Discover Tips and Secrets To An Amazing Aquarium

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Tropical fish make great pets. They are skimpy eaters, they don't have to be walked, they don't
scratch, they don't make noise, and you only have to clean up after them every couple
weeks.Once everything is going well in your home aquarium, watching and caring for your fish is a
great stress buster. The lighted tank with the gently bubbling water adds a touch of serenity, as
well as a nice natural decor to any room.
With that said however, purchasing the right equipment and setting up your home aquarium is
critical in establishing its long-term success. A great way to start the process is to visit several pet
stores, look around and ask questions. Once you find a store that feels right for you, establish a
relationship with an expert at that shop and try to stay loyal to both the person and the shop. If
they are aware of your home setup they will be very valuable to you in the future when you need
professional advice. A well thought out plan is crucial. Don't come home with a tank and a bag of
fish on a whim and expect to immediately set up a tropical watery paradise for the fishes. Once
you purchase everything you need and get everything home, it's important you set it up and
maintain it properly.
Frank Bulman, director of husbandry at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Tenn.,
provides the following suggestions for a successful home aquarium.
Proper size and location.
Water weighs 8.3 lbs per gallon making a large aquarium quite heavy, so make sure the floor can
handle the load. A small aquarium requires more maintenance and attention than a larger
aquarium but they are lighter and water changes are easier. Avoid locating your aquarium in a
south facing window as it will receive too much sun and may overheat in the summer or get too
cold in the winter. If this is your first aquarium, it's recommended you start with a smaller, maybe a
10 or 20 gallon tank and then expand as your knowledge and confidence grows Hint: Locate the
aquarium away from heating and air-conditioning vents and make sure it is within reach of a
grounded electrical outlet.
Adequate filtration.
Aquariums are miniature eco-systems with waste products being broken down by living bacteria
which serve as biological filtration. These bacteria need good water flow and oxygen just like the
fish do. There are many types of filters to choose from. Filters that trap particulate waste are
mechanical filters. Filters that remove dissolved organic material use activated carbon and are
considered chemical filters. Additional Info: A good filtration system will address biological,
mechanical and chemical processes and keep your water safe for its inhabitants. Hint: Talk with
your pet store professional about the pros and cons of each type of filter to find the one best for

2. your situation.
Creating an Environment.
Once your aquarium is set up and stable and in no danger of toppling over, add two to three
inches of gravel to the bottom. Now is the time to add a few decorations, but don't overdo it - make
sure you leave ample room for the fish to swim around. Adding large stones, castles, tunnels, and
plants not only helps your tank mimic a natural habitat, but it also provides a valuable place for
your fish to hide, rest or get away from their aggressive tank mates. Additional Info: The
aquarium's interior should be designed to fit into the room in which it is located, so carefully
consider the colors you choose for the gravel and decorative items. Hint: Use your aquarium to
create a focal point of a room. Treat it like a living work of art.
Proper fish selection.
Selecting the right fish is important so do your homework before populating your tank. Know which
species are compatible with each other and which species are not. Additional Info: Very often
juvenile fish are sold and they soon outgrow the aquarium, so be sure you know how large each
one will get. Hint: Don't purchase all your equipment AND your fish on the same trip. Get the tank
set up and ready before you introduce your new family to their habitat.
Healthy fish.
Take time and make sure you select healthy fish. Avoid purchasing fish that are not eating or are
staying apart from other fish. Sick fish will often have their fins clamped close to their body or will
be scratching or rubbing on objects in the aquarium. A good fish shop will hold fish for a
quarantine period and make sure the fish are healthy and eating before they are sold. Additional
Info: It may be necessary to set up a separate quarantine tank up at home to make sure new fish
are healthy before adding them to your community aquarium. Hint: Look into their eyes. Healthy
fish have clear eyes.
Adding new fish.
It is best to add a few fish at a few at a time to a new aquarium. This gives the bacteria population
time to grow. A necessary purchase is a test kit to check ammonia and nitrite levels in your water.
Here's an easy chemistry lesson: Ammonia is the main waste product in an aquarium and it's very
toxic to fish. This is where your healthy bacteria population comes into play. They convert
ammonia into nitrite, which is less toxic than ammonia but is still harmful. Other bacteria will then
metabolize the nitrite and convert it to nitrate which is not harmful to your fish. Additional Info: A
good pet shop should willingly check these levels for you if you bring them a water sample. The
ammonia and nitrite levels should be close to 0 ppm before adding additional animals. Hint: Don't
just dump your new fish into the tank. Float them in the plastic bag in which them came so they
can slowly adjust to the temperature of their new home. Fifteen minutes is usually enough.
Don't over feed.
Feed your fish s a little pinch of food at a time and don't add more food until the first has been
eaten. When the fish start eating slower, stop feeding. Never add more food than the fish can eat

