| Once you have installed your fish tank aquarium you | | | | overwork the bacteria that are dealing with the |
| you will want to take pleasure in your new hobby. | | | | waste and lead to an increase in the levels of |
| Taking care of your new fish tank aquarium is fairly | | | | ammonia and nitrite. |
| easy, nevertheless a number of problems may | | | | Bullying Fish |
| appear, particularly in newly set up aquariums. It all | | | | Do you have a good combination of species in the |
| may look perfectly OK for a short while then bit by | | | | aquarium? A few fish can be OK when young but |
| bit algae begins to grow and overtake the aquarium, | | | | can become bullies when mature. Tiger barbs are |
| the fish start to get sick and die and your newly set | | | | notorious for being bullies. Any bullying fish should be |
| up tank no longer looks like the aquariums in the | | | | taken out and given away! |
| pictures. How did this happen? Why did this happen? | | | | Lack of Water Changes |
| What went so drastically wrong? What can you do | | | | Has the water been partially changed often enough? |
| to correct it? | | | | Although nitrites and ammonia are processed by the |
| Please don't panic and absolutely do not rush off to | | | | beneficial bacteria, they convert these into the less |
| the nearest aquarium supplier, buy remedies and toss | | | | toxic nitrates. However nitrates are not completely |
| them in the aquarium. This will only compound the | | | | non toxic. When the levels of nitrates increase too |
| problems! Something else that novice fish keepers | | | | much they can damage the fish and they must be |
| are inclined to do in a panic is to thoroughly clean out | | | | removed by doing a partial water change. |
| the tank to start again. This is completely wrong as | | | | Adding Chlorine Contaminated Water |
| the useful bacteria in the tank will be tossed out as | | | | Tap water always contains chlorine which is easily |
| well and you will have to recycle the tank again. | | | | dealt with by leaving the water standing for a few |
| You really need to find out what is wrong and slowly | | | | days. Some authorities also add chloramines which |
| correct it, without chemical treatments which could | | | | you can't remove so easily. If your tap water does |
| change the tank's delicate balance even more. | | | | contain chloramines, or you don't know, you should |
| High Concentrations of Deadly Chemicals | | | | add a chemical treatment to deal with them them |
| The worse occurrence is the sudden death of your | | | | before adding the water to the fish tank. |
| fish. Are you sure the tank was cycled properly | | | | Overfeeding The Fish |
| before you added the fish? The most common | | | | Overfeeding is a widespread problem and results in |
| cause of fish dying suddenly is high concentrations of | | | | uneaten, food rotting. This then releases deadly |
| nitrites or ammonia from the fish's waste products. | | | | chemicals that put an extra burden on the bacteria. |
| You will need to use a fish tank test kit to properly | | | | The effect is an abrupt increase in these chemicals |
| check if this is the problem. If proper cycling of the | | | | that can harm the fish. When you are feeding your |
| tank wasn't carried out there will be insufficient | | | | tropical fish ensure you Do not give them more than |
| nitrogen fixing bacteria to cope with with these toxic | | | | they can clear up in roughly 3 minutes. If you can see |
| chemicals, especially if you have a crowded tank. Do | | | | food collecting on the the gravel you have overfed |
| you have too many fish in the tank? This will | | | | them! |