Taking care of fish is not as easy as it sounds, but it sure can be a wonderful hobby. It is quite different then say, having a dog. You see a dog can live in an environment quite similar to ours, and does not require a lot of adjustment. Now could you imagine a fish walking into your house and being comfortable? Of course not! If you want to take care of fish, you are going to have to do your best to simulate a comfortable home for them.

Creating an aquarium environment where they can thrive and be happy doesn’t have to be difficult, you just need to be prepared. Aquariums have advanced greatly over the past years, and can be practically self suficient, once they are setup. Of course you also need to be well aware of the type of fish that you will have in your environment. Each species is different, and has different needs.

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How do I avoid hardening the water?

If you want to harden your aquarium water, be sure not to add limestone. Limestone is commonly included in aquarium kits. Make sure you avoid it if hardened water is a concern.

I Need Help with my pH Test Readings

You will need to be testing your water, to make sure the environment is suitable for your fish. If the pH number is below seven, then the water is acidy. If the figure is higher than seven then the water is alkalinity or alkaline. The neutral pH figure is pH7. If the water conditions are below or higher than this figure then your water is too alkalinity and/or acidity. If you maintain a correct temperature and balance of water, your fish and plants will live long and healthy.

If you have test water keep in mind that tap water has pH7 or pH8 reading usually. If the gauge reads higher or else lower, it means that the water is too alkalinity or acidy: Keep in mind that discus from the symphysodon aequifasciata specimen enjoy acidy waters. If you have cichlids from Rift Valley, these fish prefer alkaline.

How do I test the water?

You will need to purchase a test kit. Fortunately you can purchase test kits online or preferably at your local pet store. Though purchasing online certainly is a lot easier, but if you are not familiar with the types, it is best to purchase at a pet store. These kits will tell you what you need to know about the various balances in your water, such as chlorine. There should not be chlorine in the waters; however, tap water may have such chemicals. Water conditioners are ideal. When you setup your tank and each time you refill the tank you should use water conditioners.

Tip: If you have a heater in the tank, keep the volume low.

Living Room:

This is important to know, especially since this was the first place I wanted to set my aquarium up. A living room is NOT recommended. Since most living rooms are too warm, the fish will feel agitated. There is some good news though, if you absolutely want them there, if you have tropical fish as well as plants you will have fewer problems. Plants and fish from the tropical regions tend to adapt well to higher water or room temperature. Using a heater in the tank can help you preserve your fish, yet you want to keep the heater on low volume. Maintaining a volume of heat will also prolong the life of your heater.

If you are heating your aquarium, take the easy way out. Some heaters include heaterstats, which will help you regulate heat. Heaterstats are thermostatically controlled devices, which fix to the corners of an aquarium. You can use suction cups to mount the heater. The heater has a small lamp, which will click on each time the heater is activated. If you do not have a regulated heater, be sure to check the temperature all of the time. Fish are very sensitive to temperature change.

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