A bird aviary is an enclosure or unit that is used to house birds. It is mostly constructed and kept outdoors. Constructing a bird aviary is fairly easy but there some certain factors to consider when deciding the location or place to put the bird aviary.

A bird aviary has to be constructed in a way the keeps the birds protected from snow, sunlight, thunderstorms or rain, intruders should not access the aviary easily, it should be away from noisy roads and avoid placing it under a tree because certain unwanted things may fall into it. The size of the aviary should be constructed in a way that it can accommodate an extra number of birds in the future when need arises.

The size of the aviary will depend on size of birds. It should have equal panels and a gate should be included to make its easier for the birds to enter. The aviary should be big enough to have a view of the surrounding area; the recommended size of the panels should be a two by four of equal size, these panels should be fastened together with galvanized nails.

Perches should be placed inside the aviary where the birds can roost on at night usually they are made of wood and can be got from any bird shop. The perches should be many to provide a place where the birds can make a nest. The roof should be constructed with materials that will keep the inside of the aviary dry and the feeder should be placed in a way that it does not interfere with the birds while flying around the aviary.

The floor of the aviary should be easy to clean, ceramic tiles or concrete can be used for the flooring. Sand or wood shavings can be put on the ceramic or concrete tile to create comfort and warmth. A wire mesh should be used on each panel to avoid your birds from flying away usually a double wire mesh should be sufficient. It is important to note that when building the aviary with wood, take into consideration the type of wood you are going to use, there are some trees that are poisonous to some different type of birds. Building an aviary does not require expertise and information on the steps to take and the materials one can use to build one can be easily accessed from the internet.

Freshwater fish are very easy to take care of, in comparison with the saltwater species. You need a basic aquarium setting with some rocks and sand at the bottom of the tank. You will also need water filtration system, a lightning system and an air pump. Make sure the fish are compatible with the pH level of the water and always choose the proper food type.

Another important fact is choosing the size of the fish. The breeders recommend that the fish in the same aquarium have the same size or with small differences between them. If a small fish fits in the mouth of another one, it is the end of it.

Sometimes, fish disappear for no reason. Don’t worry if that happens. Be careful not to overcrowd the tank by buying too many fish.

Freshwater fish like to be fed twice a day. Don’t put too much food in the tank. Just drop a small amount that can be eaten in the first two to five minutes.

Many new fish owners tend to over feed the fish. It is not good because the food that is not eaten becomes debris and will make the tank dirty and even develop bacteria.

Also, don’t forget to regulate the water and test it once a week.

If you notice discrepancies in the pH levels and water temperature, correct them immediately before it causes damage in the fish’s health.

From time to time, observe the fish inside the aquarium and notice their general state. Notice if they are stressed or not or any lethargic movement.

Once at every two weeks do a general cleaning and water changing. Use a siphon or a bucket to change the water, remove all the debris, loose plants and dead fish. Scrub the walls of the tank and remove the algae. The new added water must be within two degrees of the tank water.

Move the fish outside the tank, in another tank or bucket.Before doing any cleaning, wash your hands carefully. If you use some new equipment, read all the instructions carefully before using them. Also clean the air pumps and the water filtration systems.The systems can not function properly if they are filled.

Choose fish that resist to the different changes in the tank water. Some resistant species are the barbs, the danios, the gouramis and live bearers.

If you bring new fish into the aquarium, introduce maximum four fish per week. The acclimation time is different from species to species and it is better this way.

When you think about becoming a fish owner, the first care is the fish species and other fish ornaments.

But before jumping and buying the fish and putting them into the tank, you must know that the tank needs to undergo a cycle before fish are added. It is called the nitrogen cycle. This cycle takes time between one day and four weeks.

Some bacteria help the breakdown of ammonia to nitrates. These bacteria are formed by existing fish. If there are no fish or fish food, there are no sources for good bacteria also.

The nitrogen cycle can be described like this: the fish eat the food and they generate the waste. All the waste, including dead plant and other debris transform into ammonia in the tank water. This ammonia is toxic for the fish and it has to be broken down. Here is where the nitrifying bacteria plays a role. The bacteria is important because turns the ammonia into nitrites which are tolerated by fish. After the process is done, another type of good nitrifying bacteria turns the nitrites into nitrates, less toxic to the fish and other aquarium life.

