The Absolute Beginner's First Stop

[InaneCathode]

BACKGROUNDS

I have yet to see on the internets any solid step by step for installing a background film for the home aquarium. I hope this will answer any questions like the ones i had.

Selecting your background!
This is pretty much subjective. The average lfs (read local fish store, not local petsmart) would and should have a rack or two of aquarium backgrounds. They range from the modest (uniform blue, shiney black, a nice planted look) to the rediculous (castles, rediculously bright reefs etc). It seems a concensus (to me at least) that shiny black backgrounds look the best in most circumstances. Of course you should get what you find appealing, but if you're reading this i personally suggest going with the shiny black until you get more familiar with aquarium decoration.
Make sure you get the right height of background film! If you end up with too short of film, you'll end up wasting your money and buying the right kind. If you end up with too tall of film, you'll end up wasting your money AND time by cutting it down to size (with probably crooked cut lines)

Preparing your tank!
It's best to do this process when your tank isn't set up. If it is already setup it won't be too painful, just a couple extra steps i'll list here:
- Unplug EVERYTHING. Not only will this free up some movement for your components, it's also a good safegaurd to prevent you from killing yourself with mains current.
- Clean and dry your tank (every side) clean with a dry rag if possible. If not, use a mild vinegar solution. Do every side now so you dont have to scrub it down in the future.
If you're patient enough to have not setup your tank yet, you're ready to continue.
Make sure the back of your tank is clean! I cannot stress this enough. Your background will look like total crap if you've left drip marks, debris, cat hair, grit and so forth stuck to the back of your tank.
Get your tank out in the open on a clean flat work surface This is going to make things SO much easier once you get started, trust me on this one.

Preparing your background!
With a meter/yard stick (or a really accurate tape measure) measure the dimensions of the back of your tank (or the front if you're a clever bastard). Edge to edge width wise is fine, shave off a glass width off of your final width measurement. Measure the height. This can be a bit trickier as most tanks have a plastic rim that goes above the height of your glass. If this is the case, shave off half an inch or so from your height measurement.
Take your background film, and place it so the surface you DON'T want showing is up. CAREFULLY measure out your background with the vector of your measurements (point where you start measuring from) is the part that doesnt have the barcode strip on it (if yours has one). Make several measure points from the bottom and use your handy yard stick to make a line between them. (Seriously, make a line. It doesnt matter how steady of a hand you have, if you try to free lance this part you WILL end up with a goofy crooked cut)
Carefully trim down these lines. You now have a background ready to be mounted!

Mounting your background!
If your tank doesnt have a plastic rim around the top of it, kindly skip this part and continue onto 'the slippery part'
Now, this is the tricky part. Turn your background so the part you want showing in the tank is facing out towards the front of the tank. Take the top corner (doesnt matter which) and try gently to poke the corner up under the top rim. You probably won't get this right the first, second, or third time. Keep trying, it will go in. It'll help at this point to view the tank from the inside to see your progress. With the corner stuck in, slowly slide your finger along the bottom of the rim and at the same time work the background film up under the rim. If you can't get it to go in, keep trying, you'll get it. When you get to the end and find out your background is too long to edge it in, take it out and trim off an eight of an inch from the length of the film, try again. Repeat until the background is slid up under the rim all the way around.
The slippery part.
Shift your background left and right until you're satisfied that it is centered, and it covers the back of the tank completely. You really want to make sure theres no empty slits at either end, you wont be able to fix it later. Once you're happy, raid your mom's pantry and pilfer her bottle of vegetable oil, along with a heap of paper towels (most of which you'll use when you spill the oil all over your floor). Much like you'd douse a cotton ball with alchohol, douse your folded square of paper towel with veggie oil. Lift your background up and start wiping the oil all over the back of your tank. Make SURE you get the WHOLE thing. Top edge included. (If you cant see what you've covered and what you havent, look at it from an angle from the top-inside of your tank) Pause for a minute to wipe your hands off, wipe your shirt off, wipe your floor off and wipe your face off. Done? Good. Now, lower your background (top edge still stuck under the rim!) onto the newly oiled surface. Making sure your edge is still stuck in, run your finger down the middle of your background pressing it to the glass. Grab your handy CD Jewel case (i'm sure you have one, everyone has at least 80 in any room at and time) and without pressing too hard, squeegee out towards the edges of your tank from your center line. Look from outside the front of the tank to see all the bubbles you missed, and squeegee those out too.
Make sure you've gotten all the bubbles out from under the film, make sure the edges are done, attend to that lake of veggie oil on the floor and you're DONE!

 

[Miss Wiggle]

BACKGROUNDS

I have yet to see on the internets any solid step by step for installing a background film for the home aquarium. I hope this will answer any questions like the ones i had.

