A beautiful aquarium is a real decoration for any home. But arranging an aquarium is a rather complicated matter, in which there are no trifles - any wrong action can lead to the death of fish and plants. One of the most important steps in preparing an aquarium is the selection of the substrate and its installation.
Instructions
Step 1
The well-being of the inhabitants of the aquarium and the plants planted in it directly depends on the quality of the soil. Remember that you cannot use fine sand in the aquarium, the plants in it will feel very bad. Use only coarse sand and fine gravel with a diameter of 3-10 mm. The gravel should be rounded, that is, it should not have sharp edges. Try to select and sift the soil so that its grains of sand are about the same size, this is important for good plant growth.
Step 2
There is often advice in the aquarium literature to pickle the aquarium soil with acid to neutralize the calcium and magnesium salts. If you are not using limestone or marble as a substrate, this is not necessary. In a decorative aquarium, most aquarium fish do well in fairly hard water.
Step 3
After choosing a soil, rinse it well. Rinse until absolutely clear water comes out of the bowl with sand. Sometimes it is advised not to completely wash the soil from the clay, as it promotes plant growth. The water in the aquarium remains slightly cloudy for the first two to three days, then the clay settles and the water becomes clear. Alternatively, small clay balls placed in the ground can be used to feed the plants. You can lay these balls directly under the roots of the planted plants.
Step 4
The soil is prepared, proceed with its installation. Remember that soil is never put into an aquarium with water already poured. First, carefully place the soil in the aquarium, then put a saucer on it and gently pour water on the saucer. The saucer will protect the soil from erosion.
Step 5
After filling a third of the aquarium with water, remove the saucer and start planting the plants. Having landed them, carefully, out of the ladle, fill the remaining volume of the aquarium with water. Pour it out so as not to create strong currents. Let the aquarium stand for two to three days, and only then start the fish into it. This time is necessary in order to remove all excess air and chlorine residues - in the event that you use ordinary tap water.
