| Buy the Tank | | | | common mistake made by beginners so be warned. |
| Firstly you need to decide on a place for your tank in | | | | The pH level should settle to an acceptable level and |
| the house. Find somewhere out of direct sunlight and | | | | the temperature should be normal for all the fish in |
| away from vibration and drafts. You will have a good | | | | the tank. Make sure that everything is in place |
| idea of its possible size once you have decided | | | | including rocks, ornaments and plants before you |
| where it's going. Do not look at any tank which is less | | | | stabilise the tank. |
| than 30 galls capacity that is 36" x 18" x 12". The | | | | Buy the fish |
| reason for this is that larger aquariums are much | | | | Now that the aquarium is stable and has been running |
| more stable and easier to maintain than smaller ones | | | | for about a week, you can go back to the pet store |
| which can go wrong very quickly. | | | | and buy your fish. You need to make sure that the |
| You will find fish tanks made of either glass or the | | | | water conditions (temperature, pH, hardness) suit the |
| more expensive acrylic. Acrylic tanks are much | | | | fish that you buy. It is also important to check that |
| stronger than glass but they do scratch fairly easily. | | | | your selected fish will live in peace together. Lastly |
| Acrylic is a better insulator than glass so electrical | | | | you should use the rule of thumb 'no more than 1 |
| costs may be less. Acrylic is a good choice if children | | | | inch of fish to each gallon of water'. Remember that |
| are afoot but under normal circumstances glass is | | | | your fish are babies when you buy them and they |
| fine. | | | | will grow quite quickly so you should take this into |
| Buy the other equipment | | | | account when applying this formula. The higher your |
| An aquarium will weigh a lot so make sure that | | | | fish population is the more frequently you will need to |
| whatever you support it with is man enough for the | | | | clean the tank. |
| job. | | | | Never just tip your new fish straight into the tank. |
| If you are going to have live plants you will require a | | | | Fish usually travel in water filled plastic bags pumped |
| substrate of some sort. Filtration is a major | | | | up with oxygen, float these in the tank for 20 |
| consideration as well. There are several kinds of | | | | minutes to equalise the temperatures then add some |
| filters ranging from under gravel through external | | | | tank water to the bag water for another 20 minutes |
| filters to power filters. Water treatment equipment is | | | | before gently tipping the newcomers into your tank. |
| completed with one or more heaters and thermostat | | | | Don't be worried when your new arrivals huddle |
| and two or more aeration blocks and pump. | | | | together at the back of the tank for a day or two, |
| If you are going to have live plants then you will | | | | this is perfectly normal. |
| need a timer and high K value lighting. If you're not | | | | It is true to say that fish are cannibals and if a fish is |
| clear what that means then you would be well | | | | of a size that will fit into the mouth of another then |
| advised to seek advice from your fish man. | | | | it will be eaten. The consequence of this is that you |
| Finally you will need a few extra things like a siphonic | | | | should not add small or baby fish to an established |
| gravel cleaner, small net and a rubber glass scraper. | | | | aquarium, the larger fish are going to eat them. |
| Set the tank up | | | | Maintain it |
| Position the under gravel filter if you are using one | | | | Unlike ponds and lakes which reach an equilibrium, |
| and then add the substrate or gravel, finally to it up | | | | your aquarium is not large enough to do this so you |
| with freshwater. Put in place everything else that you | | | | need to clean it out regularly. Roughly about every |
| need like rocks, ornaments, filter system, heater, | | | | two weeks is usually enough. A siphonic 'hoover' |
| thermostat and aeration blocks. As your fish supplier's | | | | should be used to clean the gravel and you should |
| advice about plants if you are a beginner because | | | | remove roughly 1/3 of the aquarium water which |
| they can be a complex subject. Then leave your | | | | should be replaced with treated freshwater. In other |
| tank for about a week to allow the water chemistry | | | | words, tap water which has had its chlorine removed |
| to stabilise and give the important micro-organisms | | | | by the addition of a small amount of chemical. |
| time to grow. | | | | So. in conclusion. To have a relatively trouble free |
| It is absolutely essential that your aquarium has | | | | start with your home freshwater aquarium do what I |
| stabilised before you add any fish to it. It is the most | | | | have described above. |