The  ight  Way

The following table lists many of the most common sized fish tanks, along with dimensions, weight (empty and full), and whether the tank has a tempered glass bottom or not.

Setting up your Aquarium

There are a few basic concepts that should be understood by anyone about to set up and maintain a freshwater aquarium for the first time.

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Setting up the

Saltwater Aquarium

Why aquarium fish die.

Compatibility... Territorial Behavior

FAQ about raising corals

A WaterZoo guide to...

Maintaining your freshwater aquarium

Many fish keeping problems can be traced back to poor water quality or an insufficient maintenance routine. These problems can include cloudy water, excessive algae growth, & sick fish or plants. Even the best aquariums with the most efficient filtration system will need frequent attention. Don’t worry, all but the largest aquariums need just 15-20 minutes attention per week.

Very Important things to know

The most successful aquariums to date are on strict maintenance schedules to keep the vitality of the specimens, ensuring more natural and longer lives. Many aquarists will tell you that the key to success is proper and routine maintenance.

Some people who understand that proper maintenance is important even neglect their tank(s) for lack of time or laziness. In the long run they end up losing lots of precious life and money because they continue to neglect this key element to sustaining an aquarium.

Very Important things to know

Aquarium

M a i n t e n a n c e

Freshwater or saltwater

A regular Maintenance schedule is key to maintaining a successful aquarium. Most all specimens kept in the aquarium are from much larger bodies of water, and fluctuations in the physical environment are controlled by Mother Nature. Things are much different in the aquarium, where there is limited water, and toxic chemicals are produced in higher concentrations. However, with a regular maintenance schedule as an ongoing part of keeping the aquarium, the natural environment can be more closely imitated.

Not all aquariums are maintained the same way. It's best to read up on what type of aquarium specimens you are keeping before you decide on a maintenance schedule. Some tanks need to be cleaned more often, some less. Some filters need to be changed more often, others never. To have a successful aquarium, proper maintenance is very important to keep your specimen's vitality and health. A strict maintenance schedule is often neglected by aquarium owners, and leaving this out is the quickest way for your tank to depreciate and potentially "crash". Below is a link to more in depth information on taking care of an aquarium, and common tasks performed.

Very Important things to know

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I'm open for any suggestions as to the best way to change my gravel in my 10 gallon tank. I have 7 small fresh water fish in there now. My problem is that when I want to clean the gravel my suction tube gets blocked,with the gravel not allowing the bottom dirt to enter the suction tube. I thought if I get larger gravel it would solve my problem. Any sauggestions would be appreciated

Dave

REPLY:

When you wash your gravel, bits of waste and bits of uneaten food will be removed, and this will help keep the water quality in your aquarium better for your fish.

Gravel washing will also remove huge numbers of beneficial bacteria living on the surface of the gravel,

So you must be sure not to damage the beneficial bacteria that live on the gravel.

Larger gravel would also just clog the siphon more than the smaller gravel.

With such a small tank, I would recommend a couple of small Cory catfish to handle any waste, or you could be very careful not to overfeed your fish. Your filter shoud handle the rest.

Every year or so take the fish out and clean the gravel by stirring the gravel and siphoning thoroughly.( Depending on the size of the fish.)

"The Aquarium Doctor"

You will also need to remove dead plant pieces and other floating debris, if your feeding your fish lettuce, it will float after being digested.

( Be very careful not to siphon a live fish )

The introduction of new water helps maintain stable conditions and mimics natural conditions. It also keeps nitrate concentrations at reasonable and safe levels. There are many ways to change your aquarium's water, but experts recommend using a gravel vacuum to siphon out water and clean detritus from your gravel at the same time.

To use a gravel vac, you'll need a large bucket to hold the old tank water. Move the suction end of the gravel vac through the tank's gravel, loosening and sucking up all the detritus caught between the little stones. Empty the water that the gravel vac siphons from the tank into the bucket, and continue this process until the desired amount of tank water has been emptied.

