The Things You Should Know Before Taking Aquarium

It is easier to maintain good water quality in a large aquarium than a small one. This is because the biological balance between fish, plants and waste materials is more stable when there is a larger volume of water. In a small aquarium, the environment becomes more unstable, and the fish’s ability to explore the surroundings and hide away is limited. Bowls and small aquariums are not suitable for fish, not even small fish.

It is recommended that you invest in an aquarium of at least 100 liters and with sufficient capacity for light, filter and pump. Then you want the fish to stay healthy, live long and show more natural behaviour. The aquarium must be placed on a horizontal, stable surface that is shielded from direct sunlight.

Decoration in the aquarium

Most aquariums should have a minimum five cm thick bottom layer of fine-grained gravel. Gravel can be found yourself or bought at the pet store. Remember to rinse the gravel well in clean water before using it. Be aware that some fish species, such as catfish, have tentacles (whiskers) that can be damaged by sharp-edged gravel.

Living plants provide the fish with additional oxygen and are recommended over artificial plants. Aquatic plants can grow attached to the bottom, float freely in the water or lie on the surface. Sharp tree roots, stone and slate are used as decoration and hiding places. There is a large selection of safe furnishing materials in the pet store. If you have sufficient knowledge of what you can use, you can find decorations such as stones and roots in nature yourself. Almost all fish species need hiding in the form of plants, roots or rocks, and you should arrange the aquarium accordingly. Some types of gravel and fittings are calcareous and can change the water quality over time.

Water quality

The well-being of the fish depends on you having the knowledge and skills to control water quality, temperature, lighting and feeding. Even small changes in water quality, which are imperceptible to us humans, can have disastrous consequences for many fish.

The most important things to control are temperature, pH, hardness (GH) and concentration of nitrite. You can buy equipment to examine this in aquarium shops. Drop-based tests are more reliable than strip tests.

The water in most places in Norway contains little lime, although some waterworks add lime. Tap water usually has pH values ​​of between 6.5 and 7.5. The GH values ​​are between 0 and 3, which is suitable for many of the common aquarium fish. You can check with your local waterworks which values ​​your tap water has. Some types of fish need the addition of lime to the water, which you can buy in aquarium shops.