We all live our lives day to day thinking that nothing bad will happen. We never think that we will be the ones dealing with the cleanup of a house fire. Unfortunately, there are many, many families that suffer the impact of house fires each year. Last year, a close friend of mine was a victim of a house fire and since then, my life has been different. I have spent many hours researching fire prevention, causes, and teaching children about fire prevention and what to do in the case of a fire. It is my hope that my research can help those of you concerned about house fires make the necessary changes in your home and teach your kids what they need to know about fire.
Keeping an aquarium can be a fun family hobby. Your kids can learn about being responsible for a pet including feeding it and cleaning its habitat. However, if you're thinking of setting up an aquarium, the habitat needs to be established before you bring home fish. Here are some things to know about setting up an aquarium and getting it ready for your new pets.
1. Choose The Right Spot For The Fish Tank
When an aquarium is filled with water, it's too heavy to move around, so give careful thought to where you want to put it permanently. It needs to be in a secure place that's out of sunlight so algae won't grow. It might be relaxing to watch fish at night, but make sure you can tolerate the sounds of the filter or you may regret putting the tank in your bedroom.
This is one reason it's important to get the tank set up and let it run several days before you add fish. If you realize you put the tank in the wrong place, you can take it apart, move it, and start over without harming the fish.
2. Select The Right Size For Your Aquarium
A smaller tank is not always easier to care for than a larger one. Since a small tank doesn't have as much water, the water condition can be harder to regulate and small changes have a bigger impact on water quality.
A larger tank is often a better choice for beginners, but keep in mind, the larger the tank, the more work it is to keep clean. You'll need to freshen the water regularly, balance the water, and clean the tank so your fish stay healthy and happy.
3. Add Accessories Before You Add Fish
You may want to buy a new rock or other fun accessories once in a while, but it's good to have your aquarium decorated the way you want before you bring fish home. Adding new things to the tank can stress fish and change the balance of the water. Live plants are good for fish because they can help control algae.
If you decide to use live plants rather than plastic ones, establish the plants before bringing fish home. Provide the fish with hiding places so their habitat is stimulating and they have variety. Once you're satisfied with the way your aquarium looks and you have the water chemistry just right, you can add the fish.
4. Learn About Fish Before Adding Them To The Tank
Don't buy fish based on how cute they are. Fish don't always get along, and you don't want fish to fight and kill each other. Instead, look over fish at the pet store so you see how they look in person and then read about the types of fish you like so you find fish that are compatible with each other and with the environment in your fish tank. Contact a fish store, such as Neptune's Tropical Fish, for more information.
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