The marine world is one of the great mysteries for man. Since the necessary equipment is not available, a whole universe remains to be explored. There are believed to be hundreds of species that are still unknown, many of which are found hundreds of meters deep at the bottom of the sea.
For many people, this turns out to be a fascinating world. For this reason, they enjoy doing activities such as diving, surfing, swimming, excursions to coral reefs, among other activities that are possible to do in the water.
In fact, their hobby can transcend those limits and many have come to have their own aquarium at home, a mini ocean that they can enjoy whenever they want. In it they have different species of plants and animals that result in a delight for the owners and for those who visit them.
Would you like to have your own aquarium at home? Probably yes. Proof of this is that you are reading this article. However, you may not know what to do or where to start. If that is your case, don’t let the parrot go away!
In this short article we will be sharing with you some ideas so you can design your own aquarium. It has been written with people who have little experience in this area in mind, so you don’t have to worry if you are a beginner in this matter.
By taking these recommendations into account, you will not only ensure that you have a super attractive and original aquarium, you will also be certain that your fish and plants will have the care they require to continue enjoying life for a long time.
Therefore, pay attention and do not miss any details that we will be sharing with you below.
Instructions for designing an aquarium for beginners
You want to buy and design an aquarium and you have no idea where to start, let yourself be guided by these instructions:
- Take into account the size. Pick one that is big. In fact, although it seems paradoxical, the bigger it is, the easier it will be to maintain it in the long run. On the other hand, with a large aquarium you will have more stable proportions. In addition, your fish will have much more room to move. Fish will not be stressed by living in a space that is too crowded. Calculate one centimeter of fish for each liter of water. A standard size would be an aquarium of about 80 liters.
- Every aquarium should have a filter. This should be proportional to the size of your aquarium. You can choose between an internal or external one. Everything will depend on your tastes; in relation to the design, and the kind of maintenance you know how to give it.
- Another important element is lighting. For freshwater aquariums, fluorescent tubes of 0.4 W/liter of water or LED lights are used. In case you have a saltwater aquarium, it would be 0.6 W/liter of water. Keep in mind that the more plants you want to have, the more lighting you will require.
- You can use sand, gravel, or substrate at the bottom of the tank and add the rest to the back to give it depth.
- Add decorative objects and plants, this beautifies the aquarium and serves as a hiding place for the fish. But try not to be exaggerated, use what is just and necessary so that the fish have enough space to swim. You can make a very exclusive design, by using elements from movies related to marine life, such as Titanic, SpongeBob, The Little Mermaid, among others.
- As for water, use only cold water, since hot water has many toxic ions. Ideally, you use the morning water and let it run out of the tap for a few minutes before filling the aquarium.
Now, as you may know, fish are very delicate animals, which can get sick and die if you make a mistake. What else do you need to have an aquarium with healthy fish?
What do you need to design an aquarium for beginners?
- It is important that you take into consideration the conditioning of the water in your aquarium. This is a vital step so that your fish can enjoy good living conditions. Treat the water with anti-chlorine and with conditioners.
- Run the system you installed for a few days, preferably more than 15 days before introducing the fish. Make any necessary adjustments to heating, filtration, and lighting.
- Regularly check the PH of the water, as well as the KH, GH, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates to see if they are at the right levels for the fish.
- Carry out a partial renewal of the water approximately every 15 days. This change must be 20% of the total volume of water. Over time you will find out what is the best water renewal pattern for your aquarium, so be patient in the meantime and try different patterns.
- Remember that maintenance is very important. Do a periodic check of all equipment and have some spare equipment to replace without delay, should it be necessary to do so.
So far, everything we have mentioned is related to the aquarium itself. However, there is no aquarium without fish. They are the fundamental piece of aquarium design. Therefore, what should you take into account in relation to fish? Pay close attention to the following tips.
Tips for designing an aquarium for beginners
When choosing which aquarium to buy, take into account the characteristics of the fish you want, as well as the incompatibility that exists between the different types of fish that exist, in addition to the habitats preferred by each one.
Buy fish that are free of parasites. To guarantee this, make sure that importers carry out quarantines. Choose fish that look healthy and are active. To do this, you can request to see them eat.
On the other hand, it is advisable to buy the fish at noon and introduce them into the aquarium in the afternoon, in order to avoid a long period of stressful exposure to those who already live in the aquarium.
