Aquarium Tips for Tropical Fish
Freshwater Fish Aquarium Care
When obtaining your starter aquarium one of the things to consider is what type of fish do you want. If you compare freshwater fish to salt water fish you will probably find it is easier to care for the freshwater variety because they are usually hardier fish than the saltwater variety. When setting up your basic aquarium you will require a tank, some substrate to line the bottom of the tank like rocks or gravel you will need some lighting and a filter. Choose fish that are compatible with each other and live within the same temperature range. Temperature is not the only consideration, they should also be compatible with the ph level of the water and also the food requirements should be similar. Fish of a comparative size should also be considered. If fish are not of similar size you could have trouble. It is said that if a fish is small enough to fit into the mouth of another fish then that’s where it will end up. This should not discourage you but do not be surprised if you wake up and find same fish missing one day as sometimes fish that have lived together for a while can suddenly turn on each other.
With a new aquarium introduce a more hardy type of fish. In a new aquarium the nitrate levels present can be higher and hardier fish can better tolerate the higher nitrate levels. Choose fish such as gouramis, danios and barbs and live bearing fish. When increasing your stock do introduce more than three to four new fish per week. Acclimatisation times vary with different species of fish and you should check with your aquatic store expert before introducing new fish.
When feeding the fish you should only give enough food that can be consumed in the first two to five minutes and it should be given twice per day. One of the worst things you can do is overfeed the fish and this is a common mistake new aquarium keepers make. Excess food will either float on the surface or sink into the substrate and will become debris which will soon make the fish tank dirty. Water should be circulated and tested once every week to keep it properly regulated. The test should check the ph levels and water temperature and they should be immediately readjusted if necessary to avoid causing stress and health problems to the fish. One of the major factors in causing illness to your fish is stress. Fish activity should be monitored as it is important for there overall wellbeing that everything is right in the aquarium. When looking after your fish signs of stress will become fairly obvious. If your fish is moving slower than normal a stress coat can be obtained from a reputable pet store in your area. Another area which can cause stress, and the newer aquarium keeper should be aware of is overcrowding the fish tank. Take advice from your local aquatic store experts on how many fish you should keep in your tank to avoid causing stress.
To avoid disturbing the fish and other inhabitants of your aquarium only change about 25% to 30 % of the water at any one time. This job should be done every second or third week. The easiest way to remove the water from your aquarium is using a tube to siphon it off. A bucket can also be used. At the same time remove any debris or dead leaves from your plants. The new water to be added to the aquarium should be the same temperature as the water in the tank give or take a couple of degrees to avoid stressing the fish. Remove algae build up on the sides of the tank on a regular basis and the inside of the tank should be scrubbed to avoid the build up of the algae. Wash your hands both before and after handling the aquarium and try not to disturb the fish too much. Filters are used in the tank to collect any debris and leftover fish food so should be cleaned regularly. Read the manufacturer of the filters instructions and adhere to them for changing or cleaning the filters on a regular basis to keep your aquarium fish healthy and your filters operating correctly. If the filters are not cleaned or changed regularly then they cannot function correctly and will cause a major problem in your aquarium.
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