If you’re craving a calming retreat from the pressures of daily life that also delivers aesthetic appeal for your home, then owning an aquarium might be for you.
Cruising along the back wall of tanks at Pic-A-Pet’s new location on the east side of Queen Street in Hamilton, it’s easy to be captivated by the shimmering allure of aquatic life.
With flamboyant names like albino paradise fish, shortfin green dragon and tiger silver dollar, these underwater beauties are as mesmerising as they are exotic.
But before the gentle bubbling of the water lulls you into an impulsive purchase, it’s essential to understand the basic needs of these tiny creatures.
“The main thing to think about before buying an aquarium is what size tank you want, and where it will go in your home,” said store owner Kyle Parkin.
“It’s important to choose a spot that’s away from direct sunlight, which can cause temperature fluctuations and algae growth.”
BEGINNER FRIENDLY FISH
Your first aquarium can be as simple or complex as you want it to be. The key to early success lies in being clear regarding your objectives from the outset.
“Starting with a fishbowl and a couple of goldfish is a low maintenance and inexpensive way to teach your kids about responsibility,” Mr Parkin said.
“The bowl does not have a filter so you will need to change the water weekly and it is important to resist the temptation to overfeed your fish.
“They only require a pinch of food twice a day, or as much as they can eat in five minutes,” he explained.
A brightly coloured betta fish is often a great choice for beginners. Thanks to their labyrinth organ, which functions like a primitive lung, bettas can gulp air from the surface as well as extract oxygen from the water through their gills. This unique ability allows them to survive in lower-oxygen environments such as fish bowls, making them an excellent low-maintenance option for first-time fishkeepers.
YOUR FIRST AQUARIUM
A 10-gallon starter tank is suitable for keeping a variety of small fish, but you need to consider the needs of each individual species of fish when assembling your first fish community.
“It’s critical to understand whether a species of fish is calm or aggressive when deciding whether to add it to your community,” Mr Parkin said.
“You also need to think about the part of the world that a fish comes from because different species require different levels of light and water temperature – fish from the Amazon, for example, are used to living in a stream which has darker water so you would need to add a liquid additive to the water.”
As a rule, your tank water needs to be between 76 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit all times,the time, so your tank will need to be equipped with a heater in winter, and the room will probably need an air conditioner in summer.
Mr Parkin said: “A starter fish community needs to be a combination of live bearer fish such as guppies or mollies, a catfish which will naturally scavenge food from the bottom of the tank, and an algae eater to help keep the tank clean, such as a flying fox Chinese algae eater.”
For more experienced fishkeepers, there are also “medium” and “difficult” species that require a higher level of care to remain healthy over the long term. These species often demand more frequent maintenance, such as changing the water every few days, even if the tank is equipped with a filtration system.
The knowledgeable team at Pic-A-Pet can explain the needs of each individual species for anyone interested in taking their aquarium to the next level.
AQUARIUM AESTHETICS
Once you understand the basics, part of the fun of keeping fish is designing the aesthetic environment of your underwater habitat. Pic- A-Pet stocks an extensive selection of aquascaping supplies including plants, rocks, ornaments and substrate to help you create a pleasing underwater landscape.
CLEANING AND WATER TESTING
Keeping your fish community healthy has a lot to do with the quality of the environment. As a rule, Bermuda water is generally good for fish tanks, but you may need to adjust the pH level depending on the type of fish that you are keeping. You will also need to test the pH and ammonia levels of the water weekly using a special testing kit.
“You can also tell quite a bit regarding what is going on with your tank just by looking at the algae that is growing. If the algae build-up is green then the tank is getting too much light, if it is brown then the tank is getting too little light,” Mr Parkin said.
The substrate, which is the layer containing the rocks or sand at the bottom of the tank, is not just aesthetically appealing – it provides a surface area for beneficial bacteria to colonise, which is crucial for the nitrogen cycle and overall water quality of your tank.
“We sell a fish starter kit which includes all the essentials for maintaining your aquarium,” he said.
“As a rule, we recommend that you test the water weekly and vacuum the substrate on a monthly basis. But if this all seems a bit daunting, we also offer a home or office aquarium maintenance service to ensure that your aquarium stays beautiful and stress-free.”
When it comes to adding something simple to your living space that offers both a calming escape from the pressures of daily life as well as a chance for creative expression, few things compare to an aquarium.
What often starts as a modest project can quickly become a deeply rewarding hobby that can provide joy and tranquility for years to come.
