Tropical Fish Tanks: How To Set Up Your Tank
You’ve made the decision to get your own tropical fish tank! Congratulations. Tropical fish tanks are a great addition to a home or office.
Now you have some important, and fun, decisions to make. There is a stunning variety of tropical and reef fish to choose from.
First things first. You need a tank. The best advice is to buy the biggest tank you can. Of course, space and money are the usual contraints, but many find they enjoy their fish so much they wish they had puchased a larger tank!
The smallest tank to consider would be a 30-gallon saltwater aquarium. This size will provide swimming space for the fish and sufficient surface area for adequate exchange of oxygen into the water. Of course you can always add aeration equipment to your tank, but if you want to add more fish in the future, you will want an adequately sized tank.
Tropical fish tanks are either acrylic or glass.
Glass fish tanks are:
* Less expensive than acrylic tanks
* More scratch resistant than acrylic tanks
* Won’t discolor with age
Acrylic fish tanks are:
* Lighter in weight than glass fish tanks
* Can be custom made in a shape to suit your home
* Are less likely to break
* Can be purchased online
Setting Up Your Tropical Fish Tank
You’ve purchased your tank and your fish tank supplies. Make sure your tropical fish tank does not receive direct sunlight. Sunlight causes algae to grow which makes the water cloudy and requires more of your attention. Also, avoid locations close to room heaters or air vents.
If you buy an acrylic fish tank, it may come with a stand. Glass tanks require a sturdy stand with a polystyrene or rubber pad between the tank and the stand to prevent cracking the glass.
Watch out for leaks! Fill it up and keep and eye on it for a day or two. If there are no leaks, it is time for a thorough cleaning, and that includes rinsing the gravel. If there are any contaminants left in the tank, they can poison and kill your fish, so clean and rinse thoroughly.
Add your salt and chemicals. Once the levels are correct, run all your equipment for at least 72 hours to filter and heat your water and stabilize your tank.
Now it is time to stock that new tank with some beautiful tropical fish! Tropical fish tanks are a great addition to any home or office. I hope you enjoy your new fish tank.
