{"id":71,"date":"2017-10-13T19:02:26","date_gmt":"2017-10-13T19:02:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aquarium-fish-plants.com\/?p=71"},"modified":"2018-06-27T19:16:26","modified_gmt":"2018-06-27T19:16:26","slug":"setting-up-a-fishtank","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aquarium-fish-plants.com\/setting-up-a-fishtank","title":{"rendered":"Setting up a Fishtank – How to start a aquarium"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Set up and start your fishtank: our guide to the first fish!<\/h1>\n

Finally: You fought with yourself for a long time (and maybe also against your wife) and now you decided to buy a fishtank - but what now? Even before buying a tank, there are many things to consider, from the selection of the right fishtank size to the right location, many decisions have to be made. But also after the purchase of a tank many stumbling traps are to be avoided. Above all by overzealous salesmen the run-in phase is overlooked and with the first dead fish the desire at fishkeeping lost itself fast. Admittedly, that would be the worst case scenario. Nevertheless, it is recommended to read the following guide completely in order to avoid possible beginners' errors.
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Choose the right size of the fishtank<\/h2>\n

It depends on the space available in the apartment and of course also on the available budget: a complete fishtank set with a length of 24 Inches costs around $50-150 at the moment, while a complete fishtank set with a length of 48 Inches starts at around $350. Also the size of the tank is important: a room with an area of less than 20 m\u00b2 should be equipped with a tank with a length of less than 48 Inches and a room with an area of less than 10 m\u00b2 should be equipped with a tank with a length of less than 36 Inches.<\/p>\n

If you want to care for a certain kind of fish or a certain group of animals, the size depends on the needs of these freshwater fish. A larger pool is relatively easier to maintain than a smaller one, because the necessary maintenance work is usually less frequent. If it can be realized somehow, you should start with a basin of at least 36 Inches in length (approx. 40 gallons of water).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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The choice of location<\/h2>\n

The adaptation of the tank types to the interior has become easy thanks to the modern glass aquariums, whose panes are glued with silicone rubber. The industry's versatile aquarium furniture range also adapts well to the various types of wood and styles. Before setting up the aquarium, however, the following aspects should be taken into account:<\/p>\n

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  • Do not choose a location that is too sunny, as the sun causes a great heat up and contributes significantly to algae growth. Modern aquarium lighting is independent of daylight.<\/li>\n
  • Do not place the pool directly on, above radiators or on an oven.<\/li>\n
  • A sink, washbasin or toilet should be within easy reach (up to approx. 15 m). Changing water with a bucket gets annoying fast - then the weekly water change and care for fish and plants will soon be omitted.<\/li>\n
  • Electricity should be connected directly next to or behind the fishtank. At best, get a (waterproof) multiple socket.<\/li>\n
  • The tank should not be placed close to the \"family memorials\", as some water splashes are almost unavoidable during the cleaning work.<\/li>\n
  • The load-bearing capacity of the floor should be observed, especially for large fishtanks (over 70 Inches). The downside of an aquarium stand in an old building must not stand straight in the middle of the floorboards between the beams. The length of the bars can be determined by tapping; the rows of nails also show the position of the bars. In addition, the feet of a stand on plastic floors can easily press into the floor. Therefore one places so-called piano coasters under the feet and brings the basin into balance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    An aquarium with water is very heavy, e.g. a tank with 50 gallons of water including gravel\/sand and decoration weighs approx. 200 kg. A shaky table or a non-reinforced add-on shelf is no longer sufficient. System racks from different manufacturers usually have a clear width for common fishtank sizes. If you intend to place a tank on such a rack, you must always check the instructions for use and the technical data of this rack before purchasing the tank to ensure that the rack carries the load of the aquarium. The following overview shows the weight of water in a 24 inches long fishtank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Filling height in inches<\/td>\nWeight of water in kg<\/td>\n\u00a0Total weight in kg<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    2<\/td>\n12<\/td>\n24<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    13<\/td>\n84<\/td>\n96<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    18<\/td>\n108<\/td>\n120<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
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    Choose the aquarium - tank types in comparison<\/h2>\n

    The following pool types are available on the market:<\/p>\n

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    • All-glass fishtank (silicone-glued)<\/li>\n
    • All glass fishtank with plastic frame<\/li>\n
    • plexiglass fishtank<\/li>\n
    • Anodised aluminium frame fishtank<\/li>\n
    • Iron frame fishtank, plastic insulated<\/li>\n
    • Chrome-plated iron fishtank<\/li>\n
    • all-glass fishtank<\/li>\n
    • Eternit fishtank with windscreen<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      I recommend an all-glass aquarium (silicone-glued or plastic frame). Here's another comparison of the different pool types:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
      Type of tank<\/strong><\/td>\nAdvantages <\/strong><\/td>\nDrawbacks<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      All-glass aquarium (silicone-glued)<\/td>\n\u2713 modern, fits everywhere<\/td>\n\u2717 Heavy, edges repel easily<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      All glass fishtank with plastic frame<\/td>\n\u2713 Ideal fishtank type (price-performance ratio)<\/td>\n\u2717 Cheap tanks sometimes fall apart quickly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      plexiglass fishtank<\/td>\n\u2713 Very light
      \n\u2713 Bent moulds<\/td>\n      		\u2717 Plastic susceptible to scratches<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Anodised aluminium frame fishtank<\/td>\n\u2713 Washers easily replaceable<\/td>\n\u2717 Leaky tanks are difficult to repair<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Iron frame fishtank, plastic insulated<\/td>\n\u2713 Inexpensive<\/td>\n\u2717 Rust after a few years
      \n\u2717 Not suitable for seawater<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Chrome-plated iron fishtank<\/td>\n\u2713 Inexpensive
      \n\u2713 Optik<\/td>\n      		\u2717Chrome fades quickly
      \n\u2717 Rust after a few years<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      all-glass fishtank<\/td>\n\u2713 Handy
      \n\u2713 good breeding tank<\/td>\n      		\u2717 Damage due to scuffing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Eternit fishtank with windscreen<\/td>\n\u2713 More robust than glass
      \n\u2713 Suitable as a mini pond<\/td>\n      		\u2717 unwieldy
      \n\u2717 Protective coating required
      \n\u2717 Heavy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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      My recommendation<\/strong>: 20 gallons complete fishtank set<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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