While there are many different benefits that are related to keeping a fish tank, the mains ones are that you will help to reduce your stress levels, as well as improve your overall mental health.  With that being said, it is no big mystery why more and more people are starting to add a fish tank into heir home.

However, with all of the different sized aquariums that you have to choose from, as well as the hundreds of different fish that come in all types of different colors and shapes, it can become overwhelming, and fast.  But rest assured that there is something that will satisfy all of your wants when you start your venture into the wonderful world of aquariums.

This article is going to give you the step by step directions for setting up your perfect fish tank, including:  preparing your new aquarium, installing all of the equipment that you will need, preparing the water for your fish, and acclimating the fish to their new forever home.

If you were to go into a pet store, you will find that they are more than willing to sell you any fish you want, even if you have only had your tank setup for a matter days.  In this article you will learn the best way to set your tank up before you start adding fish, which will help keep them healthy and happy during the entire process of adding them to your tank.

When it does come to setting up your fish tank, there are going to be several different steps that you will need to take.  They include:

1. Planning your tank
2. Preparing your tank
3. Adding water and substrate
4. Installing any equipment
5. Adding plants and other decorations
6. Cycling your tank
7. Adding the fish

Here is how you are going to want to do each one of the steps mentioned above.

Step #1:  Plan Out Your Tank

This is one of the most crucial steps when it comes to setting up your fish tank that is usually not given any attention.  If you are planning on having a successful aquarium, you are not going to want to skip this step.

Prior to going out and purchasing an aquarium or any fish, you are first going to want to take a second and figure out exactly what kind of fish you are going to be keeping in it.  While it may not sound like that big a deal, deciding on the breed of fish you are going to keep in your aquarium will affect how you prepare and setup the actual aquarium.

For example, are you going to be keeping a tank of different community fish, a tank that is better suited for a smaller species, or even a breeding tank?  These are all things that you are going to need to figure out before you even start looking at fish tanks to purchase.

This is due in part to the fact that they breed of fish and other invertebrates that you are planning on getting are going to determine the water conditions that you will need to maintain, the actual size of the tank you decide to get, the different types of equipment that are going to be required to maintain the water in the tank, and even the types of plants that will be required for your tank.  So take a few minutes to sit down and plan out exactly what you are wanting when it comes to your fish tank. After you have figured out what species of fish you are going to be getting, you can then move on to the next step, which is to buy your fish tank and all of the necessary equipment.

Step #2:  Prepare Your Tank

Once you have purchased the fish tank that you are going to be using and any necessary equipment, you are now ready to start setting up your tank.

While you may be thinking that all you really need to do is to add water to your tank and you’ll be good to go, that is not correct.  Before you add any water to your tank, you are going to want to make sure that the tank is nice and clean. If you have bought your tank brand new, all you need to do is simply wipe it down with a damp cloth.  This will remove any dust or dirt that has collected in the tank.

You never want to use any type of detergents or soap when you are cleaning your tank.  If you do, the residue can potentially contaminate the water in the tank after you fill it.

It is also very important that you that any type of equipment that you do use on your tank (such as buckets and cloths), is brand new and has only ever been used on your tank.  This will help prevent any household products or chemicals from contaminating the water in your tank.

If you decided to buy your tank used, it will require a little bit more attention than if you purchased the tank brand new.  To get started, you are going to want to first remove any type of debris that may be in the tank, and then use some kitchen roll and vinegar to decontaminate the tank.  You are going to want to make sure and clean both the inside and the outside of the tank.

If the used tank that you bought is made out of acrylic, you are going to want to be extra careful during this process.  This is because acrylic is extremely easy to scratch, so be sure to take extra precaution and use a special cloth that is designed specifically for cleaning acrylic tanks.

Now that your tank is nice and clean, you are going to need to take a second and check it for any kind of leaks.  For this, all you are going to do is fill up your tank to about 3” deep. Once there is about 3” of water in it, you then just let it sit there for about an hour.  After an hour has gone by, take your fingers and run them over the bottom edge of the tank to see if there are any leaks. If you do find that there are some leaks in your tank, all you need to do is use an aquarium sealant to fix and reseal the tank.

Once your tank is clean and leak free, it is now time for you to put the tank into the perfect position.  Be sure that you position it someplace that is not in the direct sunlight or near any type of power supply.

If you are planning on putting your tank onto a stand, you will need to double check to make sure that the stand is able to support the weight of the tank after it is all setup.  This is important as a completely full fish tank can weigh a lot.

For example, while a 50 gallon tank may weight around about 100 pounds or so when it is empty, it can easily top the 600 pounds mark when it is full of water.

With that being said, this is another reason why you should have your tank in the position that you want it in before you start to fill it up with water.  Once it is full, it will be much more difficult to move and position.

After you have found the perfect position for your tank, you will then need to make sure that it is on a level surface.  There are two ways that you can go about doing this. One is to simply us e a spirit level, the other is to fill it with about an inch or two with water and then just eyeball it.

Step #3:  Adding Water and Substrate to Your Aquarium

Now that your tank is clean and positioned where you want it to be in your home, on a level surface, it is now time to add any substrate you like as well as add the water.

While the types of substrate that you decide to use in your tank is going to be decided by your own personal preference, it will often times be determined by what type of plants and fish you are going to have.  For example, if you are going to get catfish for your tank, you will need some type of sandy substrate.

