| When you build your own fish tank, there are only | | | | some canister from its intended use! Can you |
| a few really important things to do. Anyway, | | | | image a dozen litres of water pouring on your |
| before buying your fish you should sit down and | | | | floor because the container you used (maybe to |
| make a detailed plan about how to start up with | | | | save some bucks) burst under the large weight? |
| your fish tank and answer yourself the following 3 | | | | 2. The fish tank stand - Since you know the |
| questions: | | | | proportions of your fish tank now, you can |
| | | | calculate, how much weight the fish tank stand will |
| 1. Do I want a freshwater or a saltwater | | | | has to endure. |
| aquariums? (This is probably the most important | | | | 3. A filtration system - Without any filtration |
| question. Both fishes and plants can only survive in | | | | system the water in your fish tank will become |
| their natural habitat, freshwater and saltwater | | | | cloudy in no time. The filtration system depends |
| plants and fishes cannot be mixed with each | | | | on how much water it is supposed to filter. If |
| other.) | | | | your filtration system is too weak, the amount of |
| 2. How large do I want my fish tank to be? How | | | | filtered water will be to low and it will have no |
| many gallons of water should it hold? (The larger | | | | effect at all. A good filtration system also provide |
| the aquarium, the more it weights. Never | | | | fresh oxygen. |
| underestimate the weight of 'a few litre water' | | | | 4. Heater - Most fish species have a certain |
| when calculating the weight of your aquarium. 1 | | | | temperature which represents their natural |
| U.S gallon are 3,8 litre are 3,8kg. A fish tank stand | | | | environment. Your fish will be unable to survive if |
| for a 55 gallon fish tank has to carry about 208kg | | | | the water in your aquarium it either to warm or |
| water plus the fish tank itself!) | | | | too cold. Temperature fluctuations can have the |
| 3. Do I want only one species in my fish tank or | | | | same effect, that is why a constant temperature |
| several different species? (Not every species is | | | | should be provided. Tropical fish will most likely |
| as peaceful as we want it to be. Mix the wrong | | | | prefer a warmer water. |
| fishes and watch how the attack each other | | | | 5. Light - A light system is important for your fish |
| instead of getting along with each other.) | | | | and the plants in your aquarium. Like any other |
| After answering this three questions, you | | | | animal, fish have a day and night cycle and they |
| probably know, what you want to have. The next | | | | will negatively react to any disturbance. How |
| step is to gather all supplies you need to build | | | | would you react, if the sun would rise an set |
| your own fish tank. You need at least the | | | | randomly? |
| following 5 piece of equipment: | | | | Now that you know what kind of fish tank you |
| 1. The fish tank itself - only use tanks that are | | | | want to have and what kind of equipment you |
| made for being filled with water! Never divert | | | | need, you know how to build your own fish tank. |