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Aquarium Safety

The aquarium hobby is usually recommended because it is a “relaxing” one. I mean, who wouldn't like to spend time observing beautifully coloured fishes swimming, eating and playing their little hearts out?

But did anybody tell you that this is a potentially dangerous hobby? Well, there's a good chance that this is your first warning. The purpose of this article is not to scare you or convince you that you need to give up fishkeeping. Rather the purpose of this article is to inform you and to help you to stay safe. You may or may not agree with some of my points, but please take me seriously and read the entire article carefully and thoughtfully.

1. Make sure that you keep small children away from your aquarium. Please, this is very serious. A four year old put a scoop of laundry detergent into his parents cichlid tank because he thought the fish needed a bath. “My child would never do that”, you say. In another instance a small child continually tries to catch a fish (with his net) from his father's marine tank. If the child falls in he will drown, if he pulls the tank over, or if the pressure of him leaning on the tank is too great than he will crack the glass and flood the house.

2. Avoid custom tanks like a plague. There is a very good reason that tanks are designed to be rectangular. This helps circulation, heating and aeration. A triangular tank will not have the correct circulation, causing cold spots in the water as well as other problems. Custom built tanks are often too high, resulting in higher water pressure than what fish can tolerate. This means that you can only fill your tank to a certain level (often half way or three quarters full) which does not display well. Get a rectangular tank rather, knowing that you have not wasted a small fortune building a tank that is only good for aerating water in to use for your next water change.

3. Make sure that your aquarium has a polystyrene base and that it is level on it's stand (before filling it with water). A fish tank needs to be level, otherwise there will be uneven water pressure which can crack the glass and flood your house. Place your tank on a stand made of square tubing, or other suitable metal; never on an old piece of furniture. Make sure that the tank does not stand on a wooden floor, as the weight of the tank on the floor may cause the floor to sag and then it won't be level any more. Place the tank in a room where it will have peace, with the entrance to your home.

4. Electricity and water mix all too well. Make sure that your plugs are in a safe place where water can't be splashed on them. I screw my 5-plug adapters onto the bottom of my aquarium stands. Never place it on the floor. Cutting off a plug will probably void the warrantee of your electrical equipment. Although I find that some cords simply have to be lengthened as 40 cm is simply too short. In the past certain individuals have dropped their ballasts into their tanks and then removed them without unplugging the ballast first. This is extremely dangerous (although some have survived it unharmed) I would not recommend that anyone try this. This could end not only your hobby but your life as well. Unplug any piece of electrical equipment that have fallen into your tank BEFORE you attempt to remove it. Cover your tank, it helps too.

5. Hang your air pump approximately 20 cm above the water level of the tank. This will prevent that water is siphoned through the pipes in cause of a power failure. Even using a one way valve does not ensure that you are safe. I personally witnessed a one way valve fail and water immediately started draining down the pipes and into my air pump.

6. At some point in time (usually once a week) you will find yourself doing water changes. To do this you need to siphon water from the bottom of the tank, into a bucket or suitable container. Please do not drink any of the water. Use a syringe to start the siphon, “Why?”, because the water in your aquarium may contain pathogens and diseases. Many tanks contain salmonella which will make you very ill, although it is one of the less dangerous threats lurking in the water. Never put your hands in the aquarium if you have any cuts, wounds, bites or open sores as this provides the nasties with direct access to your bloodstream. Also never crush a snail, as there is a possibility that the shell will splinter into your finger and cut you. A person almost lost her arm due to a disease that she contracted from crushing snails with her pointer finger. Rather remove snails with your hands.

7. Never feed dead fish to your cat (or any other pets). Some fish die because of disease and you probably don't want to poison your cat now do you?

8. Never carry a fish tank when it is more than 10% full of water. The pressure of the water can cause the glass to crack and flood your house.

9. Don't exercise, e.g. weightlifting in the same room as your fish tank. At least one person has destroyed his tank and flooded his house while exercising too close to his aquarium.

Closing words from the author:

Fishkeeping is a wonderful hobby, do not be discouraged because of the dangers or inconveniences it presents. Rather be aware of them and be stay out of harms way.