| 1. The Tank? | | | | inches then you could have 36 one inch fish or 18 |
| Whether you have an acrylic or glass tank it must be | | | | two inch fish etc. |
| sterilized before you can start putting anything in it. | | | | And also take into account the fishes particular |
| And you must have a hood/cover/canopy to reduce | | | | swimming and behavioral characteristics.Introduce the |
| water loss by evaporation, stop the fish from | | | | fish into the tank by keeping them in their plastic bag |
| jumping out and it holds your lighting system | | | | till the water temperature equalizes that of the |
| 2. What About Heating The Water? | | | | aquarium. You could add some of the aquarium water |
| You need to maintain the water temperature by | | | | to the bag. Then release the fish into its new |
| means of a heater and thermostat combination. For | | | | environment |
| tanks greater than 3 feet in length you may need a | | | | 8. Is The Diet And Feed Correct? |
| couple of these to ensure an even temperature | | | | Generally speaking fishes do not have specific dietary |
| throughout.Thermostats can be either internal or | | | | requirements though its is always best practice to do |
| external to the tank and must be adjustable by the | | | | a bit of research and determine if a particular species |
| aquarist. A thermometer will be needed to check the | | | | your have has any. Dried foods area available in a |
| temperature | | | | wide range of forms; flakes,pellets, tablets and |
| 3. How Much Lighting? | | | | powder. Live foods can also be introduced to give a |
| You will need sufficient lighting to encourage plant | | | | varied diet. |
| growth but not too much giving you an algae | | | | Included in this category are insect larvae, |
| problem. Use fluorescent tubes or tungsten lighting or | | | | micro-worms, freshwater crustaceans, and brine |
| a combination of the two. Experiment to achieve the | | | | shrimp young.If vegetarian diets are needed use |
| desired result. Lighting the aquarium for ten to twelve | | | | lettuce, oat flakes and chopped up spinach. It is |
| hours per day is common | | | | important to make sure that the fishes only eat |
| 4. What About Filtration and Aeration? | | | | what you feed them in a few minutes. Otherwise |
| A filtration unit (internal or external) to the tank will | | | | the excess food will rot and pollute the water |
| remove suspended material from the water. An air | | | | 9. What Maintenance Do I Need To Do? |
| pump attached to an air stone can aerate the water | | | | Daily: Check on temperature and how the fish look. |
| and boost the oxygen supply along with the small | | | | Weekly: Measure water quality (nitrite, nitrate, |
| amount from the plants; although many do not see | | | | ammonia, pH), prune aquatic plants, remove debris |
| mechanical aeration as compulsory if the aquarium is | | | | from floor, clean and/or filter media. Monthly or |
| properly | | | | longer: Partial water changes of 10-20% of the tank |
| 5. What Do I Put In The Tank? | | | | volume with the water at the same temperature and |
| The bottom of the tank is covered with washed | | | | make up if possible. Algae on the tank front can be |
| gravel substrate arranged so the level rises up | | | | scraped off. The sides can be left for the fish |
| towards the back and deep enough for aquatic plants | | | | 10. What about Illnesses? |
| to be rooted. Rocks can be placed to disguise | | | | Isolating fish is a great way to reduce the chance of |
| corners.Tall plants behind bushier species will give the | | | | illness occurring. Before you add new fish to your |
| impression of depth. The front and foreground of the | | | | community, quarantine them or him/her in an isolation |
| tank will be fairly open for the fishes to swim around | | | | tank for a couple of weeks so you can see if they |
| in | | | | were bought with an illness established. Make the |
| 6. How do I Fill The Tank? | | | | tank comfortable with plants and substrate just like |
| Install the heating and filtration system. Pour water | | | | the main tank and maintain the same conditions. |
| into a cup on the bottom of the tank and continue till | | | | There are some illnesses you need to know about. |
| it the tank is two thirds full. Insert your plants, top | | | | Mouth fungus - cured by antibiotics. White spot - tiny |
| up, switch on heating, lighting and filtration systems. | | | | white spots on the fish. Raised water temperature, |
| Now run your aquarium for at least two weeks to | | | | salt treatment and medications are potential solutions. |
| establish your plants and the biological system before | | | | Fin rot - this infection happens after physical damage |
| adding your fishes | | | | and is cured by antibiotics in clean water. Fungus - |
| 7. How Do I Stock The Aquarium? | | | | appears like cotton wool on the skin. Cured by salt |
| Before you add your fishes calculate how many fish | | | | baths or methylene blue or malachite green |
| you can accommodate based on the surface area of | | | | treatments. Use your isolation tank for treating your |
| the tank. A rough guide for tropical aquarium fish is | | | | ill fish from the main tank. |
| to allow 12 square inches per one inch of fish. For | | | | So there you have it, 10 issues you have conquered |
| example, if your tank's surface area is 408 square | | | | in setting up your tropical freshwater aquarium. |