If you intend to have an aquarium, it is always best to do your own set-up instead of buying one that is already ready-made.
However, you should also know the things you will need to make achieve a perfect freshwater aquarium setup.
Below are some of the vital objects that needs to be placed in an aquarium for your guidance.
Substrate This is the powdery substance you usually find at the bottom of the aquarium and is a vital part of the fish tank.
There are several types of substrate, the tiny ones, the medium-sized ones and the big substrates.
- Tiny Substrates - this type several good characteristics.
Many fishes prefer this since find it easier to nest on this type of substrate.
Sand and very tiny rocks are the common examples of this.
Not only are they easy to find, they can also be acquired for free.
They are good to look as well.
What is not so good about them is that due to their small size, fishes usually play with them in their mouth causing adverse irritations.
- Medium-sized Substrate - This averaged size substrate is also a popular choice since it also works well for a good number of aquarium.
Some of the examples of this type are pebbles and regular sized rocks.
This is one type will will likely find in many aquariums.
- Big-Sized Substrates - These are real big ones, the rocks that you fin din rivers and even bigger.
This will only be ideal for very big aquariums.
This gives a very natural ambiance to the tank.
It is good to look at but it may also be harder to clean.
Moreover, some of the fish feeds may go down and stay there resulting into contaminated water that will eventually be harmful to the fishes.
Bear in mind that many types of substrate can be harmful to the water and thereafter, the fish.
It is therefore important to get the kind that will go well with your choice of fish.
For instance, a crushed coral can give your water a high levels of pH.
This may be bad for the water and your pet.
There are many substrates and some examples of those that you should avoid are shells, limestone, dolomite, geodes, granite, quartz, Onyx, lava rock, sandstone and slate.
If your choice of substrate is not something you are familiar with and have no knowledge about, you can first test its safety by: - First, by placing some drops of vinegar into the rocks or whatever substrate of choice, you will know that it contains harmful calcium if it fizzles or foams.
Better to not use it.
- Second, you can put the substrate is a pail of water and test its hardness and pH balance by allowing it to stay there for at least a week.
After a week, see if there are any big difference.
If there is none, you can use it.
There are many also easy and ready-made ways to check the appropriateness of the substrate.
These are in the form of testing kits such as a pH Level testing kit, an ammonia testing kit, a nitrate testing kit and a nitrite testing kit.
The power strip that you should use for your aquarium should also be one that will provide protection such as those that are waterproof.
However, you should also know the things you will need to make achieve a perfect freshwater aquarium setup.
Below are some of the vital objects that needs to be placed in an aquarium for your guidance.
Substrate This is the powdery substance you usually find at the bottom of the aquarium and is a vital part of the fish tank.
There are several types of substrate, the tiny ones, the medium-sized ones and the big substrates.
- Tiny Substrates - this type several good characteristics.
Many fishes prefer this since find it easier to nest on this type of substrate.
Sand and very tiny rocks are the common examples of this.
Not only are they easy to find, they can also be acquired for free.
They are good to look as well.
What is not so good about them is that due to their small size, fishes usually play with them in their mouth causing adverse irritations.
- Medium-sized Substrate - This averaged size substrate is also a popular choice since it also works well for a good number of aquarium.
Some of the examples of this type are pebbles and regular sized rocks.
This is one type will will likely find in many aquariums.
- Big-Sized Substrates - These are real big ones, the rocks that you fin din rivers and even bigger.
This will only be ideal for very big aquariums.
This gives a very natural ambiance to the tank.
It is good to look at but it may also be harder to clean.
Moreover, some of the fish feeds may go down and stay there resulting into contaminated water that will eventually be harmful to the fishes.
Bear in mind that many types of substrate can be harmful to the water and thereafter, the fish.
It is therefore important to get the kind that will go well with your choice of fish.
For instance, a crushed coral can give your water a high levels of pH.
This may be bad for the water and your pet.
There are many substrates and some examples of those that you should avoid are shells, limestone, dolomite, geodes, granite, quartz, Onyx, lava rock, sandstone and slate.
If your choice of substrate is not something you are familiar with and have no knowledge about, you can first test its safety by: - First, by placing some drops of vinegar into the rocks or whatever substrate of choice, you will know that it contains harmful calcium if it fizzles or foams.
Better to not use it.
- Second, you can put the substrate is a pail of water and test its hardness and pH balance by allowing it to stay there for at least a week.
After a week, see if there are any big difference.
If there is none, you can use it.
There are many also easy and ready-made ways to check the appropriateness of the substrate.
These are in the form of testing kits such as a pH Level testing kit, an ammonia testing kit, a nitrate testing kit and a nitrite testing kit.
The power strip that you should use for your aquarium should also be one that will provide protection such as those that are waterproof.
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