These nitrates get collected by the filters and regular water changes will remove all the waste and nitrates.

So, in conclusion, before getting the fish into the water set up the aquarium. Wash the tank with cleaners proper for fish tanks. Don’t use regular cleaners or soap. De-chlorinate the water and fill the tank with it. Attach the filters and the lightning system. Allow the tank to cycle the water until the pH level is the one you need and the water temperature is proper.

Only after that, buy the fish. Buy some resistant fish species like barb, danios, gouramis, and live bearers. They resist to all the new changes and the inevitable mistakes a new fish owner does. But before you poor the fish into the tank, put the plastic bag in the tank water and hold it there for about a quarter of an hour till the fish get used to the water temperature of the tank. In this way, they will not suffer a shock when they hit water. Take the fish from the plastic bag and put them in the tank or can change the pH level of the tank water.

After this, you will want to feed the fish. Wait a little. Give them time to get accustomed with the new house and after a couple of hours try feeding them.

Drop a small amount of fish food. Usually, drop an amount that can be eaten in the first two or five minutes. Don’t over feed the fish because you will not do them any good. The food excess will drop on the bottom and become debris. The debris can help the development of bacteria and that can affect the fish’s health.

In the first month, test the pH level every day and adjust it when necessary. If the water is not clear enough add a clarifier. If the water turns green, you have put too much light. Also monitor the fish for illness and stress. Watch to see if there are lethargic movements in the fish.

After one week, change 10% of the water in the tank and a week after that begin the regular maintenance.

Today’s pollution makes is harder for people to get close to nature and live in a green environment. Just like apartment plants, the aquariums are small pieces of nature brought indoor. Because of the bad water and air, people are trying their best to preserve these green ecosystems. Nowadays the tanks are built by people with a lot of skills and they look a lot like real water environments. But with that, the aquarium still remains a copy of the real nature.

Some of the tanks built today are full of options like lowering or raising the water level or the light intensity. You can do that automatically due to some range of switches which allow you to change the light or the water level when ever you want, for how long you want.

The filtration systems help keep the water clean and also the pollutants level to a minimum. Besides that, in your tank you can put a lot of plants and fish and the automatic mechanisms keep them healthy. Automatic devices tend to do everything. They can even feed the fish and dosage the food level. Today, the intelligent tanks come in many shapes and sizes and the electrical system in them is very advanced.

The result is a beautiful aquarium that can help you relax after a hard day at work and choosing one has become an easy task. The offer on the market is quite large and diverse. You can choose depending on the size, walls thickness, weight or security. The larger tanks have a weight of 20 gallons. The walls are usually made of glass and they are joined together by silicon sealants.

Does this silicon sealant affect the fish? The majority of the sealants used in tanks are non-toxic. But you should always be careful and choose tanks where the sealant is less or more than 1 mm or 1/16 inches.

Where do I put the aquarium? Which is the best place? Before choosing a place for the aquarium, you should take into consideration a few characteristics like the tank size, the type of the fish or the light levels. For example, an aquarium should be placed on a sturdy stand. You can calculate the size of the tank by multiplying the length of it, the width, height and the water capacity. If you have a gallon of water in the tank, then your tank weights around 10 pounds with just the water. For larger tanks multiply the result by 1000. Besides making sure that the stand is strong enough, also make sure the floor under the stand can support the tank. Place the aquarium close to the wall or right against it. It is safer this way. It is good to avoid placing the tank in spots with high traffic or near doors or windows.

How do I pick the aquarium equipment? Besides a strong stand, you need some things for tank maintenance. You will need a heater, thermostat, lighting system, and a good filtration system. There are many filtration systems to choose from: mechanical, chemical or biological. You will need a bucket and a net to clean the water and of course, a lot of fish food. Also, buy some plants or other objects of decoration: stones, roots and sand. Don’t forget about different substances to keep the water clean: chlorine or other water conditioners. In addition, you will need a bucket and net.

What criteria should I use in choosing filters? There are many filtration systems. Some are biological, some chemical, or mechanical. Either one is good but you should talk to a person from the pet shop because sometimes, different fish species need a specific kind of filtration system. Always keep in mind that the filters include internal, external, and the under-gravel filtration systems. The under-gravel is less recommended. The medium price for a good system is around $150.