3. in about five minutes. Uneaten food will foul the water creating high ammonia levels. Additional
Info: Some fish are vegetarian and will feed on algae and debris. These fish are helpful for keeping
the aquarium clean. Hint: Make sure you are feeding the proper type of food for the species you
have selected.
Don't over clean.
Resist the temptation to remove everything from the aquarium and thoroughly clean. This will wipe
out the beneficial bacteria and will result in toxic water conditions. Instead wipe down the windows
and walls of the aquarium with a clean sponge or non-abrasive cloth. The dirt and debris trapped
in the gravel is best removed by siphoning the gravel with a hydro clean tube. This allows the light
waste material to flow out with the water leaving the heavier cleaned gravel behind. Replace the
water that has been removed with new water that has had the chlorine neutralized and is similar
temperature as the aquarium. An established aquarium should have no more than 25% of its
water removed per month during cleaning. Additional Info: Mechanical filters will eventually need
to be cleaned. Keep in mind substantial colonies of beneficial bacteria will colonize and live in
these filters. After cleaning, keep an eye on the water's ammonia level and feed lightly until the
bacteria have a chance to repopulate. Hint: Keep a bucket or plastic water bottle handy in which to
siphon the dirty water from the aquarium. Use that water in turn to water your plants!
Provide proper lighting.
Your aquarium should have a consistent light period, which provides natural periods of light and
dark. This can be accomplished by using a timer or turning lights on in the morning and off in the
evening. Natural light may be adequate but avoid direct sunlight. Additional Info: If the light fixture
does not cover the top of the aquarium, a screen should be used to keep fish from jumping out.
Hint: Too long of a light period can result in excess algae growth.
Maintain proper temperature.
Many aquarium fish are tropical and must live in water that is 73 - 82 degrees F. Most often the
ambient room temperature is too cool and a submersible heater is necessary. Do not use too large
a heater or too small a heater, generally 2-5 watts per gallon is adequate. Additional Info: If the
aquarium overheats and becomes too warm, try directing a fan toward it and that will usually cool
it down to acceptable levels. Hint: Unplug your heater when cleaning. Exposing a hot submersible
heater to air will cause it to break.
Be Aware of Your New Eco-system.
It's important to pay attention to the behavior of your fish. Watch for those who are lethargic or are
scratching or keeping their fins clamped. These are signs of possible disease problems and if
caught soon can be treated successfully with salt or medications. Overly aggressive ones should
be removed or isolated from other fish. Your pet shop team will be able to help diagnose
problems. Additional Info: Pay attention during feeding. In an aquarium with a large fish population
it's just as important to watch for the fish that are not eating as it is to watch for those who are.
Hint: Name each fish and each morning when you feed them, look for each one and say good
morning to it. That way, you will see each fish every day and can catch any problems very early.

4. Tim R. O'Brien is vice president of communications for Ripley Entertainment, owners of the two
Ripley's aquariums. Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies
(http://www.ripleysaquariumofthesmokies.com), the second most attended attraction in
Tennessee, was Voted The Number One Aquarium in America by TripAdvisor.com and Forbes
Traveler has named it one of America's best aquariums. More than 100,000 exotic sea creatures
live in its 1.4 million gallons of water. The aquarium is known for its shark exhibit that features 11-
foot sharks and one of the longest underwater tunnels in the world. Ripley's Aquarium of the
Smokies is part of the Ripley Entertainment Inc. family of worldwide entertainment facilities that
includes another world class aquarium - Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach, S.C. More than 13
million people visit Ripley's 70-plus attractions in 13 countries each year. Ripley Entertainment Inc.
is a division of the Jim Pattison Group, the third largest privately held company in Canada.
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For GREAT AQUARIUM Information Visit
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