Common Mistakes to Avoid in Freshwater Aquarium Setup - By: Andrew Bartlett

If you take the time to do something right in the beginning, then most future problems can be avoided. This holds very true for freshwater aquarium setup. By avoiding common mistakes in the setup process, your fish tank will become a long-term source of happiness for you instead of frustration.

What are some of the common mistakes that people make when establishing their freshwater fish tank?

Many people don’t give enough consideration to placement of their aquarium. They pick a spot solely based on how it looks in the room. The big mistake is placing the aquarium in a spot where it will receive direct sunlight. This will lead to a never ending battle between you and algae growth on the sides of your tank, and I guarantee that algae will win every time. Too much sun could also lead to troubles with temperature control; it is easy to artificially heat a tank, but much harder to cool it down.

Cleaning out your aquarium before first use is an important step that needs to be done. The problem is that some people don’t pay much attention to what they use to do the cleaning. It is very important that you choose a non-toxic cleaning solution. Do not use bleach, regular glass cleaner, or other strong chemicals because they can leave residual traces behind that are not good for your new fish.

Gravel in the bottom of the tank is a necessary thing to add, and there are two common mistakes that get made here. The first is picking the wrong type of rock. Many people pick out something that looks good to them, but there are certain materials that should never be used. Avoid limestone, crushed shells, and dolomite, as all of these will cause the pH of the water in your tank to be too high. The other mistake people make with their gravel is insufficient cleaning of it before adding the water. It should be rinsed clean with plain water until there is no cloudiness or dirt in the rinse water. Failure to do this will lead to cloudy water conditions down the road.

Picking out an aquarium filter can be another issue. Many people see that the filter is good for a certain size tank (for example, a 10-20 gallon tank) and they assume that if they can get a bigger one then it must be better and that it will clean the water better. The answer is yes, the water will be cleaner, but your fish will be stressed and probably die from the increased water flow generated by the big filter.

On the topic of clean water, a big misstep that people make is they fail to accurately condition their water. If it’s good enough to drink then it must be fine for the fish, right? Wrong! Municipal (city) water supplies are treated with chlorine which will sicken or kill your fish if you don’t take steps to de-chlorinate the water first. It is as simple as adding a de-chlorinating solution available at most pet shops or letting the water sit for a few days over which time it will naturally de-chlorinate.

Avoid these common mistakes when setting up your aquarium and you will be way ahead in establishing an aquarium that will be trouble-free in the future. Then you can spend your time enjoying your fish tank instead of fixing problems and maintaining it.

About the Author

Andrew Bartlett is an aquarium enthusiast who has over 25 years of experience with freshwater aquarium setup and maintenance. For additional information on freshwater aquariums go to his website at http://www.thefreshwateraquariumguide.com.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Andrew-Bartlett/100818

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