Aquatics: Home Aquariums, Fish, Insects & Water Life Guides and Information

Introduction to Aquatics

Aquatics is the hobby of keeping a home aquarium which may contain fish, insects or other water life. It can also involve keeping an outdoor pond or water garden. Keeping pets is a responsibility as well as a fun hobby so researching types of fish and water life is advisable beforehand.

Types of Fish

Different species of fish live in different environments. In particular, tropical fish live in warmer water and some types of freshwater fish live in cold water. Tropical fish are a popular addition to an aquarium due to their bright colours. Tropical freshwater fish tend to have sheen to their surface which makes them appear to change colour whereas saltwater tropical fish are pigmented with colour.

Freshwater fish live naturally in lakes and rivers where the salt levels (salinity) is lower than 0.05 %. It is beneficial to these fish to live in colder water and the retailer will be able to help explain the living requirements of different types of fish.

Common fish kept in home aquariums are catfish, rainbow fish, livebearers and goldfish. All of these are relatively low maintenance and particularly ideal for a beginner. When buying fish, consider that they may be small to begin with but might grow to an unsuitable size for a home aquarium. Ask the retailer for advice as some fish grow to massive lengths which are too big for even the largest aquarium.

Keeping an Aquarium

There are a couple of things to learn before keeping an aquarium. There is a natural cycle in a fish tank which has to be maintained. ‘Good’ bacteria break down harmful nitrates and ‘bad’ bacteria produce them as well as ammonia which are both bad for the health of your fish. A good filtration system will prevent the build-up of harmful chemicals from fish waste. Also, a larger tank can prevent pollution occurring too quickly and outside temperature changes will have little effect on the water temperature. A larger tank also means that the fish are less likely to get stressed and contract diseases.

You can add a filter to a pond as well but clearing out leaves and debris from the pond prevents it becoming clogged. There is also the issue of where a tank or pond should be located. Both should be kept out of direct sunlight as algae will grow in excess and cloud up the water. Algae do not directly harm fish but they are unpleasant and hard to get rid of. Some fish eat algae so it might be beneficial to buy some of these if you are a beginner. Regular water changes are necessary but changing the water too often can stress the fish. Try to work out how often it can be cleaned to prevent the growth of algae but not to harass your fish.

Other considerations include whether you want to keep only fish in the aquarium or whether you want to keep real plant life in there. Real plants need nutrients and light therefore a tube light needs to be added to an aquarium. This is ideal for the fish also and the addition of a coloured light can really bring out the different colours of the fish making it nicer to look at.

Benefits and Disadvantages of Keeping Fish

Generally, once the tank has reached its natural balance, fish keep themselves. They require little care apart from some water changes and partial water changes regularly as well as regular water tests to ensure the water maintains its balance. Considering other pets need much more care, this is an advantage of keeping fish as pets. Aquariums have also been shown to be therapeutic due to the slow movement of the fish and the calming effect of watching them move around in the water.

It is also a great starting pet to have if you are considering buying a much higher-maintenance pet. They will get you used to the responsibility of having a new pet. Fish are also not as costly as other pets. They only require a small amount of fish food twice a day and the water needs testing regularly but these are inexpensive in comparison to the maintenance other pets require.

There aren’t many disadvantages to keeping fish, but a lot of research is required first to ensure that they can live with other species and what environments they can live in. They are obviously a pet that is meant to be observed not to interact with like a dog or cat. Their maintenance is relatively straight forward in any case and they are interesting pets to keep in your home.