Housing
Aquarium tanks come in all shapes and sizes from tiny beta bowls to 500 gallon reservoirs.
Regardless of the gallon capacity you choose, it is best to select the classic rectangular
shape glass tank since the oxygen exchange that occurs between the outside air and the
water in the tank is proportional to the air-water interface dictated by the shape of the
tank. Tropical fish thrive in tanks with larger surface areas on top where oxygen levels
are greater. In other words, Wider is Better. If you are using a bowl or hexagon shaped
tank, fill it less than 10 inches to the top so that more oxygen exchange can take place.
The tank should be covered, with hinged access panels for filters and feeding. You should
also provide a light source as some fish will not eat without it. Fluorescent and
incandescent types that come with canopy tank hoods are fine. A well illuminated aquarium
will highlight the color of your fish and make your them happypets. Provide at least two
inches of gravel, stone, pebble or sand to line the bottom of your tank to anchor your
plants and decorative structures designed to provide your fine finned friends with comfort
and security.
Filters
Proper filtration is of the utmost importance in keeping your aquarium happy and healthy.
There are many different types of filters that will efficiently clean and aerate aquarium
water. Under gravel filters, inside box and corner filters, sponge filters and outside
filters are powered by external air pumps. Power filters , a little better in my
experience, are electricity driven water pump units that purify water through a self
contained canister or outside hanging overflow filter. Depending on the size of your tank,
these filters , will run you anywhere from 15-50 dollars initially, and the cartridges
about 5 to 10 dollars a month.
The Water
Despite what some manufacturing company's tell you, tap water from the bathtub faucet is
fine for your aquarium. There are, however, certain measures you may need to take to
ensure that this water ( and once it is in the aquarium, remains) is good enough to ensure
your fish are healthy and happypets. Ordinary tap water is classified as being either
"hard" or "soft". This refers to the amount of minerals and stuff in
the water. You can get a test kit, in most pet stores that will tell you if your water is
hard or soft. If you live in an area with hard water, I'm sorry. There is more work for
you than the rest of us, but don't worry - It's not that bad. The most efficient, and most
expensive way to treat hard water is to buy a water softener than can be hooked up to the
water supply. Another way that will work, is to boil half of the water, and add some
distilled water to dilute out the hardness. ( Don't add fish until the water is cool, of
course).
Temperature
Most tropical fish require water temperature to be at 74-78 degrees Fahrenheit. Depending
on the season, and you home's heating, an aquarium heater may be necessary. Avoid mercury
thermometers, although very accurate, there is a chance it should break and poison your
entire habitat.
pH Testing
In addition to water hardness or softness and temperature, the water has another
characteristic that may need testing from time to time. The pH of water is a measure of
the number of hydrogen ions it contains, which clues you in to the acidity, or alkalinity
of the water. You can find pH test kits in all pet stores. They usually come with Sodium
Bisulphate and Sodium Bicarbonate to adjust the pH levels of your tank water to suit it's
habitants needs. Always follow the instructions on the test kit carefully. Drastic changes
in the pH can be deadly to your fish. Different types of fish require different pH levels,
so ask your pet store, or get a book on your specific variety.
Filling the tank with Fish
Given the large variety of tropical fish available in the pet trade, I will not attempt to
offer advice on what fish you should keep with what other fish. Always tell your pet store
what fish you have before purchasing a new variety. Hopefully, they will be well trained
to advise you. As a general rule, and I mean very general, You can have one inch of fish
per gallon. If you have a 10 gallon tank, you can have 101" fish or 5- 2" fish,
etc. When you bring home your new fish, keep them in the bag and place the entire bag in
the aquarium and float it for about 15 minutes so the temperatures are about the same to
avoid shock. Open the bag, and let slowly let the water from the bag and the tank
exchange. They should swim out of the bag into the tank. Do not leave the tank unattended
during this process, as you may need to coax them out of the bag if you notice any
gasping.
Cleaning
Cleaning will be minimal so long as you have provided adequate filtration and change the
filter cartridges once a week to every other week depending on tank population. Partial
water changes ( 20%) should be done every 3 months or so. Make sure when you do the water
changes, that the new water has sat for 24 hours if you did not buy the purification
doohickeys.
Feeding
Ideally, tropical fish should be fed 2 times, but never more than can be consumed in 5
minutes or less. You can not overfeed fish, but you can overfeed the aquarium- leading to
more frequent filter and water changes. Prepared tropical fish foods are available in all
pet stores for all types of varieties. Wardley Totally Tropical and all Tetra products are
excellent choices for most tropical fish.
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