Setting Up An Aquarium

One of the best ways to ensure yourself a successful tank later on is to get off to a good start. The initial preparation of (and later the maintenance of) the tank is a hobbyist’s gateway to creating a strong foundation for his aquarium. By providing all of the equipment a healthy aquarium requires, faithfully maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness in the tank, and paying close attention to everything that goes on in the tank in case a problem arises, any hobbyist should be able to cultivate a beautiful tank full of healthy fish. Our retailers are there to help guide you through the whole process so please don’t hesitate to contact them for help and advice.

Aquarium Location Choose an area in your home where you can best enjoy the beauty and serenity of your new aquarium. Avoid placing your aquarium near windows, heating and cooling ducts. Direct sunlight and temperature changes can negatively affect your aquarium. Overexposure to sunlight can lead to rapid algae growth in and on your aquarium, plants and decorations. Rapid temperature variations are harmful to fish. It is also recommended to avoid areas of high household traffic to prevent accidental contact with your set-up.

Aquarium When setting up your aquarium always follow the manufacturers instructions carefully especially regarding positioning of the aquarium and ask our retailers for help as some offer an installation service. Some aquariums, like Juwel, come complete with lighting, filtration and heating.

Substrate is not required by most fish, it is more for aesthetic appeal than anything else, but many hobbyists choose to use it in their aquariums. Gravel is the substrate most commonly used. It is available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Medium-sized gravel is generally best, although smaller gravel can look great in a planted aquarium. Large gravel can be disastrous, as it can leave spaces that will trap food, waste, and even small fish.

Decorations are not a required component of a successful aquarium. However, they will add significantly to your tank’s aesthetic appeal and can provide a sense of security for your fish by creating hiding places. The choices are endless, including live or fake plants, real or fake rocks, and a huge variety of molded ornaments of structures like castles and treasure chests. Check with our retailers to make sure that any wood or rocks you use are safe for the type of aquarium you have and will not have negative effects on the aquarium.

Lighting Aquariums like Juwel come complete with lighting, but there are a variety of aquarium lighting options to choose from depending on your choice of your aquarium inhabitants and decoration. Most live plants need a large amount of light in order to survive and flourish so always choose the correct lighting by researching and taking the advice from our retailers.

Temperature Most fish will do well in an aquarium that maintains a temperature between 76° and 80°F. This will require a heater/thermostat and a thermometer. The correct sized heater/thermostat must be chosen according to the size of the aquarium, please consult with one of our retailers.

Filtration The key to a clean, healthy, thriving aquarium is filtration. In most aquariums the number of fish, plants, corals and invertebrates, in relation to water volume, exceeds what would typically be found in nature. It is essential that the biological waste produced by aquarium inhabitants be removed and metabolized before becoming toxic. Aquarium filters are available in various configurations and should provide mechanical, biological and chemical filtration, as well as oxygenation. Juwel aquariums come complete with internal filtration and JBL crystal profi external filters are top quality.

Due to its importance, please consult your local retailer for help and advice. There is no such thing as over-filtration, only under-filtration, so buy the biggest and most powerful filter that you can.