Everything for the aquarium: from equipment to decor

We decided to get an aquarium - a great idea, but not suitable for impromptu. You will have to spend time on this, because, in addition to the aquarium itself and the living creatures in it, you need to choose equipment, soil, decorations and vegetation for it. And this requires not only time and money, but also certain competencies.

The first thing that is bought is the capacity itself for the future home underwater kingdom. And then, based on its characteristics, all the content and operational support will be acquired. Either glass or acrylic are selected as the material from which the aquarium is made. Many buyers do not even suspect that aquariums are not only glass.

What are the advantages of an acrylic tank:

• cheaper than a glass structure;
• lighter than glass by weight;
• more durable, you will be insured against leaking seams;
• a variety of more interesting shapes than glass models.

But acrylic aquariums have a serious drawback - they are quite easily scratched. If grains of sand remain on the cloth with which you wipe the container, this is a serious risk of scratches. In addition, if acrylic is cheap, then over time it will noticeably turn yellow. You need to clean the acrylic aquarium with special tools, since it is impossible to correct the situation with standard household chemicals (it will get cloudy from it).

As for the size of the tank, then if you are a beginner aquarist, choose models that are deep and wide. Despite their impressive size, it’s easier to care for them.The minimum volume is 60 liters, the optimal is 100 liters. Aquariums can be very different in shape, but rectangular and panoramic are most in demand.

A lot of mistakes happen at this moment. What the aquarium will stand on is very important. You can put it somewhere else, bypassing the curbstone, but it is a more preferable and reliable option.

Requirements for the selection of cabinets:

• must be made of moisture resistant material;
• must be strong and reliable in relation to the weight of the aquarium;
• it is good if the cabinet is on legs adjustable in height.

Sprinkle sand, pebble shells, pour water and let the fish in - that's how many neophytes imagine all the worries associated with the appearance of an aquarium in the house. Of course, everything is not so primitive. Each step requires an understanding of its role in the process of creating a reservoir in which its inhabitants will be comfortable.

It is impossible to imagine aquarium equipment without a heater. It may be bottom - it fixes directly in the ground, which is good for the condition of the flora of the aquarium. There is an external flow heater - it will be placed outside the tank with a filter hose inserted. It warms water well and evenly. And there is an immersion heater that needs to be lowered into the liquid to a certain mark.

When you purchase a heater, take an interest in the indicators of its power, as well as how the thermostat works in the device. And this is really important: if the thermostat breaks, all the inhabitants of the underwater kingdom simply boil in incredibly hot water. The benchmark in the power of the equipment is 1 W per 1 liter of capacity.

And also need an aquarium compressor - it delivers air, organizing aeration of water. And here, be sure to pay attention to the power of the device, its noiselessness and the ability to regulate the air flow. Multiplying the tank volume by a factor of 0.5, you will find out how much power the compressor should be for your aquarium.

Keeps clean and tidy in containers filter. It is external and internal, bottom and canister. The bottom model is laid under the ground, preventing soil acidification. But for a home tank, it is difficult to operate. But the external filter is a completely comfortable design, installed outside the aquarium. The most inexpensive option is an internal filter, but it has a drawback - its size. Often it is necessary to put a filtering filler in it.

From the choice of lighting lamps depends on how living organisms will develop in the aquarium, undergo their reproduction and growth. Incandescent lamps are not considered a suitable option for an aquarium - they are more suitable for terrariums. And although some people are in a hurry to buy incandescent lamps, this is not the most rational choice: they have too much heat transfer for a mini-pond, and they are also able to provoke algal flashes.

But fluorescent lamps are suitable, because:

• little heat from them, but only as much as the underwater kingdom needs;
• they can boast a wide range of spectral radiation, which is significant for the aquarium;
• they have actinic light, which is beneficial for underwater inhabitants;
• they cover a larger area compared to an incandescent lamp;
• Among them you can find models with high light output.

Beginners are usually advised to purchase T5 lamps., which have a relatively high luminous efficiency and light point radiation. There are metal halide lamps that can arrange a celebration of light in the aquarium - the effect of the sun playing in shallow water is observed. But these lamps emit too much heat.

