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Aquariums and Plants for Tropical Fish
The home for your tropical fish should
be as large as you can afford. Fish do better if they
have plenty of space, besides, there are so many beautiful
varieties that you’ll be sure to want to add more
once you start. But remember that the bigger the tank,
the heavier it will be when full of water. Most aquariums
come with a warranty against cracking and leaking, but
that usually only holds good if they are on the recommended
stand. Since a stand of some sort is necessary to support
the aquarium, so you must decide if you want it to be
on a cupboard or table, or on a purpose built stand.
If the table or other furniture used
to hold the aquarium is not completely flat, it will
stress the glass which may then crack and leak, causing
a great deal of damage to carpets and flooring, not
to mention the fish. Make sure the floor is structurally
strong enough to support the weight of the aquarium
too. The neighbors won’t appreciate a fishy shower
pouring through their ceiling. For optimum safety, be
sure to read all the manufacturer’s instructions
when setting up your aquarium.
Aquariums come in several different
shapes. They can be hexagonal, square and many other
shapes besides. You will need a filter, thermostat,
heater, pump and lights for your aquarium. Lights are
not strictly necessary, but greatly enhance the visual
effect and also keep the plants happy. Be sure to thoroughly
wash everything that’s to go in the aquarium first.
But don’t use soapy water! Gravel needs to be washed
under running water, then pour boiling water over it
to kill any bacteria that may be lingering there. While
thinking on aquarium hygiene, remember to wash your
hands thoroughly after handling your fishy things, just
as you would after handling other animals and reptiles.
Plants will enhance your tropical fish
setting and some provide food for the fish as well.
One of the most popular aquarium plants is called Amazon
Sword (Echinodorus Bleheri). It grows from 20 to 50
cm, has fast growth and low light requirements and likes
the water to be 20-30 degrees centigrade.
Anubias Augustifolia has long narrow
leaves that herbivorous fish don’t seem to eat,
which is handy. At least it won’t disappear overnight.
It grows slowly, but is easy to grow. If you want to
see underwater flowers, pick Anubias Coffeefolica, which
is also easy to grow and has attractive new leaves of
reddish-brown.
Moneywort or Bacopa Monnieri thrives
in most conditions and you can propagate more simply
by cutting a piece off and planting it. It needs moderate
to high light, so won’t grow with those that prefer
less.
An easy and fast-growing plant that
absorbs nutrients from the water and helps to contain
algae is Wisteria. Not the climber from the garden,
but Hygrophila Difformis, a fast and easy grower. If
the leaves turn pale add some more fertilizer.
Java moss is great because it attaches
itself to rocks, roots or driftwood. You can’t
go wrong with this easy to grow plant. It will grow
in any kind of water at any temperature. There are many
more varieties of plants available from fish nurseries
and there are even online stores such as www.AquariumFish.net.
that have great advice about aquariums, fish and plant
species.
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