12 Tips for Beginners
1: Buy the largest tank you can afford and have space for. Preferably 20 gallons (90 litre) or more. Even though small tanks are marketed as “Ideal for a beginner” they are not. A larger tank will maintain temperature and water conditions better.
2: Wash your filters in tank water, not tap water. Tap water contains chlorine that will kill beneficial bacteria.
3: Make frequent partial water changes. At a minimum, 25% per month should be changed. It is better to change less water, more frequently. 10-15% per week is ideal.
4: Do not overfeed your fish. The uneaten food will break down and foul your aquarium water. The food that is eaten will be excreted by the fish and foul your aquarium water. Fish should eat small amounts 2-3 times per day. As a rough estimate, a fish’s total daily intake should be equal to about the size of their eye.
5: Research your fish before buying. Make sure they are compatable in terms of water conditions and aggressiveness.
6: Observe your fish before buying them. Make sure there are no obvious signs of illness or injury and that they swim freely and effortlessly. There should be no dead, dying or sick fish in the fish stores tanks.
7: Release new fish into the tank gradually. Float the bag of fish in the tank for 15-20 minutes to equalize water temperature. Do not add the fish stores water to your tank. Drain the bag into a bucket, through a fishnet and allow the fish to swim out of the net into the tank.
8: If possible, use a quarantine tank for your new fish. This will help ensure that your are not introducing disease to your tank.
9: Understand the cycling process and new tank syndrome.
10: Add additional fish to your tank slowly, over time, to ensure that the beneficial bacteria in the tank has time to build and keep up with the tanks rising ammonia loads.
11: Do not overstock! 1″ of fish per gallon is generally used as a guideline, but this must be used with common sense. You simply can not put a 20 inch fish in a 20 gallon tank.
12: Avoid using chemical additives if possible. They have different effects on different fish. Combining chemicals in the tank can lead to new, unintended chemicals occuring in the aquarium.
The most important rule…If you have questions or need help, ask.
With just a little planning, you too can have a gorgeous aquarium.