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Aquariums have been fascinating people for many years   The earliest known fish keepers were the Sumerians, who as long ago as 2500 B.C. kept fish in ponds and used them as food.   The Chinese kept and bred ornamental fish in ceramic bowls.

Now we have really giant aquariums all over the world in museums and aquatic centres some of them you can actually walk through an acylic glass tunnel to get really close to the fish. One of the largest aquariums is at Osaka in Japan.   It holds 5,400 cubic metres of water weighing over 11,000 Tons and the acrylic glass used is about 12 inches thick.   It houses over 580 different species.

Today, fish are America’s second most popular pet, trailing only cats but outnumbering dogs.  More than 7.4 million U.S. households have aquarium fish, and that figure doesn’t even include goldfish in bowls!

The modern aquarium tank has been around for well over 100 years.   Fish keeping as a hobby at home started up in the middle to late 1900′s, modern lighting and filtration equipment meant that smaller tanks could be setup and the water quality maintained indefinitely.  

Fish keeping is not easy but if you are prepared to start out right and follow a simple routine then it should be trouble free.

Scientific advances throughout the 20th century have made aquarium keeping easier and more convenient than ever.  Better tanks, improved filters and oxygen pumps, and a balanced diet of nutritious food enable fish to thrive in aquariums – just as they did in the ponds of Samaria more than 4,000 years ago.

Fish Tank

12 Tips for Budding Aquarists

  1. Buy at least a 30 gallon tank (135L) if you can afford it and have enough space. Small tanks are not ideal for the beginner. A large tank is more stable in terms of temperature and water chemistry.
  2. Wash filter sponges and other ‘biological’ media in tank water, NOT tap water, to avoid killing beneficial bacteria.
  3. Carry out water changes regularly – 25% every two weeks should probably be considered a MINIMUM for an average community tank.
  4. Do not overfeed. Feed small quantities of food and watch fish eat it before adding more. Do not be tempted to feed fish because they ‘look hungry’ – once a day is sufficient.
  5. Do check the requirements and compatibility of species BEFORE buying.
  6. Observe fish carefully before buying, avoid any with split fins, damaged gills, etc.
  7. Release new fish into the tank gradually – float the bag for at least 20 minutes to equalise temperature.
  8. Use a quarantine tank for new fish wherever possible.
  9. Read up on the ‘cycling’ process and its consequences.
  10. Stock slowly to give the bacterial population time to increase to match the additional waste load.
  11. Do not overstock. 1″ of fish per gallon is often used as a general guideline, but this cannot be used as a hard and fast rule – you can’t put a 10″ fish in a 10 gallon tank. Remember that your tank will be easier to keep healthy if you understock.
  12. Avoid the use of too many chemical additives unless you fully understand the consequences of their use.

Related posts:

  1. Freshwater Aquarium Setup
  2. Buying Your Freshwater Aquarium Tank
  3. Freshwater Aquarium Fish Should Be Carefully Selected
  4. Freshwater Aquarium Temperature Considerations
  5. Modern Freshwater Aquarium Lighting

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Filed under: Freshwater Aquarium Setup

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