Which aquarium and its interior should I choose?

A home aquarium is a vessel (completely glass or with only glass walls) designed for keeping and breeding aquatic animals and plants, as well as for observing their life.

Any vessel made of glass or plexiglass can serve as an aquarium. They are categorized by design as framed or frameless. Framed aquariums are made of angle iron and glass, while frameless aquariums are made of plexiglass.

All-glass vessels can also be used as aquariums. Depending on their capacity, aquariums are categorized as small (up to 25 liters), medium (25-190 liters), and large (up to 250 liters). Aquariums larger than 250 liters are not recommended for indoor use.

When placing an aquarium, consider lighting and ease of maintenance. In a room with north-facing windows, it is recommended to place the aquarium against a wall perpendicular to the window, no more than 2 meters away. In a room with south-facing windows, the aquarium should be placed against a wall perpendicular or opposite the window.

During the summer, to prevent the aquarium from overheating from direct sunlight, artificial shade should be used, especially if it is located in a room with south-facing windows. Mesh or thick fabric curtains can be used for shade.

For small aquariums, it is advisable to use side-mounted artificial lighting, while for aquariums deeper than 30 cm, overhead and side lighting are recommended. Fluorescent lamps with power ratings of 15, 25, 40, and 60 watts are the most common.

The optimal water temperature for most aquarium fish and plants ranges from 24-30°C. Two types of electric heaters—salt and spiral—are used to heat the water, as well as standard incandescent light bulbs.

Various types of air pumps are used to oxygenate the water. Water in the aquarium is changed using a rubber hose with a glass tip, which is also used to remove impurities. The interior walls are cleaned with a safety razor blade inserted into a special device. Thread algae can be easily removed from the bottom of the aquarium using a small rake, which is also used to loosen the substrate.

Aquarium plants are essential. They oxygenate the water by absorbing carbon dioxide and act as a filter, helping to purify the water. They are classified as either sun-loving or shade-loving. Plants can be planted either directly into the substrate or in small mounds of substrate. The best substrate for an aquarium is river sand with a particle size of 1.5 to 2 mm or gravel with a particle size of 3 to 4 mm. Fine expanded clay can also be used. Any fine sand is unsuitable.

Before placing the substrate in the aquarium, thoroughly rinse and boil for 15 minutes, stirring constantly. For fish and plants requiring soft water, remove calcium and magnesium salts from the substrate by rinsing with sulfuric or hydrochloric acid. When planting in the substrate, first dig a hole, spread the plant's roots, and cover them with sand.

When planting in a pot, make sure it has a hole in the bottom. The size and shape of the pot should be selected based on the nature of the root system, the propagation method, and the size of the aquarium.

The following plants are recommended for aquarium owners:
– Vallisneria is one of the most common aquarium plants, it reproduces using underground shoots;
– cabombu – grows as a bush, producing shoots from the base of the root, loves sunlight;
– cryptocoryne – do not like transplants, thermophilic;
– Ludwigia – grows as a bush with many lateral shoots, which have a bunch of small fluffy brown roots at the base;
– feather leaf – grows well both in natural and artificial light; provides an excellent shelter for the fry of viviparous fish and is an excellent spawning ground for egg-laying fish;
– Riccia – a floating plant adapted to abundant overhead lighting;
– duckweed – easily reproduces, covering the entire water surface of the aquarium;
– Water lettuce is one of the largest and most beautiful plants floating on the surface of the water; in natural light and warm water it reproduces very quickly.