5 Most Commonly Made Mistakes By Aquarists
- Jul 26, 2022
- Anshika Mishra
- 303 0 0
Tank Placement
A lot of new people to the hobby usually have super green tanks. These aquarists have not been overfeeding; they have cycled their tank right, but they didn't realize that they set their tank right in front of either a window or by the side of a door that gets direct light at a certain point during the day.
This gets way too much, combined with the lights they already have in the tank!
So, when setting up a new tank, make sure to put it in a space where you can control all direct and indirect that it's getting. It's going to save you a lot of headaches.
Lighting
Often, if your lights are set on a timer or running it through on your phone, we let the morning set for too long.
As humans, we like to have the areas we work in very well-lit so we can see things as we go about our day. But, fishes and coral don't need all the light we might think.
So instead of having your lights on for 12-15 hours a day, try running them for 6-8 hours a day. Then, you can have your lights ramp up as you come home in the evening and slowly ramp down before you go to bed.
Tank Lid
Not all tanks come already with lids. That's why you must have a lid on your tank. There are a lot of different species of fish that are commonly kept, like the Gobies, Wrasses, Blennies, and even some of the Damsels that are jumpy.
They get scared quickly and end up hopping out of the tank that doesn't have a lid on it. Even some covers that don't fit correctly, there can be little gaps that find their way out.
So, if you have a lid, you'll keep your fish alive instead of dead on the carpet.
Another good reason to have a lid is for fishes who like to spit water. Cow Fish, Puffers, and Triggerfish are all naturally spitting fish.
It's a behavior that they do in the wild. So, you shouldn't be surprised if you see them spitting water out of the tank to get your attention.
If you have a lid on your tank, it will protect your furniture and electronics near the tank and help you from slipping on water that might get on the floor, along with keeping any salt creep to a minimum.
Clean Hands
We often wash our hands, and a little bit of soapy residue might get stuck under our nails, and having that go into our tanks can cause issues. The same goes for any lotions that you might have on.
Saltwater tanks are going to dry out your hand. So, it is easy to understand that you want to put lotion on. But, if you are going to do that, make sure you do it after you've already put your hands in the tank.
Now, especially if you are doing rock scaping or moving frags around, you want to wash from your fingertips to your elbows or even higher. Ensure you get all the soap off and dry them with a clean towel.
Clean Supplies
When you are using household cleaners, a lot of time, they are sprays that some of those particles can get into the air, and you don't want them,
So, if you are using household cleaners, don't use them anywhere near the tank, and make sure if you are spraying them, spray them into a rag or closer to the surface you are cleaning. Along the same line, if someone comes in to clean your house, make sure they know not to clean your tank itself or near your tank.
The same concept is that if you have pest control companies taking care of spraying for pests, make sure that they know to stay away from your tank. You can also ask them to use safe products for pets and children. A lot of time, that will ensure that it is safe for your tank.
Also, when it comes to candles, just keep them away from the tank. You don't want any of those products being burnt off to get into the air and your tank.
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