A common home aquarium.
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The aquarium itself, the blocky glass tank, is one of the most important investments that you make, when you delve into this hobby. It should perhaps be self evident, but many beginners think more about the kind of gravel, plants, fish and electronic equipment they want, and forget the tank itself.
Here are some basic points.
The bigger the aquarium, the better. If you own one 40-litre aquarium, and another 150-litre, you will soon see that the larger is the easier one to maintain and keep clean.
For the beginner, it is therefore best to start with an aquarium of at least 80 litres (or more), in order to avoid unnecessary problems in maintaining a good environment for the fish.
The water parameters can become very unstable in small tanks. This is stressing to fish, plants, and the bacterial flora that is vital to the aquarium. Crisis also develop quicker, and the story about the inexperienced aquarist who panicks when noticing that there is something wrong with some of the fish, and makes matters worse in the attempt to save them, can always be heard in new varieties.
Of course a large aquarium cannot save you from all beginner mistakes, but it can give you valuable time to think, or ask for help, in case things get out of balance in your aquarium.
Many to-be aquarium owners wonder what is best; framed or all-glass aquariums. Both types are equally sturdy, but you should have insurance anyway. It is cheaper than you think.
Most people find all-glass aquariums most aestethically appealing.
If you take care to place the tank on a level surface, it should be all right. If you chose an all-glass aquarium, you might want to put a styrofoam sheet or some other soft material underneath the glass bottom, to distribute the weight better. Take care to clean the glass bottom before you place the aquarium. A grain of sand in the wrong place can be enough to break the glass.
The fishbowl is an old design that might look good on the shelf, but it isn't quite as fit for practical use. If you fill the bowl to provide the fish with the maximum volume of water, the surface will shrink. This may result inn oxygen deficiency.
En kampfisk kan klare seg med svært lite vann, men det er ikke tilrådelig i det lange løp.
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If you fill the bowl only half way, the surface will be bigger, but at the same time, the amount of water will be halved. This is a problem, in light of the fact that most fishbowls are already too small to provide good homes for fish.
It is also difficult to see the fish properly when it's swimming in a bowl, due to the curved surface of the glass distorting the light. A small aquarium is most often cheaper than a bowl, and much easier to keep clean. It is therefore difficult to find any good reasons to chose a bowl in favour of an aquarium. If the aesthetic appeal is what makes you want a bowl, planting flowers in it would be a good way to put it to use.
If you insist on keeping your fighting fish in a bowl, you should at least place it so that you are certain that the temperature never will drop below 20 degrees Celsius.
If you fill the bowl about two-thirds up, you'll achieve a compromise between the need for as much water as possible, and the need for the biggest surface possible. You can make a lid from i.e. acrylic glass if you want to be sure that the fighting fish gets warm, moist air to breathe.
You should change part of the water at least once a week. Ensure that the new water has the right temperature before you add it to the bowl, as fighting fish are sensitive to temperature changes.
Many of those breeding fighting fish, have their house full of small two-litre boxes with fish. With hundreds of aggressive fighters in the house, it is not possible to provide all with proper aquariums. Before you start putting bettas or fry in tiny containers, you should of course educate yourself thorougly about the fishes' needs, and you should be prepared to change water in all the containers several times a week. It can be wise to make an estimate of total work hours before you start.
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