By Lucy Hine
An aquarium is a soothing and relaxing way to calm stress levels after a busy day at work.
Purchasing an aquarium makes sense, as fish and aquatic life are known for their therapeutic qualities and are one of the most popular pets purchased in Australian households.
Aquariums range from basic fish bowls containing one or two common goldfish to salt water aquariums with exotic marine life and colourful fish more likely to be found around coral reefs.
There are a lot of ways to set up an aquarium to add to the décor of your home. The size of the aquarium depends on your style and the space available and the number of fish you keep will depend on the size of the tank ? fish need about one litre of water per centimetre length of fish.
Decide where you want to put your tank before you set it up as it can become difficult and dangerous to move a tank once it’s filled with water. A place near the window is not an ideal situation as temperatures will vary and the sunlight will cause algae growth or possibly kill your fish.
If the tank is going to be put on a flat surface it’s important to check that the surface is even because the base of the tank can break under the weight of the water if the surface is uneven.
The bottom of your aquarium should be covered with river sand, pebbles or gravel sold by pet stores or fish aquariums. Make sure any gravel, rocks or pebbles are rinsed thoroughly with boiling water before putting it in the tank.
After you decide what kind of fish you’d like, your aquarium or dealer will be able to advise you on water conditioners to remove chloride and fluoride from the water.
Plants are essential to the environment of your underwater world and can really make your aquarium a focal point in any room. Plants enrich the water with oxygen and also provide hiding places for your fish. Remove all frayed or sick leaves before making a hole in the gravel to cover the roots of the plant.
The most important equipment you can buy for your tank is a filter system as this will save you a lot of work with keeping the tank clean. You can also purchase sea snails to clean the inside of your tank and add to the marine life of your new aquarium.
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