Top Aquarium Care and Builds Advice for Your Fish

There are many benefits to having an aquarium from the soothing aesthetic it brings to a room to the stress-reducing elements that come from watching fish effortlessly swim in their tank. However, before building your aquarium, it is vital that you understand that this is a living environment for inhabitants, and their well-being must come before your desire for a nice interior design. So, on that note, we have gathered the top aquarium care and builds advice to ensure your fish get their needs met. 

Choose the Location

You must first acknowledge the weight of your tank when choosing a location so that it is fully supported and safe for your fish. You will be filling your tank with plenty of water and gravel, so you must take the total weight into account. Your tank must be placed in a location that is away from an air conditioner or heat source. Moreover, you must shield your tank from direct sunlight. 

Prepare the Necessities

Before filling up your tank with decor, you must first know your fish. You need to build an environment that’s appropriate and safe for your fish. For instance, if you have saltwater fish then you must know the necessities you must provide as they cannot handle the same conditions as freshwater fish. Brush up on important aquarium fish information first to fully understand the temperature and habitat needed for your type of fish. Freshwater fish are adaptable when it comes to diverse habitats; saltwater fish, on the other hand, are better suited to habitats with coral reefs, mangroves, salt ponds, and seagrass beds. Moreover, freshwater fish have more developed kidneys than saltwater fish, meaning they can avoid impurities when consuming large quantities of water. Saltwater fish don’t have the gills to prevent the loss of internal body fluids. Therefore, a saltwater fish will need a saline water tank to replace lost water. 

Keep up with Cleanliness and Maintenance 

You want to thoroughly clean the tank before adding the contents. You also want to maintain the upkeep to ensure efficient mechanical and chemical filtration. Your tank requires proper filtration to provide your fish with a safe and healthy environment. You also need to maintain the water temperature and should consider a heater to keep the temperature between 75 and 80 degrees F; however, goldfish and cold water fish are a different story and can survive without a heater. Another component of maintenance is safe lighting and electrical solutions. You need the right light fixture as this is vital for plant growth and won’t lead to excessive algae growth. If your tank requires a heater, make sure to refer to safety guidelines when plugging in any electrical equipment. Note that you want to space out your maintenance checks so that there isn’t too much disruption to your fish’s lives. 

Add Decor Gradually 

Before creating the atmosphere that you desire, make sure that you don’t overwhelm your fish with changes. Make sure you do your research to understand the type of decor that’s beneficial to the species you have. Your aquarium is not simply a decorative piece but a living space for your fish. Therefore, you must allow time for the living environment to find a balance that aids the inhabitants. The right decor will help your fish feel at home in their tank which is why you need to know what colors and plants will help them relax and which fish need more open spaces to swim. If you want to include new fish, make sure you add one piece of decor at a time to help them establish their own unique space. As mentioned above, this also goes for the water condition suitable for your type of fish. 

Know Your Fish

As mentioned above, you must know your fish and their species to learn how to introduce them to their new environment and how to make them feel at home. Be prepared that you must allow your fish time to settle, and they may initially hide from you until they feel there is no predatory behavior to look out for. Once they are settled into their home environment, you can then make the necessary decor additions and schedule maintenance. Bear in mind, that you don’t want to startle your fish with too many changes and disruptions.

Remember that your fish will need to feel a sense of ownership to feel relaxed in their living space. That is why it’s important to know your fish’s species and create an atmosphere accordingly. Understand when decor should and shouldn’t be added, and make sure each of your fish has an area that caters to their needs. Furthermore, understand what changes are beneficial to their health and limit any stressful occurrences to ensure your fish are happy in their habitat.