The Index Directory
Join...
Andre's Aquarium Club
today!
Check it out!
|
M
|
| HOME
PAGE
The Index Directory
Join... Andre's Aquarium Club today!
Check it out!
M |
|
|
SETTING UP
and
maintaining,
THE
FRESHWATER
AQUARIUM
SETTING UP
and
maintaining,
THE
SALTWATER
AQUARIUM
If you want a successful aquarium you must read and understand!
Click here for members only!
"The most important information about maintaining any aquarium, Freshwater or Marine"!
Click here for members only!
Don't buy all the fish at once. When you first set up the aquarium, the biological filter will not be established. The beneficial bacteria take time to grow, and more grow with an increased fish load to meet the need. If you add too many fish at once, the growth rate of the bacteria will not keep up with the added bio-load, so ammonia levels shoot up and all the fish die. This is known as "New Tank Syndrome" and is a problem faced by nearly all new hobbyist in their eagerness to fill their new aquarium with beautiful fish. To avoid this, add only 1-3 fish per week until the tank is stocked. It should take about four to five weeks to stock your aquarium. By this time the biological filter should be well established. During the first month or so, do a 25% water change once every two weeks to help keep the ammonia levels down.
Very Important things to know for members only!
To maintain good water quality, probably the single most important step is to do regular partial water changes. Use your gravel vacuum to change about 25% of the water every two weeks or sooner if your readings indicate a problem. Regular, smaller water changes are best, to avoid sudden drastic changes in the chemistry of the water (such as in pH). Remember to condition the new water you add and try to keep it at the same temperature as the existing tank water.
Don't overcrowd your aquarium. An aquarium with a few fish will have better water quality and healthier fish than an overcrowded one. They say you can put up to 3" of fish per gallon of filtered, aerated water. I like to stay nearer the 1" per gallon mark. And remember that every inch of fish is not equal. For example, a dozen 1" guppies does not equal a foot-long oscar. The oscar is much more demanding on the filter system. When stocking, remember that fish grow. Most are purchased as juveniles and will be much larger as adults.
Know how big your fish will get. There are many common aquarium fish that are only suited for very large tanks, not for the smaller ones that most aquarists start out with. Oscars, bala sharks and tinfoil barbs can all grow to be over a foot long and should be avoided unless you have the tank space for them. It is also good to know how big fish get so you don't overcrowd your aquarium. When figuring how many fish to add to your aquarium, use the full adult size, not the tiny size you see in the pet shop. Do a little research about the fish you want before you buy them.
|
THE FISH STORE Recommended Products For members and non-members
|
|
If you are looking for aquarium help, you have found it! |
||||
JOIN TODAY M
ANDRE'S AQUARIUM CLUB
|
before you leaveM M |
Members may ask all their aquarium related questions.... and receive individual help.
|
| MCONTINUEM
mAndre's Aquarium Pages!m
|
|
|
|
esh water,salt water,reef,salt,species,Cichlid,tank,aquaria,
