|
Home / Hobbies
Setting Up an Aquarium Part 3 - Adding Water to Your Aquarium
By:Kevin Yates
When adding water to a new aquarium you can't leave anything to chance, this job has to be carried out correctly or your fishes will suffer for it. Preparation is everything, if you carry out this task correctly you will benefit by getting it right first time and without getting stressed. And if you think this hobby can't stress you out, believe me it can.
A new bucket specifically kept for your hobby is essential; you must not risk contaminating your aquarium water with any pollutant residues that might be in an old bucket. Prepare your water in the bucket, by adding an appropriate amount of tap water conditioner/dechlorinator to water that is approximately 76F (25C), this can then be added to your aquarium.
Ideally water should be siphoned into the aquarium through a tube of about half an inch (13mm) diameter, various diameters of tubing will be available at aquatic shops, or if you are extremely careful you could pour the water in from the bucket, either way use an up-turned saucer or something similar to pour the water onto, this will avoid disturbing the gravel. Continue until the aquarium is approximately one third full.
If you are using live plants rinse them in water of about 76F (25C) to remove any unwanted pests. Don't let plants dry out, and when planting avoid damaging the roots. Potted plants are worth the extra expense as they are already established and less likely to be uprooted by any boisterous fishes.
You can also use artificial plants; they look quite natural and don't need regular pruning. In both cases try to position your plants so that the taller ones are at the back and the shorter ones towards the front, this will create a pleasing effect and will help to hide equipment, as well as being a natural feature for your fish.
Now you can finish filling the aquarium, in same way as before, remembering to add dechlorinator. You can also add a biological culture to the water, or directly into your filter, biological cultures are available at your aquarist shop, and they will help speed up your filters maturation (follow the instructions on the bottle).
If you are using a condensation cover between the surface of the water and the hood, you can place that in your aquarium now, and then having fitted the fluorescent light fitting and tube into the hood, place the hood on top of the aquarium. Site the control unit close to the aquarium but not where it can get splashed by aquarium water.
It's now time to switch on, make sure everything is working, and then leave it all to settle down for 24 hours before checking the water conditions and temperature. Don't worry if the water becomes cloudy, it's quite normal for this to happen and will settle after a few days, this is due to harmless bacteria and will disappear naturally.
Prepare for your Fish:
You must leave your aquarium and its filters to mature for at least two to three weeks. Leave all the equipment running as though there were fish in the aquarium, and get into the habit of switching the light on and off, lighting should be on for about 8 to 10 hours a day, keep it regular, your fishes will become accustomed to a routine.
Check the water temperature after 24 hours, and adjust the heater as necessary, keep checking daily until a stable reading of 76F (25C) is observed (unless you need a different temperature for any specific species you want to keep, then adjust accordingly).
You must not add any fishes until there are enough beneficial bacteria to cope with the waste that they will produce, the bacteria will colonise your filters and anything else that they can cling to, and multiply (adding a bacterial culture will kick-start this process).
Use your test kits according to their instructions within this minimum period, to ensure you have correct readings before introducing any fish.
Ammonia: 0 ppm (mg/l)
Nitrite: 0 ppm (mg/l)
Nitrate: 50 ppm (mg/l) or less
pH: 6.5 to7.5 (for tolerant species)
After a couple of days you may be fooled into thinking everything is OK to introduce your fishes, because your test results indicate low or even zero readings, remember, there are no fishes in at the moment to produce waste to give high readings, what you have to realise is that you are actually waiting for the bacteria in your filter to multiply, ready for the introduction of a fish or two.
Fish waste is high in ammonia, even in small amounts it can kill. Bacteria feed on the ammonia and produce nitrites, which are also toxic to fish; these in turn are converted into nitrates, which are harmless at low levels, this process is known as the nitrogen cycle. If you introduce fishes to soon there will not be enough bacteria to break down the fishes' poisonous waste.
Check your water's pH every three or four days to ensure it is remaining stable. For a tolerant species community aquarium you should have a reading of pH 6.5 to pH 7.5 After two weeks or so, if your test results indicate that your aquarium has stabilised, you can add one or two (no more) small hardy fishes, this will further help to feed your filters bacteria colonies and give the nitrogen cycle a further boost.