Selecting your background!
This is pretty much subjective. The average lfs (read local fish store, not local petsmart) would and should have a rack or two of aquarium backgrounds. They range from the modest (uniform blue, shiney black, a nice planted look) to the rediculous (castles, rediculously bright reefs etc). It seems a concensus (to me at least) that shiny black backgrounds look the best in most circumstances. Of course you should get what you find appealing, but if you're reading this i personally suggest going with the shiny black until you get more familiar with aquarium decoration.
Make sure you get the right height of background film! If you end up with too short of film, you'll end up wasting your money and buying the right kind. If you end up with too tall of film, you'll end up wasting your money AND time by cutting it down to size (with probably crooked cut lines)

Preparing your tank!
It's best to do this process when your tank isn't set up. If it is already setup it won't be too painful, just a couple extra steps i'll list here:
- Unplug EVERYTHING. Not only will this free up some movement for your components, it's also a good safegaurd to prevent you from killing yourself with mains current.
- Clean and dry your tank (every side) clean with a dry rag if possible. If not, use a mild vinegar solution. Do every side now so you dont have to scrub it down in the future.
If you're patient enough to have not setup your tank yet, you're ready to continue.
Make sure the back of your tank is clean! I cannot stress this enough. Your background will look like total crap if you've left drip marks, debris, cat hair, grit and so forth stuck to the back of your tank.
Get your tank out in the open on a clean flat work surface This is going to make things SO much easier once you get started, trust me on this one.

Preparing your background!
With a meter/yard stick (or a really accurate tape measure) measure the dimensions of the back of your tank (or the front if you're a clever bastard). Edge to edge width wise is fine, shave off a glass width off of your final width measurement. Measure the height. This can be a bit trickier as most tanks have a plastic rim that goes above the height of your glass. If this is the case, shave off half an inch or so from your height measurement.
Take your background film, and place it so the surface you DON'T want showing is up. CAREFULLY measure out your background with the vector of your measurements (point where you start measuring from) is the part that doesnt have the barcode strip on it (if yours has one). Make several measure points from the bottom and use your handy yard stick to make a line between them. (Seriously, make a line. It doesnt matter how steady of a hand you have, if you try to free lance this part you WILL end up with a goofy crooked cut)
Carefully trim down these lines. You now have a background ready to be mounted!

Mounting your background!
If your tank doesnt have a plastic rim around the top of it, kindly skip this part and continue onto 'the slippery part'
Now, this is the tricky part. Turn your background so the part you want showing in the tank is facing out towards the front of the tank. Take the top corner (doesnt matter which) and try gently to poke the corner up under the top rim. You probably won't get this right the first, second, or third time. Keep trying, it will go in. It'll help at this point to view the tank from the inside to see your progress. With the corner stuck in, slowly slide your finger along the bottom of the rim and at the same time work the background film up under the rim. If you can't get it to go in, keep trying, you'll get it. When you get to the end and find out your background is too long to edge it in, take it out and trim off an eight of an inch from the length of the film, try again. Repeat until the background is slid up under the rim all the way around.
The slippery part.
Shift your background left and right until you're satisfied that it is centered, and it covers the back of the tank completely. You really want to make sure theres no empty slits at either end, you wont be able to fix it later. Once you're happy, raid your mom's pantry and pilfer her bottle of vegetable oil, along with a heap of paper towels (most of which you'll use when you spill the oil all over your floor). Much like you'd douse a cotton ball with alchohol, douse your folded square of paper towel with veggie oil. Lift your background up and start wiping the oil all over the back of your tank. Make SURE you get the WHOLE thing. Top edge included. (If you cant see what you've covered and what you havent, look at it from an angle from the top-inside of your tank) Pause for a minute to wipe your hands off, wipe your shirt off, wipe your floor off and wipe your face off. Done? Good. Now, lower your background (top edge still stuck under the rim!) onto the newly oiled surface. Making sure your edge is still stuck in, run your finger down the middle of your background pressing it to the glass. Grab your handy CD Jewel case (i'm sure you have one, everyone has at least 80 in any room at and time) and without pressing too hard, squeegee out towards the edges of your tank from your center line. Look from outside the front of the tank to see all the bubbles you missed, and squeegee those out too.
Make sure you've gotten all the bubbles out from under the film, make sure the edges are done, attend to that lake of veggie oil on the floor and you're DONE!

can i recommend you edit out the swear words... this is a family forum and beginners are often young

 

[SuperColey1]

Using Veggie Oil will make your room stink like a fish & Chip shop, and could get worse over time as it 'goes off'. I would suggest the ages old favourite lubrication Vaseline or at lease some other petroleum jelly. (and as stated in the previous post, this is a family forum, so no vaseline jokes please' LOL

I suppose you could 'wipe' some diluted silicon sealant over the film and use that, but I should think its a bit too thick and unmanageable

 

[InaneCathode]

Using Veggie Oil will make your room stink like a fish & Chip shop, and could get worse over time as it 'goes off'. I would suggest the ages old favourite lubrication Vaseline or at lease some other petroleum jelly. (and as stated in the previous post, this is a family forum, so no vaseline jokes please' LOL

I suppose you could 'wipe' some diluted silicon sealant over the film and use that, but I should think its a bit too thick and unmanageable

It doesnt smell at all, and if you didnt spill any it won't go off. Veggie oil only smells and goes bad if you cook it first.

