READ the book ! Setting up an Aquarium .
# 8 add a starter preparation that inoculates the tank with the bacteria the tank needs for the nitrogen cycle and that converts ammonia to nitrates -- ie: 1 cup of dirty water from a healthy tank .
# 9 if your water has chemicals in it - neutralize with a commercial preparation or Start Right. and check the PH and adjust as needed. Test kits and chemicals are sold in the pet departments.
#12 cycle your tank before you add any fish; this will allow the water to settle and check for leaks and problems with equipment. ie: fill the tank = gravel, plants, clutter, air bubblers and filter; add water, chemicals, and dirty water. Plug in the air lines and the filter - allow to run with no fish 2-4 weeks. Once cycled then add fish carefully (see new fish intro).
Maintenance
1 / month change about 25% of the water. replace with conditioned water at the right temparture. check the PH.
healthy tanks 1 / month or crowded and busy - 2 weeks = change filter, siphon off debris from bottom. never completely change or wash all of the gravel. Do wash off the inides of the tank, the plants, and the clutter. Check the air lines.
no fish willl eat fish poo. that is what the filter is for.
most snails are plant eaters. Malayan Melanoides tuberculata is a small burrowing snail that eats anything and helps to keep the gravel clean.
Feed
do not over feed . ie: 3 kinds of " feeders" feed each day; skip a day; and 3-5 days. know your fish -- do not overfeed and do not starve.-- over feed can lead to problems and filth; and yes fish can starve to death.
babies and active fish will need more feed than the slow and lazy; bullys and goldfish will eat all there is and what ever else than can get in their mouths. goldfish and some tropics will continue to grow as long as they are over fed.
snacks and treats about 1 / week; smashed peas, worms, turtle food; kibbles and piece of biscuits; cheerios;
Notes
1 gallon water = 8 pounds. avg 10 gal tank = 80# water + contents. avg 50 gal = 400# water + goods.
IS the table or shelf built to hold that weight ? Location possible to run-ins -- traffic, kids, pets ?
air IS vital = the more oxygen the more activity. try an air bar for the larger tanks or multiple bubblers.
check the filter flow -- a slow currant / water flow is good exercise for the fish - but not strong or violent.
tank clutter -- fish love to hide . but, do NOT over clutter a tank. fish do not like to be crowded.
and watch out for bad materials -- lead in paint, alluminum, tar, glues, can all be deadly.
to stop a territory bully - move clutter around or change the pieces.
Adults do eat babies . Provide nesting places with either live or silk plants; a colander pan, with holes sized to small for the adults to get into; fix a shelf near the top of the tank to create a shallow pool about 1" deep; fence off one end of tank with perforated plexi.
Numbers
rough estimate = (small fish 1-3") 1 small fish / gallon or 10 gal - 10 fish; 30 gal - 30 fish
note -- this is the finished adult size; this does not include space for air, clutter, and plants; bulky fish will need more space; active will need more air; babies need safe areas; bullys will take more space; dirty fish will need more cleaning;
Intro New Fish
NEVER drop a new fish straight into any tank. the stress and shock of bullys and the change in the chemicals and temparture can be fatal.
Float the bag in the aquarium, open it up, and start to change the water. remove about 1/3 of the water and replace it with water from your tank. repeat at 15 min. until changed. may need to add an air line.
If possible find out the temparture and PH of the tank it was in. if similar, 30-45 min. major difference then 2-3 hrs.
Once adjusted then submerge the bag and allow new fish to swim out. watch out for bullys. New fish may not eat for 24 hours. watch for sickness and injuries.
Problems & Sickness
talk to an expert. read the book.
white spot ick, fuzzy fungus, parasites are contagious.
the swim bladder is an internal air-sac that keeps the fish upright and swimming. Pick-up to fast; illness; and gas can cause the bladder to expand and burst. smashed peas do help, but this problem can be fatal.
Yes - some fish do sleep on the bottom.
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For one goldfish = 20 gallons of water is needed with a filter and pump.
The tank will need to be cycled first..this takes 6-8 weeks before the fish can be placed in the tank
Yes they make goldfish pellets..for one meal the fish will need about4-6 pellets. once or twice a day.
Water changes will have to be made once every week of 20 percent of the water and dechlorinator needs to be added.
cycling for coldwater and tropical fish is the same and it takes 6-8 weeks to complete.
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