Aquascaping

When you are ready to aquascape your aquarium, the first thing you should do is research the fish that you want to keep and determine what their environment is like in the wild.  Making your aquarium as close to the natural environment as possible will help your fish live long, healthy and happy lives.  Infomation on most common fish is readily available on the internet.

After learning about the fish you intend to keep, I strongly suggest that you get some graph paper and draw some pictures of what you want the aquarium to look like.  Draw one picture as viewed from the front, and one as viewed from the top.  A little bit of planning up front will drastically improve your results.

When aquascaping, the look of the aquarium and the materials used are completely up to you.  I do advise against using common items such as marbles, construction sand and glass chips.  Sand and glass can have sharp edges that are dangerous to your fish.  Marbles tend to have large spaces between them allowing uneaten food and fish waste to become trapped and foul the water.  Be sure that the edges of all decorations are smooth so your fish are not injured by them.

51 inch salmon found on Battle Creek in California

Chinook Salmon are born in freshwater rivers then move to the ocean to mature.  Later in life (usually 3-4 years, but as many as 8 years) the Salmon returns to the same river that it was born in to spawn.  Since Chinook Salmon die shortly after spawning, DFG biologist frequently walk the banks in search of carcasses to count the number of fish that may have spawned.

In recent years the number of Chinooks that have made it upriver to spawn has dramatically decreased.  Hopefully, this specimen was able to successfully spawn and pass along its superior genes before dying.

The aquarium stand must be the right size for the fish tank that you have selected.  If the tank overhangs, even the slightest bit, the aquarium will likely break or become distorted.

The best (and most expensive) aquarium stands are the ones made wood with a built in cabinet and drawers so that you can conceal all of the supplies that you don’t want seen.  It is best to choose a stand that matches the decor of the room where the aquarium will be housed.

Stands can also be made out of iron or steel.  Stands made of angle iron are usually unattractive and have a bulky appearance.  Wrought iron stands are more attractive and lighter than angle iron.

DIY Stands

There are aquarium stands on the market that you can purchase as a kit and assemble yourself.  These stands are typically made of particle board and are very easy to put together.  They do not usually last very long and can collapse if they get wet.  It is best to avoid them if possible.

Another do-it-yourself option is to buy some good wood, whip out your tools, and build one yourself.  You probably won’t save much money over buying a wooden stand, but a lot of people enjoy working with tools.  An added bonus is that you can make the stand to exactly fit your tastes and needs.

Before you purchase a tank you must assess your situation. Your tank must serve your purposes and fit into the area that you’ve decided to place the tank into and match it’s surroundings. Consider the reasons that you are setting up the tank. Is it going to be in a common area where visitors can view it? Will it be in your private den where only the family will see it? Will it be in your office where you will be the only one enjoying it? These are factors in determining the “look” of the tank that you should buy.

Cost

Before purchasing your tank you will need to know how much cash you have available for the entire aquarium project.  While the tank is the most important part of the set up, it is not the only one.  The costs associated with lights, filtration, heaters and decorations can add up quickly.  Before spending all your money on your tank make sure you have enough left over for all the other items needed.

Consider Starter Kits

To avoid unexpected costs you should consider buying one of the many starter kits available.  These kits typically contain the following:

• Tank
• Hood with Light
• Filter
• Heater
• Thermometer
• Net

Most of the kits are not complete and do not include items such as decorations, gravel or stands.  Make sure you understand what is coming in the package.  The Aquapod kits are quite popular.

Glass, Acrylic or Plastic?

Glass aquariums are still the most popular fish tanks on the market.  All-glass tanks are sturdily constructed with non-toxic silicone sealant and provide years of reliable service.  The glass can be either tempered or plate.  Tempered glass is stronger and lighter, but when it breaks it shatters into a million pieces with all the water coming out at once.  Plate glass is heavier, but when it breaks it only cracks, resulting in a slower leak.

Glass tanks are held together with a plastic frame and are very difficult to scratch.  Because they have all smooth surfaces they typically provide good, undistorted viewing of your tank’s inhabitants.

The big disadvantage of glass tanks is that they can break, leaving you with a big, wet mess and dead fish.

Acrylic tanks have become quite popular in recent years.  They are lighter than glass and can be molded into a wide variety of shapes.  Acrylic is also quite strong and is very difficult to break.

There are problems with acrylic fish tanks though.  The first is that they are significantly more expensive than glass.  Also, because the material is bent during construction you can find that there is a problem with a distorted view.  Finally, acrylic tanks can be scratched rather easily if you are not careful during transporting it or during cleaning.

Plastic aquariums are very inexpensive and come in numerous shapes and sizes.  I do not recommend them because they scratch extremely easily, can melt when they get close to heat and get a funky yellow tint to them when they age.  Even though they are cheap they are not worth the investment.

Tank Size and Space

When you decide where to put the tank you should take measurements of the intended space so that you don’t buy one that is too large (or small) for the area. Don’t forget to leave a little space around the tank for maintenance.

