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| Sunday, 5 December 2004 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Pet den How to maintain an aquariam
But having a fish tank means a lot of responsibility because tank maintenance is very important to ensure a healthy environment for your fish. Therefore, before you head out to the shop for a tank and fish, take a few minutes to learn the basics about aquariums. Placing of the tank First, decide where in your home you will be setting up the new fish tank. Since water weighs, even a small tank will be heavy. You may also want to cover the bottom of the tank with a layer of gravel, which will displace some of the water and add to the total weight of the tank. It is not necessary to have gravel but a fish tank looks better with it. A small tank could be placed anywhere in your home, but if you are thinking of a much larger one, think about placing it along an outside or weight bearing wall. Aquariums come in many shapes and sizes. Choose a design that will best fit into, and complement, your home. Next, think about where you intend to place the tank. Too near a window is not the best place as the sunlight will encourage excess algae growth. So choose a site where the tank is stable, out of direct sunlight and safely out of danger of being jostled or cracked. An air pump is another essential item for an aquarium. It helps oxygenate the water. The pump is connected to the electrical supply which is usually a black box that sits behind the aquarium. Some odds and ends that you will need to make your aquarium mainteinance easy are a fish net, fish food and a filter. When setting up the tank, it is important to read all the instructions that come with the filter or any other equipment. It is also important to have a hood with lights for the tank. The hood is needed so the fish don't jump out. The lights in the hood are needed in case you decide to have live plants. Many prefer the natural look that plants give the aquarium. However, if you are not prepared to care for the plants, it is best that you stick with the plastic kind, which do not need maintenance. Plants Plants improve the aquarium environment not just by adding beauty but by converting carbon dioxide produced by the fish into oxygen. Plants also nitrate waste produced by fish into fertiliser.They also give fish natural hiding places. Taller plants tend to look better if you put them around the sides and the back of the aquarium. Floating plants are also popular plants to put in your aquarium. Species such as water lettuce do very well. Floating plants disperse and offer a screening of the tank, creating darkened areas for catfish. Before you add fish you must let the tank run for at least a week, this is the most important step. When adding fish keep in mind to have fish that get along with each other. If you decide to start with tropical fish, you need to make sure they are all compatible. For a beginner it is best to start out with community fish such as guppies, mollies and so on. Fish food Always remember not to crowd the tank, and never add too many fish at once. Overcrowding leads to unhealthy water conditions and adding too many fish, too rapidly, will increase the ammonia in the water to a dangerous level. Fish waste and uneaten food all foul the water and adding more fish into this mix is sure to result in the loss of fish. When the water becomes cloudy or yellow, you're way due for a change of water. Dirty, soiled water leads to stress, illness and growth problems in fish. So never put this duty off for too long. When plastic plants are visibly covered in algae, rinse them in cool water and replace. Never use household chemical cleaners to clean aquarium glass or any other tank accessories. Never use aquarium buckets for anything other than changing water. Buckets contaminated with cleansers, dust and debris can easily cause illness in fish. Cats in Rome
Cats belong to the historic and cultural heritage of Rome and the Romans repay them by taking good care of them. In fact, Rome has even a municipal councillor, Monica Cirinna in charge of animal rights and for her coping with cats is all part of the job. The street cats roam all over the place and tourists are used to seeing colonies of cats moving lazily among ancient ruins, especially those at Largo Argentina, a piazza close to the ancient Colosseum and the Roman Forum with its own ancient temples set below street level. |
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Filled with sparkling clean water, a peaceful assortment of fish and
lush green plants, an aquarium can be a lovely addition to your home and
is something that can be enjoyed by the whole family.
There are about 300,000 cats in the city of Rome. Of this, around
180,000 live in homes and the rest on the streets.
