How to Set up a Tropical Fish Aquarium
A freshwater tropical aquarium can be an eye-catching addition to your home that can be both attractive to look at and beneficial. It will be a source of enjoyment to visitors to your home and your family and both children and adults will be enthralled and entertained. For a novice setting up a tropical fish tank aquarium for the first time we’ve put together some guidelines to help you to to set up and enjoy your new fish tank and to keep it healthy and looking gorgeous.
Explore the species of fish you will be placing in your aquarium before going to buy your fish. Make certain you find out how big the fish will grow and the number that can be comfortably housed in the tank when they are mature. An overstocked tank will not be a healthy tank! Then check the types of fish that can be kept together. A tank that contains several species of fish that live peacefully together is known as a community tank. A number of fish, for example rosy barbs and tiger barbs, might be all right when they are immature but mature into aggressive bullies. There are lots of fish that can be placed in a community tank including Neon Tetra, Rainbowfish, Hatchetfish, Leopard Catfish, Platy, Guppy, Molly, Harlequin Rasbora, Lyretail, Penguin Fish, Pearl Gourami, Head Tail Light Tetra, Opaline Gourami, Horseface Loach and loads more.
Now that your tank is stocked here are several tips to help to look after it:
* Don’t overfeed - Rotting food left in the tank will give off toxic chemicals and damage your fish. Only put in as much food as the fish are able to finish off in approximately 3 minutes, two times a day. Fish are intended to be hungry the majority of the time and if they do not approach to the top of the tank when you start to feed them you are giving them too much!
* Every fortnight partially change the water. Wipe the glass often with an algae scraper and now and then take out the decorations and rocks to remove any algae. Don’t change all the water or wash out the filter, decorations, rocks etc all together same time. This will remove all the beneficial microorganisms that you worked so hard to establish when you set up the aquarium and stress the fish as the levels of ammonia rise.
* Top up the tank when necessary with water that is free of chlorine. If you prefer not to use de chlorinate the water with chemicals, set aside a covered bucket of tap water for two days to allow the chlorine to disperse
* For new fish or fish that develop any symptoms you should have a small quarantine aquarium. Put any newly bought fish into the quarantine tank for at least a week to avoid introducing parasites and diseases into your main aquarium.
* Continue to test the water for nitrite, pH and ammonia levels two or three times a week to notice any problems before stress is caused to the fish. If ammonia or nitrite levels increase a partial water change can often correct things without resorting to any chemicals.
Finally enjoy your new pets and think about joining a local tropical fish association. Talking with other tropical fish enthusiasts is a good way to discover more about your new hobby.
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