When purchasing your tank you should buy the largest one that you can afford and that your space will allow.  Contrary to common thought, the smaller the tank, the more difficult it is to maintain.  Small changes in water conditions have a greater effect on smaller tanks.  To illustrate this point, consider a ten gallon tank.  If you remove a gallon of water and replace it with a gallon of ammonia, the tank will have 10% ammonia (1 gallon ammonia, 9 gallons water).  If you do the same thing with a 100 gallon tank you will only have 1% ammonia (1 gallon ammonia, 99 gallons water).  The larger the tank, the less effect the pollutants in the tank will have.

Also, larger volumes of water maintain temperatures better than smaller volumes.  It will take longer for a large tank to have a temperature swing in the event of a power outage or heater malfunction.

Shape

Aquariums are available in a wide variety of shapes.  The shape of the aquarium has a lot to do with the amount of oxygen that the water contains.  Oxygen is exchanged between the water and the air at the water’s surface.  The larger the surface area the more air that can be exchanged.  When possible try to get a tank with the largest surface area available.  Your fish will thank you.

Since aquariums are extremely heavy and must be drained before moving, it can be very frustrating to move a running aquarium system because you spotted it in a location that doesn’t work out. Placing your aquarium in the right spot will help limit your future headaches. It is better to wait a few days to carefully consider your new aquariums location than it is to move it after it is established.

Room Temperature

Regardless of the type of system you set up your aquarium will need to remain a relatively stable water temperature.  Significant changes in temperature will cause stress to your fish and potentially cause illness or even death. 

Your aquarium’s heater can help maintain a constant temperature, but if it fails, or if the room is very cold, you are in trouble.  If the room is too warm there are numerous diseases that can arise.  Also, warmer water does not hold as much oxygen as cooler water which can cause your fish to gasp at the surface or die from asphyxiation.  Ensuring that your aquarium is in a room with appropriate and stable temperatures is essential to assure a long, happy, healthy life for your aquatic pets.

Doors and Windows

Doors can cause problems for aquariums in two ways:

• Drafts- Each time someone opens an exterior door the temperature near it will change.  In the winter, it becomes cooler.  It the summer, it becomes warmer (Duh!).  To make sure that your tank has constant temperatures you should place your aquarium as far from exterior doors as possible.
• Contact- When doors are swung open they can strike an aquarium that is placed too close.  Doorknobs are hard and are usually placed at a perfect height to whack and break a tank.  If your tank has to be placed near a door make sure the door can be opened and closed fully without contacting the tank.

Windows allow a lot of natural light to come in.  All this natural light can cause an explosive growth of algae if the tank is not monitored carefully.  While algae is not bad for the tank it is unsightly and you will find yourself spending lots of time to keep your aquarium looking nice and clean.  The light coming through the window can also cause your tanks temperature to rise quickly.

Traffic, Commotion and Kids

Lots of action outside of the aquarium will cause your fish to be in a state of alert.  They will hide behind decorations constantly, be frequently stressed and as a result, susceptible to disease.  Because of this it is best to avoid the high traffic areas of your home.

Children’s play areas can also cause problems for your fish, not just because of the movement, but also due to the risk of breakage.  Even if the children living in your household know how to behave and won’t cause a problem, you can’t be so sure when the neighbors, nieces, nephews and cousins come over.  bouncing balls, flying blocks and general rough housing can spell disaster.

When your aquarium is placed in an area frequented by children you are going to find fingerprints on the glass and funky items such as peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and action figures swimming in the tank.  It is usually best to avoid placing your aquarium in the kid’s playroom.

Water Supply

When placing your tank consider it’s proximity to a water source.  Dragging buckets of water down a flight of stairs, through the living room, over the mountains and through the woods is not an enjoyable experience.  Water weighs over 8 pounds per gallon.  That five gallon bucket is over 40 pounds.  That 55 gallon tank will take 11 buckets.  See my point?

A great item to help get water to and from your aquarium is an Economy Ultimate Aquarium Gravel Vac - 25 ft. - Boxed Kit.  It costs less than thirty bucks, and you will be extremely happy with the investment.  There are also 50 foot extension kits available.

Space

The size of your home and the rooms within it will have a significant impact on where you can place your aquarium.  The other furnishings of the room will also play a role.  Before setting up your aquarium make sure that your have adequate floor space available.

Electrical Outlets

One of the things I am constantly stressing is that you need to have electrical outlets near your aquarium.  Your lights, heater, filters, etc, all run on electricity.  You want to be able to discreetly run your electrical cords to an outlet.  Having extension cords snaking across the carpet is neither safe nor attractive.

I also suggest having Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets installed.  These are the outlets that your typically find in bathrooms or in kitchens near sinks.  Basically, if a fault occurs in the circuit it turns power off.  Having your arm elbow deep in an aquarium is not a fun experience when a fault occurs.  My hair is still frizzy from the last time it happened to me!

You should also get a surge protector so that all your items can plug into one outlet. A good one is the
Power Center. It has 8 outlets and a Day/Night timer for your lights.

Space for Cleaning

Your are going to have to perform periodic maintenance to your aquarium.  Be sure to leave a little room around the tank so that you can easily reach all surfaces, inside and out.  This includes access to the outside of the rear glass panel.  It will need to be wiped occasionally.