How To Set Up A Small Fish Tank

Even fish as easy to breed as goldfish need a proper tank. Though it might be a common misconception that one is capable of breeding goldfish in a bowl, it really is not a suitable condition to put a living creature in. The popularity of goldfish bowls began centuries ago when it was costly to have a proper aquarium but these days it is relatively cheap to buy a small fish tank complete with the important accessories that it needs. A properly equip aquarium will ensure that your fish live a healthy and long life.

Three most important accessories that every fish tank especially a small aquarium needs are a fish tank filter, lighting and a heater. These accessories function by simulating the original environment from where the fish came from, giving them the highest chance of survival. Healthy fish will not only have vibrant colors but will also be active and pleasing to watch.

Setting Up Your Small Fish Tank

Fish tank filters function by circulating the water in the tank and also aerating it. In general, most filters provide up to three types of filtration; mechanical, chemical and biological. Mechanical filtration removes the large debris and waste from the water which are either produced by the fish or excess food. Biological filtration is achieved by beneficial bacteria that break down ammonia into nitrite and once again into nitrate which reduces the toxicity level in the water. Chemical filtration makes use of activated carbon to remove traces of chemicals from the water. Having a filter that provides all three filtration types will optimize the cleanliness of the water.

Lighting will not only beautify the fish tank, but will also provide the important element of light which most fish will appreciate. Living in a dark aquarium does sometimes cause fish to lose their colorful lustre. Also nothing beats watching them swim around, proudly displaying their bright colors which does tend to shine gorgeously in the light.

Lighting is extremely important if you plan to have a reef tank. Coral require light in order to survive and having no proper lighting will eventually cause them to fade and die. The same goes for a tank with plants in it. Plants need light to perform photosynthesis and will wither and die without a sufficient light source.

An aquarium heater becomes extremely important if you plan to breed tropical fish. These fish originate from a warm climate and a change of temperature to a more colder spectrum will reduce their life span. If you are worried about the unsightly look of a heater, you can always opt for a submersible heater for your small tank.

With all these accessories in mind, prepare before hand when you are ready to start your small fish tank. It is always a great idea to purchase then all at once so that they would be functioning at optimum levels when it is time to introduce the fish.

These days, you will be able to purchase a starter aquarium complete with all these accessories so that you would not have to worry about buying them separately.

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