Starting Out with fish keeping

Installation

The first thing to consider when starting out in fish keeping is where to position the tank. The tank should be placed away from direct sunlight (e.g. next to a window as this favours green algae proliferation), heat or overly loud noise. Put the tank on a stand or a surface that is even and won’t allow the tank to topple over.

Put gravel in the bottom of the tank; but be sure to give the gravel a thorough rise to remove and unwanted particles and dust. You will need approximately 5cm of gravel at the bottom of the aquarium.

Plants, rock and hides are a great idea and can make that tank look great to look at while providing areas for your fish to explore and hide. Though try not to go over board, leave enough room for your fish to swim!

Install your electrical equipment after having read all the instructions, but leave the equipment unplugged from the mains until you are finished.

The things you will need to set up your tank:

Filter

Proper filtration is important for your fish’s health and well being. A filter will help keep the water cleaner and clearer. It works by removing the fish’s solid wastes that would otherwise build up and eventually pollute the aquarium. It does this by circulating water through filter media.

Heater

The heater makes it possible to keep the water at an ideal temperature for the fish. This is not always needed for goldfish but you will need it for tropical fish.

Lighting

Lighting your aquarium will help your fish’s natural colour stand out and will show them off to their best advantage. A tank light will also enable you to grow live aquatic plants if you wish.

Light your aquarium for approx 8-12 hours per day, and change the bulb once a year to keep your lighting effective.

Water Conditioners

Tap water contains chlorine disinfectants that are harmful to fish. A tap water conditioner removes these disinfectants, so every time you fill up you tank or make a partial water change use a water conditioner. Choose a water conditioner such as a Stress Coat, which also removes any harmful metals that may be present in some water supplies.

Recommended Equipment

• An air pump
• A thermometer
• Decoration
• Gravel
• Plants

Air Pump

An air pump helps maintain good oxygen levels in the water by pumping the water. Air pumps are not always needed in smaller aquariums as the role of the filer can be enough to circulate the water. However an air pump is a must for larger aquariums. The rising column of bubbles can also look attractive.

Adding my fish

Your new aquarium does not contain the bacteria necessary for its biological balance. It is important to introduce these bacteria by means of bacteria cultures. It takes time for nitrifying bacteria to settle in the filter. It is therefore recommended to wait at least 3 weeks before introducing fish. This is the approximate time required for the filter to become effective.

This time can be shortened however, by adding a bacteria culture when starting the aquarium (i.e Stress Zyme) and a few flakes of food to accelerate colonisation and development of nitrifying bacteria in the filter.

You should always test the aquarium water before introducing any fish in order to be sure that the filter is ready and working correctly.

It is worth beginning with just a few strong and resistant fish for the first 3-4 weeks, and if they survive you can move on to bigger and better fish.

Never overpopulate your aquarium and be sure to ask an experienced salesperson for lots of advice when selecting your fish.

Water Testing

Microscopic life is underway in your aquarium. The addition of nitrifying bacteria will at first help to create and maintain the natural balance of the aquarium. Then, the only way to make sure that this balance is maintained is to test the water. So it is strongly recommended to monitor the levels of pH, Nitrite and Ammonia values before introducing the fish.

Carry out water tests 10 days after introducing the bacteria, then twice a week until the aquarium is perfectly stabilized.

Choosing my fish

Ask lots of advice when you are selecting your fish from the pet shop or breeder. Useful questions include:

How many fish should I put in my aquarium?

Small tanks e.g. 18 litres (4 gallons) capacity – will house one goldfish. The standard 60x30x30cm (24x12x12 inch) tank hold about 45 litres (10 gallons) of water, and will house two to three gold fish.

Introducing my fish in my aquarium :

After the fish have been introduced, they are generally quite stressed which may cause illnesses. It is therefore a good idea to use an anti-stress treatments well as an anti-infection treatment as a preventative. It is also a good idea to add more bacteria to the aquarium. Generally, one should use bacteria cultures and anti-stress treatments on a regular basis (i.e twice a month).

Once the fish have been introduced, it is important not to feed them and to leave the aquariums light turned off until the following day, in order for them to get used to their new environment with a minimum of stress.

Feeding My Fish

Fish require a varied and balanced diet to remain in good health and to preserve a good colour. There are many types of food available.

You do not need to feed your fish breakfast, lunch and dinner and you may find you only need to feed your fish once a day, or every other day. Be sure to find out how much your fish will need from your knowledgeable pet shop or breeder.

If there is food left over at the bottom of the aquarium, you may be over feeding your fish. Generally, all the food you put in should be consumed within 2-3 minutes.

Caring for my aquarium – breakdown

How often you need to service your aquarium will depend on its size, the number of fish etc. Therefore the following should be used as a general guide only:

Everyday

Every 2 weeks

Every Month

Also

Leaving your fish

Yikes! If there are things to do every day or so with my fish how can I leave them to go away on holiday??? Well it is possible, and here are our top tips...

• Before leaving make sure your aquarium and fish are in tip top condition.
• Leaving for a weekend? Use a 3 day food pyramid which will feed the fish daily without excess by slowly dissolving in the aquariums water.
• Leaving for a week? Use a 7 day food pyramid which will feed the fish daily without excess by slowly dissolving in the aquariums water. Install an electronic timer in order to automatically turn on the light on and off daily.
• Leaving for over a week? Install an electronic timer and an automatic feeder. Programme the two devices to adjust lighting times and food distribution. It will also keep other devices operating (heater, filter etc.)

Natural Plants

Plants are sold rooted in pots or in cuttings. Before you put your new plant in your aquarium, check over the plant as it may contain snails. Snails are not harmful, but they may disturb the aesthetics of your aquatic set up as they multiply very quickly and may eat your plant.

All your plats need to be planted in the aquarium or fixed to the bottom (unless it is a floating plant!)

Provide your aquatic plants with fertilizer to help them grow; you can feed your plants with nutritive soil, fertilizer capsules or liquid fertilizer.

Algae

It is almost impossible to eliminate all algae from your aquarium, and it presence is a good sign of a healthy balanced aquarium. However, algae can overwhelm your tank quickly and a tank that is over run is a sign of an unbalanced or misused aquarium. Test your water every month to ensure a balanced aquarium.

*NOTE: This information has been provided by the Bits for Pets Team in conjunction with the Rena Guide to Fish Keeping and Aquarian Goldfish Guide. This information is not exhaustive, you should do as much research as possible before entering the world of fish keeping.