To avoid overheating of the liquid, you have to enlist cooling fans or just periodically turn off the lamp in the aquarium for an hour, which is not always convenient and rather risky. When buying lighting, monitor the color temperature of the lamp. If the mini-pond is shallow and fresh water fills it, the color temperature of the lamp should not be more than 6500K.

We are talking about additional aquarium accessories. This, for example, feeders. They are also different - some models are equipped with dispensers. The feeders are needed so that the feeding place has a concentration in one specific zone in order to avoid uncontrolled distribution of food throughout the aquarium.

Perhaps useful to the aquarist and nets. They are needed in order to catch fish and transplant it into another container. Mandatory acquisition will be thermometers that will monitor the temperature indicators of water. You can buy an electronic thermometer, liquid crystal or alcohol.

It will take siphondesigned for pumping liquid. This accessory is used for a complete water change followed by soil cleaning. We also need jiggers for fish: if you have to, for example, resettle aggressive fighting fish from spawning viviparous.

Making an aquarium with your own hands is both choosing the right soil, and appropriate, laconic decor, and vegetation. Everything should be beautiful and in tune with each other.

A good universal option is sand with a fraction of not more than 2 mm and pebbles from 2 to 8 mm in diameter. If the sand is smaller than 1 mm, water will begin to stagnate in it, which will lead to the multiplication of pathogenic bacteria. The thickness of the soil should be from 4 to 6 cm.

Pebbles with a fraction of more than 8 mm should also not be taken: For the soil, not only the penetration of fresh water, but also the subsidence of organic matter is significant. Organics should not be washed.

There are many warnings about red or yellow sand, unfortunately, for the most part, they are fair. There is a lot of iron in such a soil that can react with water. There are limestone impurities in it, which increase the water hardness. Dark soil can be considered the most preferable so that the aquarium does not look unnatural. Nevertheless, the attention in it should be focused on the fish and the floristic component, and not on the sand.

Here begins the most interesting and, perhaps, difficult choice. What pet shops do not offer. Castles and caves are already losing their positions a little, but the pirate-themed decorations are not going to concede. Wrecks and chests with coins - all this is relevant and can really be appropriate in a large aquarium.

Shells and sea pebbles are also popular, but you should not overdo it with them. Artificial corals look great under water. Driftwood that serves as a natural decoration of the underwater world is relevant today. But they will have to tinker with if you are not buying a ready-made version, but looking for the right model in wildlife. The snag will have to be boiled for several hours, and then dried. And it will take root in water only if it is no longer a living tree, but a dry one.

In the decor, it is very important to restrain yourself, to show moderation. This is still a mini-pond, and not an exposition of many decorative things. Focus on one thing.

Artificial plants - this is what many aquarists choose today. There really is practically no hassle with them, only it is worth cleaning them twice a year. But I must say, they also do not bring benefits to the small underwater world.But together with the aquarium, a real biosystem appears in your home, where one helps the other, nourishes, heals, maintains balance.

Living vegetation is comparable to the pulmonary system: it really releases oxygen, and part of the flora of the aquarium can serve as feeding for fish and, most importantly, a place for spawning.

If you are afraid not to guess with the choice of plants, get something very simple and unpretentious. For example, grass wallisneria. It quickly and easily takes root, grows in a short time, and it is practically not necessary to take care of it. Thin leaves of Wallysneria beautifully drape the back of the aquarium wall. For the middle part of the tank, bacopa, rotala and creeping ludwig are suitable. A small snag with Javanese moss will look very nice.

In the foreground of the reservoir there will be a dwarf lianiform anubias, as well as variations of echinodorus.

The aquarium needs regular cleaning, which is a must. However, today in active sale kits that have everything you need to clean up the tank. The kits included different sized tweezers with smooth jaws - they help to plant plants painlessly, as well as trim. Are included and scissorsthat cut off dying leaves, beautifully decorated bushes. There are in the set and special blade, which copes with leveling the soil, the formation of microrelief.

As for cleaning, then a glass tank will clean any high-quality household chemicals. But you can clean acrylic only special equipment for acrylic aquariums (from household samples it will quickly become cloudy).

It's obvious that Aquarium - it is not only beautiful, exciting and informative, but also costly. Spending money, and effort, and time. But otherwise nothing. The aquarium will be an adornment of your home and a real living relaxant only if you yourself will not spare attention and care in relation to it.

You can find out how to care for the aquarium by watching the video below.