Creating a tropical aquarium requires some know-how and here you will find everything you need to know to make a beautiful one.
Caring for fish in aquariums is a simple task if we take into account the species, their natural habitat, and their morphology. Some fish do not tolerate high temperatures well, others do not tolerate high salinity…, but what you need to know is that it is not just about having a glass box with water, but it goes much further. For this reason, it is very important to be sufficiently informed before starting and to have a lot of patience. And when talking about an aquarium, you have to be clear that you have to imitate the nature that the fish you have need, creating an ecosystem in which you will seek the best possible conditions for your pets. Next, we will see how to create a tropical aquarium and everything you need to know to properly care for tropical fish:
Define your aquarium
First of all, you need to be clear about whether you want a coldwater, freshwater or tropical freshwater aquarium, because the requirements vary from one type of aquarium to another. In this case, we are going to choose a tropical freshwater one. This type of aquarium, which is considered the most classic, must have a temperature between 24 and 28 ºC. In addition, it offers us a multitude of possibilities:
1. A community aquarium, that is, with different species from around the world mixed together that are compatible.
2. A planted aquarium, which features natural plants like the Dutch aquarium.
3. A Biotope aquarium, that is, one that imitates a sector of the world such as the Malawi or Amazon type.
Each type of aquarium has its own needs, but people usually start with a community aquarium, which is characterized by the fact that species can be mixed. However, be careful before introducing new species because they have to be compatible when it comes to living together. Many of the problems that an aquarist usually has at the beginning come from the compulsive purchase of fish for their colors and shapes, without taking into account that this can cause complications within the aquarium.
Incompatible fish can be aggressive, mark their territoriality… and this upsets the balance of the system. In fact, many people put Crassius together with pets from tropical waters, which is a complete mistake because Crassius will soon develop health problems in the short term.
Proper size of tropical aquarium
The size of our aquarium will vary depending on the budget, the space we have to place it, etc. The ideal physical space for our aquarium is one that is no more than 60 cm deep. Keep in mind that it has to be functional and comfortable to work in, that is, to clean it, maintain it, plant plants… and also to avoid problems with poor lighting.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the higher it is, the more expensive it will be, because the glass needs to be thicker to withstand the water pressure. If we talk about width, it is recommended that it be at least 35 cm so that, when looking at it, we can see a closer effect if we stand in front of it. Therefore, the wider it is, the more possibilities there are to play with space.
Amount and type of substrate for the tropical aquarium
Just as today the substrate is considered the base of the aquarium, years ago this element was not used, but only gravel was used. Depending on the type of aquarium, a prepared substrate should be used, if we are talking about shrimp tanks or aquariums with plants; or only gravel if we are talking about aquariums without plants or African cichlid aquariums.
Prepared substrate is the one to which nutrients are added to provide stability at a certain pH and to make it nutritious. We can easily find them in any pet or specialist store. In addition, the thickness of the substrate layer will vary depending on the type of aquarium. We can find everything from thin layers of substrate for aquariums with African cichlids to a layer that allows the roots of the plants to be planted properly. However, remember that the volume of water will be reduced when adding elements.
Aquarium filtration, heating, and lighting system
Make sure you have a good filtration system to ensure that the water your pets live in is of good quality. Ideally, you should filter all the water in your tropical aquarium at least 3 to 5 times an hour. There are several filter options to choose from.
1. There is a plate filter that is effective but has the disadvantage that the aquarium has to be disassembled in order to clean it.
2. Another option is the internal filter with a motor, which is also economical.
3. We can also find the backpack filter, the best option in terms of aesthetics.
4. Finally, an external filter, which has a greater filtering capacity.
On the other hand, your aquarium should also have thermo-heaters that, by having a thermostat, can be calibrated to work until they reach an appropriate temperature and then stop working until the temperature drops below the set value. There are also heaters that are placed at the bottom of the aquarium. Finally, the lighting system is also important if you want to enjoy watching your fish at night. You can put compact bulbs or LEDs, or fluorescent tubes in order to illuminate the aquarium a little so that the fish can show off their colors and learn to differentiate between day and night.
When can I put the fish in the tropical aquarium?
You are wrong if you think that you can put these pets in as soon as the tropical aquarium is set up. This is because a specific period is needed, which is called cycling, during which the aquarium is set up and left running for approximately 2 weeks in order for the nitrifying bacteria to form.
These bacteria will transform toxic substances such as nitrites or ammonia so that they are not harmful to the fish. A process that can be accelerated by using chemicals capable of neutralizing the substances and promoting the development of colonies of beneficial bacteria. The cycling process slows down to 3 or 4 days, which makes it the most comfortable and easy option.
Number of fish and cleaning of the tropical aquarium
As with all aspects seen above, the number of fish will also depend on other variables such as the filtration system, the size of the tropical aquarium, the size of the animal itself, etc. However, the most important factor is the territoriality of the species that we want to place in our aquarium.
This means that we will have to look at the growth size and the space we have to know how many fish approximately will be able to live without problems and without stress. Do not buy many fish guided by the small size because later they will grow and you will need a larger aquarium in the future. A tip that can be useful is to consider 1 cm of adult fish per liter of water.
Cleaning
As for cleaning, it is best to change the water in 10-30% of the tropical aquarium once or twice a month. This will help eliminate chemicals that can only be removed this way or, at most, by using filter materials for chemical filtration. Never dismantle the aquarium unless you want to completely change it , otherwise the balance that you have worked so hard to achieve during the cycling and maturation period will be lost.
You can also vacuum the gravel bottom with an aquarium vacuum cleaner that filters the water and returns it to the aquarium or with a siphon, and prune the ugliest leaves to eliminate problems that may appear in the future. Clean the glass with a glass-cleaning magnet to eliminate the smaller algae that form on the glass.
Feeding the fish
Try to provide them with a varied diet, bearing in mind that some are vegetarians and need a higher quantity of different foods. Consult a veterinarian or a specialist if you have any doubts, as a wrong step can pose a risk to your pets. If your aquarium is a community one, it is best to ensure that the diet meets the conditions of each of the different species that live in that space.
Find a trusted brand of food and combine those nutrients with some frozen food or live food. As for how many times you need to feed your fish each day, it’s best to feed them the daily dose in two doses, which is not the same as feeding them twice the daily dose.
Remember that if you have bottom-feeding fish, they will also need specific food for them. You can give them bottom-feeding tablets designed especially to satisfy the needs of these vegetarian fish. Don’t worry and don’t overfeed, as it is better to feed them less than more. This is especially true for fish, which are animals that can go long periods of time without eating.