A Look into the Alien World of Freshwater Aquariums

Ever wonder why people keep aquariums? Well imagine a multi-colored rock-strewn setting of sand with slim ribbons of dark blade-like swordplants swaying gracefully in the water. An angel catfish watches intently as schools of zebra danios dart in and out of the foliage like children playing hide and seek. In the foreground, against a background of willowy ferns, the fluorescent colors of the neon tetras shine like jewels. Is this a scene from the latest Jacques Cousteau adventure? No, it is a peek into the silent but fascinating alien world of the freshwater aquarium. For the land-lovers who may have tried this pursuit and found themselves with a tank full of floating dead fish and an almost depleted checkbook, I intend to show you how to plan, execute & enjoy this hobby without breaking the piggy bank [dcs1] and shedding a bucketful of tears.

The first thing one must do is to plan where to put the aquarium. The right location should have the following criteria; accessibility to electrical outlets, proximity to water source, and visibility. The first criterion, accessibility to electrical outlets is the most significant since the tank filters, hooded lamps, and air pumps all require electricity to run. I would also advise installing a reliable ground-fault interrupter or GFI on the outlet as an added precaution. A GFI is a device that will detect water leakage caused by spills or water splash and will automatically shut down the circuit to prevent shock. A perm, resembling the bride of Frankenstein caused by electrical shock, would be the last thing that I would want to happen on anyone trying to install an aquarium. Second criterion in selecting a location is the proximity to a water source. The fish tank will need lots of water due to periodic water changes and regular cleaning. It can also be said that during the implementation of this task, moderate amounts of water may be splashed on to the surrounding [missing word here?], depending on the hobbyists’ current level of dexterity in transporting a pail of dirty water to the water drain. The same pail of water can also weigh several pounds; consequently, this chore could very easily turn into a workout. It is therefore in the interest of the novice hobbyist to keep the location close to both source and drain. And while we are on the subject of weight, make sure the aquarium stand can support both the weight of the tank and the water in it. The third criterion, visibility is vital because, the aquarium is the backdrop and the fish are its performers. Choose an area where the tank will occupy center stage, this way everybody including guests can enjoy them. The fish once they get used to people observing them, will gladly put on a memorable show for you. Words of advice, in choosing this special spot[dcs2] , make sure it does not get direct exposure to the sun. The sun will promote rapid algae growth which can turn the walls of the tank green. [dcs3]

Now that the location of the tank has been identified, let us consider the tank itself and the paraphernalia that will go with it. The best shape and size for a beginner is a ten gallon rectangular glass tank. A ten-gallon tank will provide ample space for the fish to grow and intermingle. This shape will also provide the most water surface area on top. Maximum water surface area is necessary to complete the cycle of oxygen exchange. A glass is advisable for beginners, because it does not scratch easily and will not yellow with age. Do not be tempted to get fancy-shaped aquariums or the tall narrow ones that look so good and futuristic in magazine pages[dcs4] . These will not provide your fish with optimum living conditions. Instead, these serve as torture chambers for the poor fish that will find itself condemned to a slow and painful death due to lack of oxygen among other things.

After choosing the tank, shop around for the right equipment. The primary items needed to complete the tank are the following: a hood with light, a filter system, a heater with thermostat and thermometer. The hood provides light and cover to prevent fish from jumping out, and water from evaporating too fast. The light will enable you to see and appreciate your fish and at the same time enable your fish to find food, partners and predators. For the type of filter, I would recommend using a biological system using the undergravel system[dcs5] . They are cheap, easy to operate and use gravel as the filter media; therefore, there is no need for periodical replacements. Heaters maintain appropriate water temperature since most of the fish kept in aquariums are tropical fishes. [dcs6] Primary consideration in choosing a heater is your budget; the cheapest one is the clip-on which is attached outside the tank or the submersible one which comes with a thermostat where you can control the temperature in the tank. As I have previously mentioned, be very careful when handling electrical devices that need to be submerged in water. The glass in the hot water heater could break if suddenly plunged into cold water, this [dcs7] can cause electrical shock. Electrical heaters also radiate heat; therefore [dcs8] serious burns can result in improper handling. One might ask, why do you still need a thermometer if the heater already has a thermostat? The thermometer will enable the hobbyist to monitor the temperature in the tank in case the thermostat malfunctions[dcs9] . Imagine if the thermostat suddenly malfunctions and you are unaware that the temperature in the tank is slowly going up and up and up, you would probably end up having fish stew for dinner.

