fishes

Tank & Stand > Concider both size and shape, A good size is 24in or 61 cm. and a rectangular aquarium is better than the differant shaped ones as it gives a better air surface, This is very important for the wellbeing of your fish. The stand should be strong enough to hold the total weight of both tank and water ( each gallon of water weighs 8.3 lbs.) Wood or metal stands are best as they are easy to maintain.

Preparation > Choose a level strong floor near a power point, Place stand in position check that it has no wobbles, Next place a polystyrene sheet on the stand as this will cushion the glass aquarium , Wash the aquarium with clean water and a clean cloth with no soap or cleaners on either. If undergravel filters are being used place the plates on the glass floor of your tank and connect the upriser tubes. Using gravel of about 4 to 6 mm cover the undergravel plates to a depth of 6cm. minimum. Now add water by running on to a plate that has been placed on the gravel surface, this will stop the gravel from being stirred up by the water and causing a dusty tank.

Filters > There are three kinds of filteration, Biological, particle and chemical. These are Undergravel filter powered by Air or Powerhead. Box type filter powered by Air. or external and internal filters powered by electric. Tanks should kept away from windows, doorways, Television Radio and pet homes.

Water > A good chlorine neutralizer should be used (Sure start) as this will setup the water to accept the fish, The Ph level should now be checked ( ask your pet dealer about Ph levels) Plants, logs and other ornaments can now be added.

Lighting > Fluoresant lights are best as they do not produce as much heat as incandesant lights, Always use a light to fit your tank not to small yet not to big

Fishes > Before you choose your fishes, you must determine how many fish your aquarium can hold, Normally the number inches of freshwater fish a tank can hold is equal to half its number of gallons.

Fishes > We recomend that only 4 or 5 fishes be added to a new setup aquarium for the first week as this will give the bacteria time to form and stop the tank from going off. When buying fish always ask your pet dealer if the fish you are choosing are compatible . When you get your fish home place the bag with the fish in the aquarium water for 15 min. (so that the water temp. in both bag and tank come to the same level)now open the bag let the fish into the tank and you are ready to go.

Happy Fish Keeping
From Ken.

Monitor water regularly, Test Ph every week or if fish show stress, Check fish at feed times.

Cleaning > Clean tank every week for every foot of tank 2ft. every 2 weeks, 3ft every 3weeks and so on.
Use a glass cleaner (magnet cleaners, or Scrapers.) clean all glass, Rocks and ornaments, Check all plants for decaying leaves and remove, Then use a gravel cleaner to clean the gravel and remove 1/3rd of the water. Have water with added Chlorine Neut.(Sure Start) added in buckets ready to top up the tank , Top up tank with water from buckets at a slow rate replace Rocks and Ornaments

Clean out Filter check filter medium and replace when necessary,