Want to Set Up an Aquarium at Home? Here's How - The Seeker

Posted: 28 Sep 2020 12:00 AM PDT

Pets are a wonderful addition to a household. They have the power to make the home livelier and to make your day brighter. However, when talking about house animals, most of the time, the question is – Are you a dog or a cat person? Although both of these furry companions are a good choice, there are more options out there.

When it comes to popular pets, fish are probably ranked among the top 5. Beautiful and generally easier to maintain than cats or dogs, it comes as no surprise they are positioned so high on the popularity ladder. The fact that they will not ruin your shoes or furniture is certainly a big plus.

So, if you have been thinking about installing an aquarium at home, these are some of the things you should know before you start.

Choosing the Right Tank

The size certainly matters in this case and for several reasons. First of all, fish need oxygen to breathe, and a bigger tank will provide them with sufficient amounts of this chemical element. A wider tank has a larger surface area than a taller one, so you will actually be able to put more of these cute underwater creatures in it.

Also, make sure you check how much space a certain fish requires before you go out and buy it. After all, you want to create a happy and healthy environment for all the inhabitants of your aquarium. For example, goldfish will feel much better in a larger space than a bowl. This type of setting is more suitable for guppies and white clouts.

The size of the tank will depend on the available space in your home, as well as on how big of a community you want to build. They start at around 2.5 gallons and go up. Make sure you commit to something you can handle. Starting small is not a bad idea for those who are doing this for the first time.

Freshwater or Saltwater

The next decision you need to make is about the type of aquarium setup you want to have in your home – saltwater or freshwater. This is not a small decision for different reasons, including the financial one.

Simply put, saltwater tanks are more expensive to maintain. You will have to mix the water yourself or buy it in the store. Also, you might need to provide your new pets with special lighting. Although freshwater ones also require dedication and regular maintenance, they are generally easier to keep. This is especially true if you're just stepping into this sphere.

One of the things you don't have to worry about is the visual appeal. Both of these can provide you with a tranquil and beautiful effect.

Appropriate pH Level

The environment in which fish live also has to meet certain requirements. One of the major things you need to pay attention to is the acidity of the water. You can check this out by testing its pH level. Don't let this scare you. As people from https://sellingmykidney.com/ say, it can all be very confusing to newbies, but everything you need to know is easily found online. Just do the necessary research, and soon enough, you will fall in love with this hobby.

Most fish can have a perfectly good life in a wide pH scope, but a small number of them have more specific needs. It's very important to keep the environment as stable as possible when it comes to pH. The proper tank chemistry is a key factor for having healthy fish. For those that come from tropical areas, you will have to regulate the water temperature as well. However, bear in mind that the heater reduces the oxygen levels and that you will probably have to add an air pump.

Decorations

Choosing the look for your aquarium is quite fun. You can add a personal note to it and make it catch the eye of anyone who enters your house. If you want, you can recreate the natural habitat of the species present in your tank. Something like Hawaiian Reef or Amazon River certainly sounds exotic and exciting. There is also an option to opt for a design that will accentuate the appearance of the fish and their behavior.

These are some of the main things you need to consider if you want to set up an aquarium in your house or apartment. It is something that requires dedication and time, but it will give you a sense of peace as well. Whatever type of fish you choose for your tank, it will make your home more beautiful and more interesting.

Photos: Monterey Bay Aquarium volunteer divers keep exhibit clean - The Mercury News

Posted: 05 Oct 2020 12:00 AM PDT

Click here if you are having trouble viewing the slideshow on a mobile device.

Your standard fish tank holds 10 to 55 gallons of water and contains a handful or more of fish. Depending on what needs to be done, a person can clean the tank in about 45 minutes. Now compare that to the 2.3 million gallons of water in the tanks at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which hold 35,000 aquatic creatures. You'll need help. Lots of it — from volunteer divers, who step up to the plate.

The aquarium's doors may be closed to visitors because of the COVID-19 shutdown, but these volunteers are still on the job, plunging into the tanks three times a week to scrub the thick acrylic walls and vacuum the tank bottoms to keep them clean.

Watsonville diver Alice Bourget has been doing this for more than 25 years, typically as part of a team of more than 100 volunteer divers. During the pandemic, about 35 active volunteers are shouldering the load.

On a recent Tuesday afternoon, Bourget and two fellow divers met with the aquarium's divemaster — yes, the Monterey Bay Aquarium has a divemaster — to discuss the job ahead, in this case the massive Kelp Forest exhibit.

First, the wave-making device, which keeps the current circulating through the undulating kelp forest, was turned off to help keep the divers stationary in the water. Next, the large vacuum and its long hose, used to clean the tank's bottom, were made ready. Then Bourget and the other volunteers donned their gear and descended into the 28-foot deep tank, one of the tallest aquatic exhibits in the world.

With a sponge in one hand, Bourget made her way to the first of the windows, using a suction cup to anchor her in position in an exhibit filled with marine life. Among them: leopard sharks, which average 4.5 feet and weigh 22 pounds, and a giant sea bass, California's largest nearshore fish, which weighs in around 130 pounds.

For Bourget, volunteering is a way of giving back and showing gratitude to a cause she loves. And it's not all work. Once, while cleaning the Open Seas tank, a green sea turtle wanted to play — and became such a playful pest, Bourget couldn't finish her task. It's not just cleaning, either. On one dive, Bourget and her dive buddy brought a huge wolf eel up for treatment, after noticing that it had a bloated stomach, a symptom of digestive issues.

Lately, her favorite task is anything near the school of anchovies.

"I love how they move as a group and swirl about reflecting the sun, then split into two schools, then rejoin," she says. "I find it mesmerizing."

The Monterey Bay Aquarium has used volunteer divers even before it opened to the public in 1984. Bourget was smitten on her first visit there.

"I realized what a great and beautiful organization it is," she says. "After watching the diver at the feeding show, I asked the docent how I could participate. They directed me to the volunteer office, and within a year, I became a volunteer diver."

There is no official reopening date for the aquarium as yet, not until Monterey County case metrics achieve the state and county thresholds that allow indoor venues, such as museums and aquariums to reopen. But plans are in place for that day: Guests over age two will be required to wear face coverings, and the number of visitors will be capped, ensuring a low enough attendance to allow for social distancing.

Until then, you can click here to watch live webcams of the animals at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The webcams feature the sea otter tank, kelp forest tank, bird aviary, penguins, open sea tank, jellyfish tanks and live views of Monterey Bay.

Search This Blog

Acuarium