 

[xoedusk]

BACKGROUNDS

I have yet to see on the internets any solid step by step for installing a background film for the home aquarium. I hope this will answer any questions like the ones i had.

I think this is a great detailed guide, one that could possibly be used as a "click here for more information on installing your background." For the purposes here, it may be a bit too detailed, but something that should definitely be saved for future reference.

If a section on backgrounds is to be included, how about listing the different types (moss walls, background films, none), perhaps with pictures of each?

 

[InaneCathode]

BACKGROUNDS

I have yet to see on the internets any solid step by step for installing a background film for the home aquarium. I hope this will answer any questions like the ones i had.

I think this is a great detailed guide, one that could possibly be used as a "click here for more information on installing your background." For the purposes here, it may be a bit too detailed, but something that should definitely be saved for future reference.

If a section on backgrounds is to be included, how about listing the different types (moss walls, background films, none), perhaps with pictures of each?

Perhaps, that's actually a good idea. Make a section called 'deco' or somat.

 

[SuperColey1]

[/quote]

It doesnt smell at all, and if you didnt spill any it won't go off. Veggie oil only smells and goes bad if you cook it first.
[/quote]

I'll take your word on the not going off thing but I have to tell you it does smell. Open a brand new bottle and sniff. I promise you, anyway vaseline matey and loads of it lol. ya can't beat a good bit of vaseline.

 

[InaneCathode]

It doesnt smell at all, and if you didnt spill any it won't go off. Veggie oil only smells and goes bad if you cook it first.
[/quote]

I'll take your word on the not going off thing but I have to tell you it does smell. Open a brand new bottle and sniff. I promise you, anyway vaseline matey and loads of it lol. ya can't beat a good bit of vaseline.
[/quote]

Fish flakes reek too when you jam your nose in the container but they dont stink up your room when you open it

 

[SuperColey1]

No offence but I put the lid on the fish flakes afterwards and that tends to lock the smell away again. The oil would be out permanently.

Anyway I wasn't trying to put anyone down because I think that guide is well written and a very good idea,

In fact at the minute I'm leaning towards a black background with brighter lights so I will probs use this guide (I was making a DIY background which I'm still working on but if that looks crap when i've done it. I'm gonna go for the plain black and let the lights and plants do the aesthetic part.

 

[xoedusk]

Tank Maintenance

Weekly tank maintenance is vital to the health of your fish. For example, if you have read the bit on cycling, you'll know that deadly nitrates can normaly only be removed through water changes. Live plants can help some, but for the beginner, this is normally not an option. In addition, if you only top-up your tank's water due to evaporation, minerals present in your tap water slowly build up to toxic levels. Water changes are necessary no matter what your tank set up.

Maintenance usually involves scraping algae, cleaning the gravel/sand/substrate, removing and replacing about 1/4 (25%) of the water, and, if necessary, cleaning filters. You must be careful about cleaning your filters; if done improperly, your tank will have to re-cycle.

You can find a detailed guide here.

 

[Torrean]

this is a thread I made about sand VS Gravel.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=180713&hl=

 

[MHunt]

Cycling

I think what many people forget is that when we talk about cycling the tank, it's actually the biological filter media we are cycling not the tank. Once the filter is cycled, the mature media can be used to seed another tank with bacteria or donate some of the mature media to kick start the cycle. In many cases the tank wouldn't cycle at all as a good bacteria colony will multiply rapidly in a matter of days. Cloning is the term used when we cycle a filter by running it in a tank that has a mature filter, Or by transferring some, perhaps half of the mature media into the new filter. In short, once you have a mature filter running, you should never have to cycle a tank again. By the same token if you decide to upgrade the filter on a particular tank, you should be quite successful by simply putting the mature filter media out of the existing filter into the new one, be it an internal power, hob, external canister etc. Of course you should monitor the water parameters by doing regular tests and observing the behaviour of your fish to make sure all is well.

When we talk about a mature tank, this is a complete tank setup that has been running for at least 6 months, where bacteria has also colonised the other surfaces in the tank, the gravel, the glass and ornaments. This adds to the stability of the tank eco system so more delicate fish such as cardinal tetras or harlequin rasboras would be more successful.

A final point. One of the reasons it is suggested to overfilter a coldwater tank, is not for the amount of mess that fish such as goldfish make (even though they do), but the bacteria can not motabolise as quickly, so you need a larger colony to support the fish in the tank.

Water Testing

One important thing to consider when fishkeeping is water testing. Without checking the water quality you have no way of knowing if the tank is cycled, if there are levels of harmful chemicals or pollutants in the water. Every fishkeeper should have a test kit of some form or another. What you always need to be testing for is Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate and pH. Don't get your NitrIte or NitrAte mixed up. NitrIte is toxic and will kill your fish in relatively low levels, NitrAte is harmless unless in quite high levels above 100 parts per million.

You will notice on most forums, as soon as you mention you have a problem, you will be asked what your water stats are. This is the first indicator that something is wrong. An ammonia spike can mean you have a dead fish in your than that is decomposing in the tank or you are overfeeding, if you don't test the water you may never know. A change in your pH can be the reason your fish are acting strangely.