How to fill the tank with plants

Plants can be one of many items to put in your new aquarium. They offer oxygen exchange with the fish, give a place for fish to hide, provide a more natural environment for the fish, and also provide variety for those who view your fish tank. A tank with just fish and rocks can look very mundane and uninteresting, so why not add some plants?

Check that the plants you purchase grow within the confines of your tank. Water plants grow to many heights, sizes, and light sensitivity, and may even require 'plant food' to keep the plants healthy.

For freshwater tanks, I've always liked banana plants, as they are relatively low maintenance (they do require some light, though). Just check with your local aquarium store to purchase plants, as plants from the wild (say at your local lake or pond) may contain parasites or diseases that could disrupt the wonderful ecosystem you've laid out when setting up your fish tank.

General setup steps: location, gravel, and more...

Are you feeling lost on the first steps of setting up the actual aquarium? Well, make sure you're starting with the largest tank you can buy.

It turns out that larger aquariums are actually easier to up-keep! Also make sure the tank is away from drafts in the room, vents, and direct sunlight. You don't want anything that could drastically affect the temperature of the water in a short period of time, and you don't want too much algae forming on your tank.


Make sure you've washed the gravel that you've purchased for the tank, and then place the gravel in the tank slowly, trying not to unsettle dust in the gravel. You will also want to place a saucer or cup on the gravel so that when you pour your water in, you won't displace more dust and gravel (or you'll get dusty water!).

If you're looking for some nice stands to set your new aquarium on, be sure to check out the following aquarium stands:

How do I put the fish in the tank?

Here’s the general steps you’ll want to follow with placing typical fish into an aquarium. Note that this is for the basic fish of a freshwater aquarium. Don’t try this with a saltwater aquarium!

First, let the fish in the bag of water float on the water of the aquarium for about 15-25 minutes. This will let the water temperature of the tank adjust to the water temperature in the bag.

Next, open the bag and pour some of the water in the aquarium into the bag with the fish. That way you can see how the fish will react to your aquarium water.

Wait a few minutes, then add more water from the aquarium into the bag with th efish.

Finally, release the fish into the aquarium using a net.

If you follow these steps, your new pet fish will feel welcome and adored in its new home.

How many fish?

A question that always turns up is, 'how many fish should I have in a tank?' The general rule of thumb is 1 cm of fish per litre of water. That means for a 80 litre tank, you should aim for 16 or so fish that are about 5cm in length. Make sure you are considering how large the fish will get after they grow up (and not just the size of the fish when you buy them!).

You'll also want to keep fish in small groups, as this is often how fish are in nature. You'll also want to check with a fish specialist (called an aquarist) to find out if there may be an incompatibilities with keeping the same fish species in a single tank. They make attack each other if you're not careful.

Freshwater or Saltwater?

Probably the first and biggest question is, ‘Should I keep a freshwater or saltwater tank?’ Here are a couple of considerations that you’ll have to answer to find this out:

• Larger, brighter fish are more plentiful in saltwater.
• Invertebrates (those animals without back bones such as anemones and starfish) are more plentiful in saltwater.
• Freshwater animals are easier to maintain. Saltwater tanks usually require more expertise or experience in maintaining salt levels, PH levels, and animal compatibility checks.
• Freshwater tanks are typically cheaper to maintain. You won’t need to buy aquarium salt for freshwater tanks, for instance. The fish and equipment will all be cheaper for a freshwater tank.
  

If you’re a first time aquariumist, you can start with a freshwater aquarium and see if you actually like keeping water animals as a hobby. If it turns out you don’t like it, at least you didn’t spend a lot of money. Nonetheless, I’m sure you’ll enjoy keeping fish and water animals as a hobby… it’s a relaxing, enjoyable hobby that anyone of any age can enjoy.

The first steps...

The first step in deciding on an aquarium tank is whether you’d like to purchase an acrylic or glass aquarium. Glass is higher maintenance in the sense that it’s heavier to transport, it can break more easily, and can be more dangerous around a heavy traffic area.

An acrylic aquarium requires support for the entire bottom portion and scratches more easily. For some glass may seem to be the more ‘luxurious option.’ That’s only a perception!

Aquariums for Sale

Buying aquariums, whether it’s your first aquarium or 10th aquarium, can be a daunting task. There are so many styles and types, as well as price ranges and features.

In this blog, I will feature information for purchasing aquariums and go through some of the basics of purchasing an aquarium.

Stay tuned....

(As per FTC regulations, please be aware that there are affiliate links in this blog that are considered endorsements. We’d like to make it clear to the reader that we receive a portion of purchases made through affiliate links on this website.)