(That old tank water can still be of good use to your plants: There are lots of nutrients in the water that your indoor or outdoor plants can feed on. So, give your plants a good long drink when you're replacing the water in the tank.)

Once you've used or dumped the old water, use the same bucket to measure out the new water. When using the bucket method of water changes, don't replace the old water with water straight out of your tap (you'll need to treat it first). Make sure the temperature of the replacement water is as close to the temperature in your fish tank as possible; that's easily achieved by blending hot and cold water from the faucet.

To make sure no harmful chlorine gets into your aquarium, add dechlorinating drops or tablets to the new water, following the manufacturer's directions. Pour the new water into the tank very slowly. If someone is available to help, have your assistant cup his or her hands on the surface of the aquarium water while you pour the water from the bucket into his or her hands. You'll need to repeat this process until you've replaced the necessary amount of water.

If you'd like to avoid the repetition and potential mess of this task and use the water directly from the tap, there is an elegant gadget called the Python No Spill Clean and Fill, which works by utilizing your faucet's own water pressure. It comes with either 25 or 50 feet of tubing, so all you have to do is attach the faucet end to your kitchen sink faucet, turn on the water to the desired temperature, place the suction end in the tank, give the nozzle one twist, and, bang, you have suction and the tank is draining.

On the tank end of the Python No Spill Clean and Fill is a device like the gravel vac that lets you clean the bottom of the tank as you siphon off water. When you have drained enough, simply switch the nozzle back one twist on the sink end and your tank will fill with water. There is even a little lever you can use to pause the water flow, giving you an opportunity to answer the phone or catch the last five minutes of "Will & Grace."

It's a good idea to test the pH of the water in your aquarium after you've completed a water change. You should have a pH test kit, which will show you the relative acidity or alkalinity of the tank's water (they're easy to use; read the manufacturer's instructions).

It is imperative that you do research on the pH necessary for your particular species of fish. A pH reading of between 6.8 and 7.2 is good for most fish; however, every species has its ideal pH level. Neon tetras and barbs for instance, like their pH level slightly acidic, in the mid-sixes; but many cichlids want their water hard and alkaline, in the upper-seven range.

If the pH level in your tank is not what it should be after a water change, add a few drops of the appropriate agent to raise or lower the pH level to the proper range. If you find that the pH remains within an acceptable range consistently after water changes, you can do the tests less often.

ALGAE? You can now have a beautiful aquarium with minimum effort. There is nothing you can do on a continual basis to help minimize algae and promote plant health as well as fish health as the simple water change. This is one area where there is no such thing as too much too often. A stream or river may change water thousands of times a day. Best of all worlds would be a tank that is set up to allow for a constant replacement of water on a daily basis. Unfortunately it isn't practical. Change at the least 25% on a bi-weekly basis. You'll find fish and plants will do better and the algae will be none existent. There is no better prevention for a algae build up than this, water changes . Compare that to the alternative of constantly fighting algae it becomes time  well worth spending.

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There are few things as frustrating to the aquarist interested in a beautiful aquarium as algae. After spending a small fortune the aquarist is often rewarded with a lush carpet of algae. Unsightly and stubbornly resistant to eradication, the algae destroys the aesthetics of the tank while limiting plant growth by competing with them for light and nutrients. In desperation, the aquarist experiments with various forms of algae control, including algicides, bleach dips, antibiotics (for cyanobacteria), physical removal, and the introduction of an assortment of algae-eating fish and invertebrates. Feed levels are reduced, light duration is decreased, until through trial and error an uneasy truce is sometime reached. Now you Can Eliminate algae Growth Safe for fish, plants, animals and humans Degrades and dissolves organic bottom solids and scum. End result is carbon dioxide releasing through the top of the water after BI- AQUACULTURE consumes the nitrates & phosphates. Other products require the tank or pond to be vacuumed creating excess maintenance Improves water clarity and quality; no more green water Will work in fresh and salt water Cuts and eliminates odors Converts nitrites to nitrates Oxidizes Ammonia to nitrite BI-AQUACULTURE