Tips

Position of your Aquarium
When setting up your aquarium, put some thought into the positioning of the aquarium. Avoid having your aquarium where it will be in the line of direct sunlight as it can promote algae blooms which not only compete with your aquatic plants for nutrients but also make for an unsightly addition. Sunlight will also cause the temperature of your aquarium to fluctuate which can be a major cause of stress for your fish. Also try to avoid having your aquarium where there will be constant movement or traffic - another cause of stress for your fish.

Setting up your Aquarium
At Fish Culture, we always recommend that an aquarium is allowed to 'cycle' for at least 7 days before fish are added. Cycling involves firstly adding a 'water conditioner' to your aquarium which will bind the heavy metals in the tap water as well as neutralizing chlorine and chloramines. The second step involves adding a 'bio starter' - a good bio starter contains 'nitrifying bacteria' which when added to your aquarium will harbour predominantly in your filter - when water gets processed by your filter, the nitrifying bacteria breaks down ammonia and nitrite, toxins that are harmful to your fish.

If you are serious about having an aquarium then you must invest in a quality filter. A quality filter will help break down waste product in your aquarium and keep conditions as close to optimum as possible. Having a filter in conjunction with a good maintenance regime makes for a healthy environment and in turn healthy fish. Make sure that any filter that you invest in has a turnover sufficient for the volume of water as well as population in your aquarium. The Team at Fish Culture will be able to help you select a filter suitable for your requirements.

Adding Fish
After your aquarium has been allowed to cycle for at least 7 days, you can add your first fish. It is recommended that the number of fish you add at this point does not generally exceed 10% of your tank's capacity. Of course, every aquarium is different and it is recommended that you seek further advice from the staff at Fish Culture to get a better idea of how many fish would be ideal for your aquarium. When you take your fish home, remember to acclimatise them by allowing the fish bag to sit in your tank for at least 15-20 minutes - during this time, the addition of water from your aquarium to the bag is beneficial. Scoop the fish out of the bag after this time and release them gently into your aquarium.

Stress
There will always be the introduction of bacteria and parasites from your tap - the key is to ensure that the quality of your tank water is as close to optimum as possible. Poor water quality will stress your fish and stress is ultimately the major reason why your fish can get sick. In spite of the existence of harmful bacteria and parasites in your water, if your fish are happy, healthy and stress-free their natural immune system is normally sufficient to withstand infection.

Water Change
Apart from keeping water temperature as consistent as possible and minimising traffic around your aquarium you should keep your aquarium's conditions as close to optimum as possible by performing a 20% water change once a week. Always use a 'gravel cleaner' to remove water from your aquarium as most of the pollutants in your aquarium will be caught in and around your aquarium substrate.

Feeding Fish
You may have been told in the past that over-feeding your fish will kill them. This is true but we'll try to give you a better understanding of what this actually means. The key is to make sure that during each feeding; the fish are not given too much. If you observe the fish and all the food is being eaten very quickly before the fish lose interest, then generally that's a good amount - feeding usually takes less than a minute. However, if what you are feeding remains uneaten in your tank for several minutes or longer, then you have 'over-fed' your fish. Remember, feeding the fish as much as they can eat in a very short period a couple times a day is better than giving your fish plenty of food that they do not finish every couple of days.

Your fish will also benefit from getting the 'right' kind of food. Remember, fish come from different waters around the world and their natural diets will consist of various items. Some fish feed from the surface where as others will feed at mid-depth and still others only feed from the bottom of your aquarium. The Team at Fish Culture will help you ensure your fish are getting the right kind of food. Also remember, that fish will generally benefit from a varied diet. Incorporating frozen and live foods every so often into the diet of your fish can often improve their general well-being and colour.