What You Need To Know About Fish Aquariums
If you are just starting off with this hobby of keeping pet fish, be sure to do it right by investing in a good home for your pet fish. Read on to understand the dos and don’ts of setting up your fish aquarium.
Fish aquariums are designed to offer domesticated marine life a self-contained environment that mimics that of their natural habitat. Having first become popular in the 50′s, pet fish keeping is now widely enjoyed by many enthusiasts as a fun hobby and also as a beautiful addition to the home. When properly maintained, a fish aquarium can add a decorative touch to any room and can often become a conversational piece.
An effective fish aquarium comprises the tank itself, along with lighting, a filter and a heating unit. Commonly available in various sizes to suit your living space and accommodate different types of marine life, fish aquariums vary in price according to both their size and features of the unit. Everything from the small square aquarium to a large fish tank is up for grabs if you know where to find them. Typical fish aquariums can be found in most retail stores, but larger fish tanks often require a visit to the local pet store or via some searching on the Internet.
Fish aquariums are very important for keeping marine life in the home. Small fish bowls, which are widely available and inexpensive, do little to re-create the natural habitat that a fish would normally have. In order to live long and happy, fish need circulating water and movement as found in nature. When in captivity — which is the case when you keep pet fish — these creatures can thrive in filtered and regularly cleaned water. Lighting, while less important, provides a sense of night and day for your pet fish.
When using fish aquariums to house marine life, it is important that you regularly test the water using a test kit. Besides changing the water in the tank regularly, it is best to confirm that the water you are using is safe. Regular tap water, for instance, may have contaminants that are harmful to fish. This could be due to chemicals and purifiers that are often used to treat the water. Instead, use distilled water to ensure your pet fish lives in water that is free of chemicals or any other harmful agents. When changing the water in fish aquariums, you should remove up to 20% of the tank water and replace it with new.
When shopping for fish aquariums, it is a good idea to check the unit over for cracks or other defects before purchasing it. If you are shopping online, be sure to ask about shipping insurance to guard against the possibility of receiving a damaged aquarium.
Here’s to many years of enjoyment from this very fulfilling and therapeutic hobby. Good luck!
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