Are you considering keeping your aquarium in the garage?
There are a number of considerations when setting up the location of the fish tank.
In this article, we will shed some light on these factors and other relevant ideas regarding the garage setup.
So, Is It Okay To Keep an Aquarium In Your Garage?
Yes. You can keep your aquarium in the garage provided that temperatures are maintained at the required degree. Aside from ease of access and monitoring, there are other key issues to look into once you are decided. Fish tanks must be kept safe at optimum temperature. But is that the only issue?
Eight Tips for Setting up And Maintaining an Aquarium in the Garage
1. Select An Ideal Location Of Your Aquarium In The Garage
There is plenty of stuff to be kept in the garage. Once you decide to bring in an aquarium, you will need to execute some rearrangements.
You should locate it at a site where you can access it with ease.
So, keep all obstacles out of the way. Fish require frequent attention. That includes feeding, cleaning up, and more supply of water.
All this work must be done in a clear space.
If you are having problems setting up the best site for your aquarium in the garage, perhaps you need to get an aquarium expert or builder to take you through.
An expert will also give you other relevant suggestions and ideas.
2. Lighting Is Key
Lighting is one of the requisite factors that must be put in place when setting up an aquarium.
Your fish need some rest. As a result, you need to invest in a lighting system that has a regular on and off-cycle.
This allows your fish some downtime.
It also helps to curb the potential growth of unsightly algae growth.
There are many standard light timers available in the stores these days.
Get one! Since it is a garage location, usual aquarium lighting hours apply.
Your fish will require about 10-12 hours of light. Others can do best at a range of 8-10 hours of light a day.
3. Carry Out Some Research Before Buying Fish For Your Tank
Plenty of people ignore this fact and end up having the wrong type of fish in their aquarium.
Owing to busy schedules, it can be a daunting task for you to remember the type of fish you have.
So how about doing some research and putting down the type and age of fish you already have?
These logistics and statistics are critical for future changes should you want to change the fish population and type in the aquarium.
Better still, you can hire a local fish expert in matching compatible tankmates for you.
Fish, like most animals, like living in groups. Other pieces prefer to be in pairs or even in trios.
Others like solitude living. You need to inquire about this information, including the best type of food for each species of fish and how big they can grow.
Otherwise, you might end up mixing them.
Some fish types are known to prey on other fish, and this may turn your experience into a horrible one.
4. Decorate Your Aquarium
Decorating your aquarium creates a spectacular impression in your garage.
It is a lot of fun and helps in creating an ideal home for fish to grow and thrive.
Fishes vary. Some like open spaces to swim around, whereas others like hiding places.
You should, therefore, be willing to create such an environment for your fish.
And that means you need to carry out some research on the type of fish you want to bring in. not the kind of habitat your fishes of choice like, and carry on with aquarium decoration accordingly.
The first fish into the tanks will secure the best territory for themselves.
As a result, you need to keep up with decorations to accommodate the needs of newcomers as well.
5. Maintain A Balanced Fish Population Before You Add New Ones
Everything here is about patience.
You’ll probably be anxious to fill your aquarium with fish.
Well, that’s natural. But you need space and a little patience.
You don’t want to jam up your aquarium with fish. What you need to note is that an aquarium is a living system.
As a result, it takes some time to establish a healthy balance of fish in it. So, introduce the very first population of fish and wait for some time before adding another.
This allows time for healthy bacteria to grow and for a healthy population of fish to thrive.
Before adding another species of fish, test your aquarium for nitrate and ammonia levels to determine the number of fish you will be bringing in next. You might require an expert here.
6. Don’t Worry About Strange Behavior During The First Few Days
From time immemorial, adaptation in the animal kingdom has been key to survival.
Fishes also adapt to new environments. You might get worried about their unique behaviors for the first few days.
For instance, more often, they will be swimming away to hide whenever you walk near the aquarium.
That is normal, and it should take a while before they are familiar with the new system of life. Someone who is facing this job for the very first time might think they are mistaken.
Rest assured, this is normal behavior.
7. Check And Maintain The Temperature Of The Aquarium
Necessary installations can be made to bring the aquarium’s temperature to the optimum. It should equally be noted that different fishes have different temperature preferences.
Some fishes grow well in higher temperatures, while others thrive under cooler conditions.
The answer to this lies in formidable research. When you know everything about the fish you are bringing to the aquarium, you can easily create the best environment for them.
8. Regularly Clean Your Aquarium
This might not be done right away after set up.
But your aquarium will require regular cleaning to keep the fish healthy and make the whole system neat.
It is recommended, however, to allow the fish habitat to settle down for some 2-3 weeks, after which you can carry out cleaning on it.
Also, be careful not to interrupt with water gravels during the first month when doing the cleaning.
This has the effect of disturbing the multiplication of beneficial bacteria.
Your filters will also require gentle cleaning. Filter media must be kept undisturbed for a couple of weeks.
Final Words
Rearing fish in an aquarium is a lot of fun.
It brings contentment and a great sense of accomplishment.
As noted, however, it is not an easy task.
It requires active preparedness, research, and resources once you have all that at your disposal.
It’s possible to design a magnificent aquarium in your garage where you will be spending your time beholding these amazing water creatures.
Related
References
https://www.aqueon.com/articles/6_tips_for_setting_up_a_new_fish_tank
https://www.fyldewatergardens.co.uk/how-to-set-up-a-fish-tank/
