Having an aquarium at home can be very aesthetically pleasing and fulfilling. However, creating and maintaining it is another matter. Before you get even close to assembling an aquarium you will need to know the basics of this hobby to be able to ensure the success of your endeavor. Below are some simple basic procedures to remember to be able to properly maintain and care for your aquatic pets.
DO some research. Before you decide anything, read and research. If that proves unsubstantial, ask for advice from a professional or seek the help of fellow enthusiasts online through aquarium hobby forums. Creating an eco-system is a complex task and this is what is needed from you when crafting an aquarium. It is important to keep abreast of what is helpful for you to be able to achieve a livable environment for your aquatic pets.
DON'T put aesthetics first. The natural aquatic environment is aesthetic on its own however, the elements found here don't exist just for beauty. Certain elements exist because of their important role in the fragile underwater ecosystem.
Don't do things because you think it looks good, rather, do things because it is necessary to achieve an aesthetic presentation. For instance, don't choose gravel for your aquarium that is too fine because it will become tightly packed and the friendly bacteria won't be able to thrive in your aquarium.
Also don't choose gravel that's too large because food might easily get lost and trapped inside the gaps and this will also upset the equilibrium of your aquarium. DO have a quarantine tank handy and ready before you even purchase new additions for your tank.
Even if you have been getting away with not putting new additions in quarantine before adding it to your aquarium, you should always follow this important process. It only takes one tiny sick fish to contaminate one huge aquarium and wipe out an entire population. Therefore, it is better safe than sorry, and a process of quarantine for new entries should be in place.
DON'T over feed your fish. It is in fact better to underfeed than to overfeed your fish. To know the amount of food that is just right to feed your tank, test an amount and see if the food can be consumed within 5 minutes. If it takes more than 5 minutes then you've overfed them and you should immediately clean out any unconsumed food at this time.
