Aquarium Fish

Aquarium Fish

Tropical Fish Tanks - Simple Rules To Follow For Successful Fishkeeping

These Rules Apply To ALL Aquariums

Whether you have a big sized aquarium with lots of fishes or just a glass bowl on your table with a couple of Goldfish, they give you great pleasure and tranquility to see them. Tropical & Coldwater Fishes are the most soothing of pets, but they may be a little delicate too. However you can take good care of your fishes by remembering some simple rules...

All Aquariums go through a period of settling in BEFORE introducing fishy friends to their new home. The reason for this is the nitrogen cycle. We don't wish to bore your with aquatic chemistry but suffice to say there are bacteria that are essential to 'breaking down' fish waste. These aquatic bacteria require a period of growth and multiplication before they can carry out their duties as the 'sewage system' within the aquarium. The length of time it takes to produce these bacteria varies, however, we have found that in our experience this tends to be around three weeks.

The Nitrogen Cycle is critical to the wellbeing of your aquatic inhabitants. we recommend strongly that ALL aquarists purchase a Nitrite Test Kit to keep a close eye on the most harmful of the nitrogen cycle states, that of Nitrite (NO2). Nitrite is the most common cause of fish death and disease in new aquariums and is most lethal at between 10 & 18 days after the initial installation of the aquarium. Any time there appears to be problems with your aquarium a nitrite test should be carried out before any other course of action.

Regular Water Changes - The aquarium is a closed bio-system with the end product of bacterial action and filtration being Nitrate (NO3). This can be controlled by planting your aquarium adequately (approx. 60% - 75% of the aquarium base). However, we recommend that all aquatic enthusiasts remove 10% of the aquarium water weekly and replace it with fresh water from a good source. Larger changes are sometimes necessary but generally our advice is little and often. Gone are the days, we hope, of flushing all the water down the toilet and starting again!The best thing you could do is research into keeping any kind of fish. One of the best books I have come across is 'Katy's Tropical & Aquarium Fish' Secrets Guide, which you can get by clicking here

Aquarium Fish