Nice to watch, a lot of work
Sep 19 '00
I remember a few year back when my wife and I were looking into setting up our very first fish tank. We went down to the local fish store and started looking at all the different fish in display tanks. After looking at the fish we then turned to the wide variety of tanks and all the accessories that go into the finished product of the fish tank you will be enjoying for years to come.
The first thing the person running the store asked us was what type of fish were we going to put in the tank? We decided that we were going to go with fresh water fish. With that little information he started recommend a complete setup for us, at least that was a start. The very first tank we ever bought was a 10 gallon glass tank, with a lighted hood or top. It had a door on top so we could feed the fish, and it also allowed a access to test the water, I will explain that a little later.
The next thing we had to decide was the water filtration system, this was used to remove all the impurities from the water so your poor fish don't die. The biggest impurity was caused by the fish themselves, the fish waste. Both liquid and solid was of course deposited directly into the water. The other major impurity is solid food particles, they were either not completely eaten by the fish or just by over feeding. They're really only three very different types of filtration systems that are recommended by the experts( I by no means am an expert). The first one is the under gravel filter system, this one is one that I would recommend to beginner. Just as the name implies it is under the gravel or on the bottom of the tank. This type of filtration is accomplished by putting plastic plates with slits in them on the bottom of the tank and placing an one inch layer of aquarium gravel on top of the plates.This gravel may be of any color you choose. The other parts that makeup the filter are two tubes one one each end towards the back of the plates, inside these tubes are hoses the run down inside the tubes to the bottom of the plates and attached to the end of the hose is a air stone, these air stones let air pass through them and this action causes the water in the tank to be drawn through the gravel and through the slits in the plates trapping the large particles of solid waste in the gravel.At the top of the tubes are placed carbon filters and these carbon filters remove the ammonia in the water from the fishes liquid waste.
The second type of filtration system is what is called a power filtration system. This system draws the water out of the tank through a suction tube and it brings it into the body of the filter and it runs through a series of filter material that traps the solid waste and it also goes through a carbon material to remove the ammonia from the water. The main parts to this system is the suction tube which extended down into the water from the main body of the filter which is hanging over the edge of the tank. The water is drawn up through the tube by using an electric motor and a impeller inside the main body of the filter. Once the water is brought up into the main body it passes through a series of materials to remove the small and very tiny particles and the final step it flows through a carbon material which will remove the ammonia, that is the biggest killer of aquarium fish. After the water passes through the carbon material it then flows out the front of the filter box and back into the tank. These power filters are designed specifically for the amount of water they can filter in an hour, they are also rated on the size of the tank, which is measured in gallons.
Third type of filtration system is the canister style filter, these types of filters like the power filters draw the water out of the tank through suction tubes, and brings it into the canister. Once it is inside the canister, the water is drawn through a fibrous material that traps the particles in the water and just like the other filter systems the water passes through a carbon material to remove the ammonia from the water. Then the water is pumped back into the tank and the cycle is repeated. These canister filters are also rated based on how much water it can filter per hour. The size of the tank will determine the size of the canister filter.
The next thing to consider for your tank is the heater, the water has to remain constant, sudden rise or falling of the water temperature can cause your fish to start acting strangely. It also could kill them, some fish are really fragile as far as water temperature. There is two main types of heaters, one is designed to hang from the top of the tank and extend down into the water and warm the water. They have built in thermostats so they can regulate the heat given off to maintain the proper set temperature. The other type is designed to be fully submerged in the water and attached to the side of the tank by suction cups, these types are designed especially for the larger and taller tanks, where it is difficult to use a hanging heater. Both of these heaters are rated in the amounts of watts of power, this is how they generate the heat to warm the water.
Another thing you will need in the tank is a aeration, this is putting air bubbles into the water so the fish have a constant source of air so they can breath. This can be accomplished by using air stones, these are devices that allow air to pass through it's porous material and create tiny bubbles. You can also purchase types of objects that can be used as scenery in your tank which you can attach air hoses to and will produce air bubbles, so they can act as a visual affect as well as being functional in the tank. All these different devices use a air pump to create the air that flows through clear tubing to the devices to create the tiny bubbles. The air is directed through the clear tubing by use of what is call a gang valve, and by opening the valve it allows air to flow, the size of the gang valve will be determined by the number of different hoses you need to move the air from the pump to the devices.
The last thing to consider is what I will call the seascape, similar to landscaping your yard, except this is inside the fish tank. This not only looks good to you, but it provides a distraction for your fish. They like to swim in and out of things and also hiding behind things. There are different types of rock formations and plants, both artificial and live plants.
The last thing I want to discuss is a very important topic and that is the chemical analysis of the water. It may seem complicated, but it is a matter of life or death for your fish. Testing the water for ammonia is so very important, similar to the chlorine testing in your pool. If the levels of ammonia are not kept low your fish could die. The other level you need to concern yourself with is the Ph level, or the hardness of the water. Some types of aquarium fish can handle high Ph levels, but most can't so you need to be very careful about the Ph levels. To help you with your water testing, most aquarium stores have testing devices that can purchased to help you monitor the water levels.
I am going to add my recommendations and you can take them for what there worth.
1. Tank size- Determine where you want to put the tank and remember, it isn't easy to move once it is setup. Also how much you have to spend. I recommend for a beginner to go with a 10-20 gallon tank. $15.00-40.00 approx.
2. Filtration system - This again will depend on how much you want to spend. The under gravel system, which I recommend for beginners, which is sized specific to the gallon size of the tank since it sits on the bottom.
The power filter systems are much more expensive and are really made for the larger tanks. The canister filters are very expensive and usually used in the very larger tanks, where large amounts of water need to be filtered. The undergravel filter will run approx. $10.00-$15.00 and the power filters run $40.00-$80.00. The canister filters can run from $100.00 to several hundred dollars.
3. Heater- This will depend on the exact size of tank you choose, but since I am recommending a 10-20 gallon tank you can use a hanging heater.
4. Aeration- I recommend what is called a bubble wand which is a tube that can be attached to the back or side of the tank towards the bottom and it will produce a adequate amount of air bubbles, and I recommend a medium size air pump. I don't remember the exact size air pump to recommend.
5. Seascape- This is where you get to be the most creative, remember when you setup the gravel on the bottom, you have to plan on it staying that color for a long time until you are ready for a change. Plant's and rocks are also up to you.
In conclusion I hope this opinion has been helpful to you that read it to make a informed decision about your aquarium.
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