Having collected and selected all the necessary equipment for the project, the novice hobbyist is now ready to execute tank assembly. Position the tank, and install filters, lamps, thermostat and thermometer. Add decorations according to your preference. There are lots of decorations available in the market that you can choose from, such as treasure chests with air causing the lid to open and shut, mermaids, sunken ships and castles. Surround them with rocks and various plants and driftwood. The stage is all yours to set and create;[dcs10] let your imagination be your guide. Do not be tempted to pick-up rocks or driftwood from camping trips or picnics because these may contain parasites or minerals that could prove harmful to the aquarium[dcs11] . After installing all the decorations, allow the filters to run for about a week[dcs12] . This procedure will help condition the water; develop good bacteria culture in the gravel in preparation for the fish.

Before introducing any fish in the tank, I would suggest going to the library to read up on the various kinds of tropical fish[dcs13] . I made the mistake of going in a pet shop and buying every pretty fish I could lay my eyes on. Next thing I knew, my lovely yellow-striped cichlids started nipping on the flowing tail of my pearl-scaled goldfish. My school of neon tetras started to disappear one by one. The culprit was my innocent-looking plec who suddenly developed a taste for neon tetras. The live plants which I had so meticulously planted started floating mysteriously in the water. I later discovered that my goldfish had a predilection of rearranging the plants around. Needless to say, I had to do a lot of quick research to discover what was going on in my little alien world. The second mistake I made was buying too much, too soon. I would recommend approximately ten 1-inch size fishes for a ten gallon tank to prevent overstocking. And finally, before putting the fish in the water let the water bag with the fish inside float for a few minutes to acclimatize the new fish to the temperature in the new tank. This procedure will prevent undue stress on your new fish and improve their chances of survival.

Having gone through all the procedures above, we are now ready to sit back, relax and enjoy this wonderful alien world that has just been created. Picture yourself sitting in a comfortable couch, a glass of warm milk in hand; lights turned down low except for the lights on the aquarium. Observe as these alien creatures scurry past castles and under rock arches. Behold the never ending drama unfolding every minute. Feel the tension of the day slowly ebb from your tired muscles as you hear the gentle gurgling sound of the water. I would say this is better and safer than any pill for soothing tired souls.

[dcs1]Your thesis references the inexpensive nature of this hobby. Occasionally in the essay you should mention how much how much the supplies, fishes, and weekly/monthly maintenance costs are. Your curious readers will want to know since you’ve framed your essay in this manner.

[dcs2]This phrase is a fragment. Since you are intending it to sound like conversation, place a colon after “spot” so that it introduces the advice.

[dcs3]So this flows better, consider combining the sentences and shortening them for concision.

[dcs4]This is logical advice, and the reader is sure to remember your humorous bent on the undesired consequence you suggest in the next sentence….

[dcs5]For the novice hobbyist, take a sentence and briefly concisely explain what the biological system does.

[dcs6]Your essay frames your topic to be about freshwater aquariums. You might want to qualify what you mean here. Are heaters also good for freshwater fish as well? When I was a kid, I had a heater on mine (I think??), but I have no idea whether a heater was actually necessary.

[dcs7]Comma splice

[dcs8]Look at notes from last week on the punctuation for using adverbial conjunctions.

[dcs9]So you are encouraging the hobbyist to build some redundancy into the system—a good idea.

[dcs10]Excellent use of semicolon.

[dcs11]Good use of critical thinking as you explain the process. This is exactly what readers are looking for—for you, the writer, to anticipate the needs/questions of the reader(s).

[dcs12]You mean before adding any fish?

[dcs13]Tropical fish are usually saltwater fish. You might want to frame your essay in the intro paragraph for this type of aquarium if that is what your essay is on.