Digg
del.icio.us
Blink
Stumble
Spurl
Reddit
Netscape
Furl
Article keywords: filters, pH, adding water, aquarium, biological, fishes, ammonia, nitrate, species, stressed
Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com
For more information about freshwater tropical fishkeeping please visit my site at www.freshwatertropicalfishkeeping.com for 30 years or more of fishkeeping experience. Or watch out for more fishkeeping articles from me, Kevin Yates at FWTFK
|
|
| Top Hobbies Articles |
- 1). Are you addicted to scrapbooking? By : Rita Hutner
Many who suddenly get the scrapbooking bug say they started when they realized that so few pictures were taken of them as cute little tykes - and they want to make things better for their own children. What ever the reason, scrapbooking has become a big business. There are estimates that over 4 million people, almost all of them women, gather for "crop-alongs" or "power layouts" every month! All these people are on the lookout for new and exciting scrapbooking ideas and share their thoughts and techniques on how to create that perfect keepsake.
|
- 2). Orchid Care - Phaleanopsis Orchids By : Yale Bernstein
--An introduction to Phalaenopsis orchids.
Phalaenopsis orchids are one of the easiest orchids to grow in the home. The name "phalaenopsis" comes from the Greek phalaina, meaning "moth" and opsis, meaning "like". For this reason this orchid goes by the nick name "Moth Orchid".
These orchids are very easy to grow and flower as long as care is given to recreate their natural growing environment as much as possible.
|
- 3). Doyles Room Spokesman Wins Cardplayer Magazine Lifetime Achievement Award By : Sage Kalmus
He's been called the Godfather of Poker. He's the Texas Dolly. He's won more tournaments than this writer has years to his name. He's written the seminal book on Texas Hold'em strategy. He's the spokesman of Doyles Room, one of the internet's most popular online poker rooms. His name is Doyle Brunson. And as of February 15, 2006, he's got another claim to fame.
|
- 4). History of Candle Making By : Coffee Man
Who invented the candle?
Candles were invented independently in many countries. The Egyptians and Cretans made candles from beeswax, about 3000 BC. In the fourth century BC there were clay candle holders in Egypt. Qui Shi Huang (259 - 210 BC) was the first Emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221 - 206 BC). His mausoleum was rediscovered in the 1990s 22 miles east of Xi'an in China and contained candles made from whale fat.
|
- 5). Which pool table? By : Jeff King
There are a few things to consider when purchasing a pool table that have an effect on the price and quality of your table and therefore, your game. Note that the term “pool tables” refers to the table used to play billiards, snooker, and all other cue-sports similar to this. The differences between these games are the rules and sets of balls used, not the table itself.
|
|
|
- 7). Challenge Coin Display Cases And Challenge Coins Tips By : Paton Jackson
I find it amazing that the interest and popularity of challenge coins and challenge coin displays keeps rising. I get many questions about military challenge coins so I have decided to gather some valuable tips for you.
The most popular challenge coins are navy challenge coins, marine corps challenge coins, army challenge coins, air force challenge coins and police challenge coins.
|
- 8). The Lincoln Cent – Part 3 – The Many Changes By : Keith Scott
No real changes occurred in the cent from 1918 through 1942. In 1943, the cent would again see a dramatic change although not to its design, but rather due to shortages of copper caused by the war. At the time of World War II, the one-cent coin was composed of 95 percent copper and 5 percent zinc. These metals were denied to the Mint for the duration of the war, making it necessary for the Mint to seek a substitute material.
|
|
|
- 10). Live or Fake Bait? By : Ty Wagner
Choosing fake bait over live bait and how the two can get better results in different conditions.
|
| New Hobbies Articles |
|
|
- 2). Perfect Timing for Shooting By : Mitch Johnson
"Leading" or shooting ahead of moving game is usually thought of in connection with shotguns and wing shooting, but it is sometimes important with the rifle while shooting deer. Learn some tips on the timing for shooting.
|
|
|
- 4). Effective Times to Hunt Deer By : Mitch Johnson
One of the things, which a hunter must realize when he go for hunting, is that he must respect some restriction given by the land owner where he hunt the deer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- 8). Karaoke Machine Buying Guide By : John Morris
The word karaoke, often mispronounced with a long e at the end instead of a short one, originated from a Japanese word meaning empty orchestra...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
