Running the aquarium: an algorithm of actions

You bought an aquarium, harmoniously inscribed it in the atmosphere and looked at the store of future inhabitants. The next step is the launch of the aquarium, and its importance can not be overemphasized. The life and health of fish, the beauty of plants, the transparency of water and other factors that determine the overall picture depend on whether your home pond is properly started. On slang aquarists, the glass container itself is called a "jar", the proud name of the aquarium it acquires only when it establishes a biological equilibrium that meets the needs of all living beings living there.

So, in the room is an empty aquarium. With what to begin its arrangement? At first glance, everything is simple - flooded the water, put sand, stuck plants and let the fish, and then nature will take its. But the result of such hasty actions will be very sad consequences. The water will become cloudy, the plants will be covered with air bubbles and float to the surface, the fish too will not last long. Such a start is capable of discouraging hunting ever to be engaged in aquaristics. Sellers in pet stores and the market try to forge iron, while it's hot, and sell as much as possible. Pisces they offer to release into fresh water in a day, and if you add a special remedy to it, so in general at once. But do not succumb to persuasion. Many preparations for the preparation of water are replaced by simple actions. For example, you can remove chlorine from the aquarium without adding a special air conditioner, and simply leaving the tank for a day without a lid.

Running the aquarium begins with the preparation of decorative elements: soil and snags, as well as plants. Pebbles can be obtained somewhere near the house, sifting the garden sieve with ordinary gravel, and sand, better large - to collect on the river bank. This is not the kind of material you need to spend money on. The main thing is to thoroughly wash the soil, boil the stones in salt water, and sand it into portions and fry in a clean frying pan, and then sift. But it's better to buy a snag. Its preparation takes quite a long time, and the choice for the beginner is rather complicated: it is important that the snag is not from the coniferous tree, it is dead, but not rotten, not lying in the water contaminated with chemical waste, etc. Stop picking on special snags from the store. However, you can do without it at all, although with it the underwater kingdom looks more interesting.

Processed from bacteria and protozoans will have and purchased plants. It is impossible to boil them, of course, but you can wash it in running water, and then hold it for half an hour in a soft pink solution of all known potassium permanganate. Disinfected in this way plants are placed in a jar of standing water and left alone for a week. In general, starting an aquarium is a process that is stretched in time. If everything goes well, and you stick to a step-by-step plan, then it will take about a month to balance. To force events in any case is not worth it: the consequences can be such that you have to drain water, catch fish dead bodies and start all over again.

The aquarium itself needs to be washed with a new sponge without detergents, instead of them take baking soda or shallow salt. After washing, if the dimensions of the container permit, put it on its side in the bath and rinse with a strong jet from the shower, paying special attention to the corners.

Also, before starting the aquarium, it is necessary to prepare the following equipment: a filter and an aerator (sometimes one device includes both functions), fluorescent lamps, if the aquarium is not complete with them, a thermometer, nets and scrapers. You also need to take care of the manufacture of the lid.

All is ready? We proceed.

1. The carpenter was ground. The thickness of the layer should not be less than 5 centimeters.
2. We set the scenery: driftwood, stones, grottoes, shells, etc.
3. We fill the water. Do it better with a thin stream, directing it to a plate turned upside down, lying on the sand. In order not to carry water with scoops, use a thin hose, one end of which is lowered into the aquarium, and the second - into the bucket standing on it. To start the water, first dial into the hose of water from the tap, plugging one of its ends with a finger. A full hose, installed in the manner described, triggers the principle of communicating vessels, and the water begins to flow.
4. We turn on the equipment: filter, compressor and thermostat if necessary. We are waiting for 4 days. Water first becomes turbid, then gradually becomes again transparent. This is normal.
5. We plant the first plants. Choose the most undemanding ones. We are waiting for 4 more days.
6. Turn on the lighting. On the same day, it is necessary to clean the filter. This will be 9 days from the start of the launch. You can start the first fish, for example, swordsmen. You do not need to feed them.
7. Day 10 - we feed the fish. Henceforth, they need to give a diet twice a day.
8. 17-20 day - with good water condition and the mood of the inhabitants you can continue the settlement.
9. 25 day and further monthly - cleaning the soil and replacing 15% of the volume of water with a permanent one.

Here is the aquarium and launched. Enjoy your communication with the water world!