| Location of your aquarium | | | | want fishes to die in our new fish tank. It is also not |
| So, you bought your very first fish tank. And you | | | | recommended to use feeder fishes for this task, as |
| probably already decided where to place it. But keep | | | | they often carry diseases. |
| in mind that a fish tank filled with water is much | | | | Prawn method is easy, throw them in and wait. But |
| heavier than it seems. So please, place it on | | | | be prepared for the smell. |
| something strong and stable. | | | | Commercial products are not the most reliable. Most |
| It is also advisable to keep your fish tank away from | | | | of us would wonder how much shelf life do these |
| direct, or even indirect, sunlight. Long hours of | | | | products have. After all, we are talking about live |
| sunlight will induce algae, something you do not want | | | | organisms here. But there are indeed cases where |
| if you wish to keep your aquarium beautiful. | | | | hobbyists introduce fishes without cycling, relying on |
| Any gravel? | | | | commercial products to do its work. It all boils down |
| Skip this part if you plan to have a simple | | | | to how much risk you are willing to take. Personally, I |
| bare-bottom fish tank. Personally, I feel that gravels | | | | have a bottle of Nutrafin Cycle, which I bought when |
| make an aquarium looks so much nicer. Having | | | | I upgraded my filter. |
| gravels also helps hide your fishes' wastes. | | | | The wait |
| Before you start pouring your gravels into your fish | | | | So you've introduced ammonia, turned on your filter, |
| tank, stop! Take a pail, pour your gravels into it | | | | and is waiting for your fish tank to cycle. I would |
| instead. Start washing them over and over until the | | | | recommend at least three days of cycling before |
| water is decently clear. This is important, as you | | | | introducing your fishes. Longer, if the fishes you plan |
| don't want your fishes to be swimming in chocolate | | | | to keep are sensitive. Or if you have not decided on |
| milk. | | | | what fishes to keep, now is a good time to research |
| Preparing your water | | | | on that. |
| Water is the single most important element of an | | | | Find on how big will the fishes grow up to. Most |
| aquarium. It is important to prepare your water | | | | fishes are so tiny when young, but can grow up to |
| before adding any fishes, as most tap water contains | | | | huge sizes. This is important, as having no space to |
| chemicals like chlorine and chloramine, which are | | | | swim will stunt their growth, their colors will not |
| harmful to fishes. So be sure to get a bottle of | | | | show, and they get sick easier. So get suitable fishes, |
| water conditioner from your favourite pet shop that | | | | unless you have plans to upgrade to a larger fish |
| neutralizes both chlorine and chloramine. | | | | tank. |
| If you have gravels, be very gentle when pouring | | | | Find out if the fishes are to be kept in brackish |
| water into your tank, so as not to stir up the gravels. | | | | water or fresh water. Do not mix the two types of |
| A useful tip is to pour your water onto a floating | | | | fishes. Find out also their aggressiveness, feeding |
| plate or saucer, so as to divert the force of the | | | | habits, behaviors, and anything else you need to |
| falling water. Fill water to your preferred height, and | | | | know to keep your fishes healthy and happy. |
| add measured amount of your | | | | Acclimatizing your new fishes |
| anti-chlorine-and-chloramine water conditioner. | | | | Finally, it's time for you to go out and buy your |
| Setting up your filter | | | | fishes. Get the pet shop people to help you select |
| There are different types of aquarium filters. Read | | | | healthy ones. While at the shop, make sure you've |
| up on their difference and decide on one. Then setup | | | | already gotten everything you need. Things like food, |
| your filter according to your filter's manual. Make sure | | | | aquarium salt(if keeping brackish water fishes), net, |
| that it is working properly as intended, as the filter is | | | | water pump, and a bottle of |
| a very important part of an aquarium. Your filter | | | | anti-chlorine-and-chloramine water conditioner. |
| provides water circulation, and also oxygenates the | | | | Once you reached home, float the packet of your |
| water, if your type of filter causes water surface | | | | new babies in your tank water. This is to acclimatize |
| disturbance. If your aquarium is heavily loaded with | | | | your fishes to the new water temperature. Float for |
| fishes, and your filter fails for even a few hours, it | | | | about 15 minutes, then open up the packet, and pour |
| could be fatal. | | | | some of your tank water into it. This is to acclimatize |
| What is cycling? | | | | your fishes to the new water parameters. Wait for |
| "Cycling" is the process where bacterias break down | | | | another 15 minutes, or more, if your fishes are |
| ammonia(NH3) into nitrite(NO2), and from nitrite to | | | | sensitive species. And finally, use a net to catch your |
| nitrate(NO3). Ammonia and nitrite are both very toxic | | | | fishes into your fish tank! |
| to fishes, and nitrate being the least toxic of the | | | | Observing your fishes |
| three. Therefore this process is the most important | | | | If your fish tank has decorative objects, most likely |
| for any aquarium. | | | | your new fishes will go into hiding. This is normal, and |
| The nitrosomonas species of bacteria starts forming | | | | will last up to a few days. When they do show |
| when ammonia is present. They form all around our | | | | themselves, observe them. Take note of how their |
| fish tank, the driftwoods, the substrate, and | | | | bodies look like, and how they behave, so you will |
| especially inside our filter. Slowly, they will form into a | | | | know when something odd happens. |
| colony large enough to efficiently breakdown | | | | Feed very sparingly during this beginning stage. As |
| ammonia into nitrite. When nitrite in the water has | | | | the filtration and bacteria system is still new, do not |
| reached a certain level, the Nitrobacter species of | | | | want to pollute the water too much. I suggest |
| bacteria starts forming. Slowly, they will breakdown | | | | feeding small amounts once a day starting from the |
| the nitrite into nitrate. And finally, nitrate in the water | | | | second or third day. If your fishes refuse to eat, do |
| can be removed via the most common and | | | | not put in more food. Try feeding again the next |
| cost-effective method, water changes. | | | | day. This is normal and you do not need to worry, as |
| In a nutshell: Ammonia > Nitrite > Nitrate | | | | the fishes most likely already eaten when in the pet |
| Introduction of ammonia | | | | shop, and they can survive for as long as a week |
| These are the various ways of introducing ammonia: | | | | without food. |
| - "Seeding". Transfer some gravel or filter sponge | | | | Conclusion |
| wool/etc from an established fish tank into the new | | | | Soon, your fishes will get used to their environment. |
| one. | | | | They will start becoming more active. Their vibrant |
| - Fish wastes. Zebra danios are very hardy fishes | | | | colors will start showing. And they may even |
| that are commonly used for cycling. | | | | recognize you whenever you come close to feed |
| - Market prawns. Yes, it will stink. | | | | them. That is the reward of fish-keeping! But of |
| - Commercial products. | | | | course, you have to be a responsible owner. |
| Personally, I feel that the "seeding" method would be | | | | Performing the regular water changes, medicating |
| the most reliable and yields the fastest results. | | | | them when they get sick, and feeding them quality |
| Fish method is slow, but adding more fishes does | | | | food everyday. And I officially welcome you to the |
| makes the process faster. Just that the fishes might | | | | hobby! |
| not survive the intense ammonia poisoning. We don't | | | | |