12/03/2016
THEFISHAQUARIA’s guides to your new fish tank
Setting up your new tank!
* It’s recommended to leave a pail of overnight water in order to dechlorinate the water from our tap alternatively, Anti-Chlorine can be added to freshly filled pail of tap water.
1. The location
- Away from direct sunlight to avoid overheating and algae bloom
- Away from hustle and bustle and loud sudden noise
- With access to power supply for lighting and equipment
- On a sturdy surface strong enough to support the weight of the tank(approx. 20kg for 1 ft set-up)
2. The building process
- Position the tank to your desired position
- Pour in the substrate to your desired level, for planted set-up minimum around 1 inch of soil is recommended
- Arrange your chosen décor, remember to leave some free swimming space for the fishes
- Add water, using a plate or a plastic container to break the impact of water flow to minimise disturbance to the substrate and the meticulously placed décor
- For planted tank, you may start planting after the tank is half-filled
- When the tank is filled to about 80%, turn on the filter and lighting(for planted set-up)
- It’s recommended to let the tank cycle for a few days(1-3 days) to allow the beneficial bacteria in the filter to mature before adding in fishes but a small amount of hardy species may be added to aid the cycling process
3. Adding fishes (For recommendations of fishes)
- Float the plastic bag containing fishes in the tank in order to let them get use to the temperature of the water in the tank
- Release the new fishes into the tank
Routine Care
1. Feeding
- Feed once every 1 or 2 days
- Fishes can go without feeding for up to 2 weeks
- As a guide the stomach of a fish is as big as their eye
- If there are bottom feeders like the Cory or loaches feed them sinking food
- Overfeeding does more harm than underfeeding
2. Water Change
- They are essential in order to keep your fishes in good health
- Change around 30% every 2 weeks or if you feel like it, as much as 50% every month
- Change water when your fishes show abnormal behaviour such as inactiveness
- Ensure that the water temperature of the new water is similar to the water in the tank
- As a safety measure, it is good to unplug electrical appliance such as lightings and tank equipment when you are working on the tank
3. Daily Checks
- Watch out for abnormal behaviour such as lack of interest in food, gasping at the surface, listlessness, paleness, twitching. (Do note that fishes will turn pale and show signs of reduced activities when the lights is off as they are resting)
- Watch and enjoy the quirk and the personality of your fishes
Problem Solving
It can be safely concluded that 90% of the disease/illness can be traced to the water condition of the tank. Poor water condition will stress the fish and destroy their immune system.
Disease
1. White spot
-small white spots caused by parasite
-easily remedied with store-brought medicine
2. Fungal Growth
- White fluffy growth or Fin Rot could be cured by medicine or frequent water change
3. Open Wound
-This is usually due to fighting and swimming against a rough edge in the tank
4. Other conditions
-Fishes may die without any signs or symptoms, as they may die of old age, stroke or even heart disease.
Conclusion
The challenges of fish-keeping has no limits, there are bound to be times when things go wrong but the key is to start all over again feel free to consult your friendly aquarium shop nearby, research online or come back to us for help. It’s normal for an aquarist to fail a few times before he/she succeeded in creating a superb aquatic garden with the organism living in harmony. So, don’t give up! As this hobby will only get better and more interesting as you ventured into advance fish keeping such as keeping a marine tank.
