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Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
about Aquariums
For More Information, call (404) 320-1012 or email.
How much work is it to take care of an aquarium?
- When you hire Aquatic Associates LLC as your professional
aquarium maintenance company,
we do all of the regular maintenance for
you. All you have to do is feed the fish daily. If you go away
for the weekend, don’t feed them extra before you leave,
and don’t have someone else feed them while you are away.
- If you wish to do the maintenance yourself, three to four hours
once a month should take care of about a 100 gallon Fresh Water
aquarium. Three to four hours twice a month should maintain a
100 gallon Salt Water aquarium.
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How should I choose between a Fresh Water
or a Salt Water Aquarium?
- A Fresh Water aquarium is excellent for a relaxing, beautiful
scene.
- A Salt Water aquarium is best when you want the exotic shapes
and colors that are available only with Marine fish.
- A Fresh Water aquarium is usually less expensive than a Salt
Water one because it will work fine on a less sophisticated filtration
system and many of the Fresh Water fish are less expensive than
most of the Salt Water fish.
- If there is little room for support equipment, a Fresh Water
aquarium is the best choice. In some Salt Water systems, we use
an entire closet for the filtration system, and run piping through a wall, under
the floor, or overhead to connect to the aquarium.
- When maximum impact of size, decor and rare fish is desired,
then a Salt Water aquarium is for you.
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Are Salt Water Aquariums more difficult to maintain
than Fresh Water aquariums?
- Yes. They require careful testing and more attention paid to
small details than Fresh Water aquariums.
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How many fish can I have in my aquarium?
Because of the nature of fish and how they live in water, there
is no simple answer.
- You can have more fish per gallon in a Fresh Water aquarium
than you can in salt. In fact, it’s about a 5 to 1 ratio
- you can have about 5 times as many fish in a Fresh Water aquarium
as in a Salt Water aquarium.
- The number of fish you can keep in the aquarium is somewhat
dependent upon the total amount of water in the entire system,
which includes all of the filtration too. In fact, when you go
to a public aquarium, there is usually more water behind the scenes
(in the piping and filtration system) than in the display aquarium.
- The number of fish is not limited by the size of the aquarium,
but by the efficiency of the filtration system.
- The number of fish that the filtration system can support is
actually regulated by the total mass of the fish - that is the
total biological demand on the system. Thus, one large fish puts
the same amount of biological demand on the system as several
smaller fish.
- Shape also affects the number of fish an aquarium can safely
hold. A long, wide aquarium can support more fish than a tall,
narrow one of the same total gallons.
- The temperature of the water affects the amount of oxygen that
the water can hold for the fish to breath. Ideally, the temperature
should be between 72 and 78 degrees F.
- Every system is different because of the amount of light, the
feeding regimen, the specific species in the aquarium and the
temperature of the room and the aquarium.
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How long do fish live?
As a general rule, the life span of the fish is related to the
size of the fish. Larger fish live longer. In practice, we at
Aquatic Associates find that fish in well maintained aquariums
usually live as long or longer than in their natural habitats.
The normal lifespan of some fish is only a few months. Most small
fish live for several years; medium fish, for five to seven years;
and large fish for a decade or more. One Koi in Japan lived for
over 200 years.
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Can I get my new, custom aquarium installed
before the party Friday night?
A usual delivery time for a custom aquarium is about 3 months.
This is why it is important to start early in the design and construction
process for your home or business.
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How soon can I have a fully stocked aquarium?
- A Fresh Water aquarium can be installed and stocked right away.
- A Salt Water aquarium is usually set up with a relatively small
group of fish to “cycle” the filter. Then fish are
added over time so that it can usually be fully stocked by the
end of a few months.
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But aren’t aquariums just a little
“old fashioned”?
Peter Pawlak, architect at Gwathmey Siegel in New York said,
“They have become part of the wall. They have become room
dividers and integrated themselves into other pieces. And they
have become objects of art.”
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How big an aquarium is practical in the home?
Aby Rosen has a 600 gallon aquarium in his kitchen. “To
have this window onto nature and the underwater world is wonderful,”
states architect William Georgis. “It’s calming and
relaxing,” said Rosen, also in a New York Times interview.
Most home aquariums are smaller.
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What are some popular sizes?
Standard sizes for glass aquariums:
58 gallons – 36” long x 18” wide x 21”
tall
75 gallons – 48” long x 18” wide x 21”
tall
110 gallons –60” long x 18” wide x 24”
tall
135 gallons –72” long x 18” wide x 24”
tall
180 gallons –72” long x 24” wide x 24”
tall
200 gallons – 84” long x 24” wide x 24”
tall
Utilizing new glass technologies or acrylic, practically any
size can be built.
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Which is better glass or acrylic
for my aquarium?
Aquatic Associates, LLC, recommends glass for standard sizes
and flat sides. Extra tall, extra long or cylindrical aquariums
should be made from acrylic.
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What if I have more questions?
For More Information, call (404) 320-1012
Or see our About Us page.
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Aquatic Associates, LLC: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Copyright © 2003-2009 Aquatic Associates,
LLC. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
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