I wouldn't say there are any big challenges. Each place has its own peculiarities. If you relocated newly, you may want to know what peculiar aspects you should be aware of before setting up a fish tank.
- PH & hardness- tap water tends to be higher in PH and on the harder side. I usually get a PH level of 7.75 . If you are not comfortable with altering PH levels and hardness, selecting fish that are tolerant to these conditions is advisable. Some fish like discus need soft and acidic water. Others like Bala Sharks are very sensitive to PH changes.
- Space constraints- majority of people in Dubai live in apartments. Keeping stock of hoses, pipes, stand by/ breeding/ quarantine tanks and drums for storing tap water for temperature adjustment and dechlorination may be difficult.
- Air conditioning- most of the homes will have a air conditioners running around the clock and you will find aquarium lights on almost always for tropical tanks. Acrylic tanks seem to be a prudent choice for tropical fish and glass tanks for cold water fish since glass conducts heat easily.
- Chlorine- I haven't tested chlorine and chloramine of tap water yet. But aquarium supply companies have issued enough caveats. For small tanks, water drawn straight from a home water purifier may resolve chlorine, chemical and hardness problem at one go. You may need to add dechlorination chemicals every time you change water.
- Hot water- from May till October, tap water will be extremely hot and adding this direct to tank can be fatal. Storing water in a container may prove hard and tedious. If you keep the home water heater permanently off, you should be able to get cold water from the hot water tap! Also, restrict water changes to 10-15% of tank capacity at more frequency instead of standard 1/3 change during summer.
- Resources- aquarium supply stores seem to be fewer and smaller in Dubai, compared to other cities. Finding fish may not pose a problem, but search for plants, quality equipment and natural decoration can be challenging . A separate post is intended on this topic.
- Vacations- Trend here is that the whole family usually go on vacation, sometimes up to a month. If this is your case, you need to have a solid vacation plan. How to keep your fish safe and fed while you are not around is a challenge indeed.
- Expert help- I do not know any vet in Dubai who treats sick fish. Aquarium store personnel may not be experts in this either. You need to know at least the basics of fish health and illnesses.
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