Here are 10 golden rules for any beginner aquarist. They eventually evolve
based on my own experience and feedback. The goal is to identify the key during infancy.
Version 1.0 of November 12, 2004
1. Always make inquiries before acting (and buying!).
2. Start with at least 100 liters (smaller volumes are less stable).
3. Caring filtration: power filter and filter media.
4. Start with at least 1W lighting 3L of water.
5. Put plants (especially fast-growing at first).
6. Do not fish until 4 weeks (peak nitrite).
7. Choose its population depending on the volume of water and characteristics of each species.
8. While introducing fish to a good acclimatization and do not overfeed.
9. Do not use so-called miracles: act naturally on the causes.
10. Make maintenance and water changes regularly.
Please post your comments and feedback .
1. Always make inquiries before acting (and buying!).
The aquarium is not necessarily complicated, but you have to master some basics before starting significant, important meaning criticality but also volume, without being discouraged by seeming sometimes contradictory information. Inquire after the disaster is always a shame!
Websites and discussion forums are useful tools to learn, understand and apply.
Beware of salesmen, whose job is to sell and not advise (some are very good anyway).
2. Start with at least 100 liters (smaller volumes are less stable)
In small volumes (less than 100 liters), chemical and biological equilibria are unstable and accidents do happen. Start with at least 100 liters, but more if possible: a bin is never too big! ;)
only restriction is the budget is almost proportional to both the tray to equipment, decor, plants, fish and maintenance ...
3. Caring filtration: power filter and filter media.
Good filtration is necessary (but not sufficient!) To balance the tray.
In general, it is a pump whose flow time is 3 times the volume of container (eg a 100L, the pump must charge 300L / h). The choice and order of filter media is important to provide good mechanical filtration and biological, chemical or even necessary.
4. Start with at least 1W lighting 3L of water.
You need good lighting for plants (see Rule 5): 10 to 12 hours continuously, with good power. 1W 3L for the medium and is considered fair enough, and 1W for safe and recommended 2L.
5. Put plants (especially fast-growing at first).
plants involved in chemical and biological balance, they provide refuges for fish and are the best decoration of a container: they are very important.
Start with easy maintenance plants, much of which is growing fast. The latter will help to balance the tray by competing algae.
6. Not to fish within 4 weeks (peak nitrite).
During the first weeks the nitrogen cycle will be set up , resulting in the appearance of toxic substances. The late peak of nitrite characterizes the successful completion of this phase. Do not introduce fish before.
7. Choose its population depending on the volume, and water features of each species.
careful not to overstock, reducing living space and increases pollution. A rule for small fish: 1 inch of fish to adult size (not actual size) per liter of water. 100 liters of water used to host a real twenty fish measuring 5cm in adulthood. But some fish need more space: goldfish, scalar botia, pleco, discus, etc..
must also take into account the parameters of the tank water (total hardness: GH or TH) and pH.
Finally, we must take into account the characteristics of species: fish living in pairs or groups, territorial fish, bottom fish, open water, surface, etc..
8. While introducing fish to a good acclimatization and do not overfeed.
Regarding the introduction, ensure thermal and osmotic shock. Method: Cut the light to reduce stress. Put the bag into the bowl and leave for 15 minutes for the temperature balance. Introduce then the tank water in the bag, 4 times spaced 15 minutes (at the end the bag should contain more water than the initial water tank). Put the fish in the tank with a dip net (not to introduce water the bag in the bin!). Wait 30 minutes and turn on the light.
Concerning food, the natural tendency is to give too: fish always look hungry! But food is the primary source of pollution of the tray. Give 2 times daily swallowed a quantity entirely in two minutes. Adapting food for fish: the nature and composition.
9. Do not use so-called miracles: act naturally on the causes.
Brands aquarists offer many miracle products, which are supposed to magically solve the problems of pH, nitrite peak, algae, water disorder, snails, etc.. While some work much, often without addressing the cause and the prices of other long-term problems.
When a problem arises, we must above all understand the causes, to act on them. For example, a significant proliferation of snails is caused by too much pollution. Rather than introducing a product that will kill a lot of things, it is better to eat less.
10. Do maintenance and water changes regularly.
The aquarium is an ongoing and long term. Many ferries sink with interest their owners. A weekly maintenance and regular water changes are a small investment necessary for long-term outcome.
Please post your comments and feedback .
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