding as having a dog or cat, and like all healthy pets, their living conditions must be carefully maintained.