As for how much of the substrate you should use, that all depends upon the level of thickness that you would like in your tank.  However, a good rule to follow is about 1 pound of substrate should be used for each gallon of water that is in the tank. If you follow this rule, you will have enough substrate to make about a 1” thickness on the bottom of your tank.  If you would like it to be even thicker, 2 pounds of substrate per gallon of water will give you a 2” thickness of substrate.

Just keep in mind that different types of substrate are going to have different weights.  This means that the weight of substrate that you require is going to vary from substrate to substrate.

• Washing Your Substrate

Even though most substrate will come prewashed, there is a very good chance that it will be dusty and require a cleaning rinse to help prevent it from causing your tank to become cloudy.  

So you will need to rinse off the substrate prior to adding it to your fish tank.  This can be done by putting smaller amounts of it into a bucket and filling the bucket up with water.  Next, put your hand in the bucket and start swirling the substrate, causing all of the substrate to be cleaned.  You are going to want to repeat this process until the water becomes as clear as possible.

For larger amounts of substrate, you may want to think about doing this task outside using a high-pressure hose.  Simply pour the water out from inside the bucket and spray it again and again until you see that the water is starting to clear up.  However, not all substrates are going to do well if you try to wash them this way and may cause the water to become cloudier and cloudier.  If this is the case, simply try to remove as much of the dust as you can and slow down your hand movements.

Once your all of your substrate is clean, you can now put it into your tank.

You are going to want to start by adding a thin layer to the bottom of your tank in order to avoid scratching the bottom of the aquarium.  Once you have a base layer on the bottom of your aquarium, you can now pour in the rest of the substrate.

When you are pouring in the rest of the substrate, you are going to want to decide whether or not you are going to have any areas that are raised a little higher, perhaps as a way to help bury any roots from the plants you are going to be adding.  It is actually common practice to have the substrate done in a slope with the highest point being at the back of the tank, while the lowest part in in the front.

Once you have all of your substrate in your tank and setup how you would like it, you are now ready to start adding the water.

• Adding Water into Your Tank

If your tank is on the smaller size and less than 20 gallons, you are going to want to ad any aquarium equipment, as well as decorations and plants before you add any water.

Depending upon whether you are adding saltwater or freshwater will vary how it is that you add the water to the tank.

• Freshwater

To help prevent any of your substrate from getting moved around while you are adding the water to your tank, you can place a bowl or saucer on top of the substrate.  You will then want to start slowly pouring the water in.

Once your tank is full, you are going to need to use a de-chlorinator on the water to make it suitable for your fish.  Simply follow the directions that will be on the bottle and you should be able to figure it out. Just remember that it will more than likely give you the ratio of how much to use as ml’s per gallon.  For example, , for each 1 ml of de-chlorinator, it may treat up to 20 gallons.

• Saltwater

When it comes to saltwater, before you think about adding any water to your tank, you must first prepare it.  For saltwater tanks, you are going to need water that has gone through the process of reverse osmosis. This means that you are going to have to either but reverse osmosis water or use one of the many treatments that are available.  No matter which option you decide to do, be sure that you don’t forget to use de-chlorinator as well.

To get your saltwater prepared, you are going to want to use a salt water mix and then follow all the instructions that come on the packet to make sure that you add the right amount of mix.

Once your saltwater has been prepared, you can then use the same method as adding freshwater to make sure that you don’t disrupt your substrate.

Step #4:  Installing Your Equipment

Now you have a tank that is full of substrate and water, so it must be time to add the fish. Not quite. First you are going to have to install any equipment that is required for your tank.  At the absolute minimum you are going to want to install some type of filter.

While filter installations are going to vary from brand to brand, your filter is either going to be an external one or an internal one.  If your filter is internal, it will be relatively easy to get installed. You are going to want to start by assembling all of the parts, and then place the filter onto the back wall of the aquarium.  Be sure that when you are installing the filter that you put it where it will be able to reach power, as it will need to be plugged in to an electrical outlet.

Before you turn your filter on for the first time, always be sure to double check that your filter has been properly installed.

If you have decided to use an external filter, there is a good chance that it is going to be hidden below the tank in the aquarium stand.  The external filter is going to carry water away from the tank, moving into the filter so that it can be cleaned, and will then send the clean water back into the tank.  When you are installing your external filter, you are going to want to make sure that both the inlet and outlet tubes do not have any kinds of kinks or bends, which can restrict the amount of water that is flowing through them.

Deepening upon the type of external filter you are using, there is a good chance that it will need to be filled with water prior to being powered on.  This is what’s known as priming the system, which is essentially done to help get water flowing through the filter.

Once you have your filter in place, the next thing you are going to want to install is a water heater. (if you are going with tropical fish or with a saltwater tank).  Most of the heaters available are simple to use and have a dial for adjusting their temperature. They usually include markings showing you how much it should be submerged into the water.

Always be sure that you place your tank heater onto the side of your fish tank, and the thermometer on the far wall of the tank.  This will help you make sure that the water is heated through on a consistent basis.

If you have any other equipment that needs to be installed, now is the perfect time to do so.  

Step #5:  Adding Plants and Decorations

Now that your tank’s equipment is setup and you have the water added, you can start adding plants and other decorations.  Just be sure that you rinse off each item prior to adding it to the tank. If you are adding real plants, be sure that you do your research before adding them.  This way you will be able to make sure that they are healthy and placed correctly.

Step #6:  Cycling the Tank

Your tank is now finished being setup.  However, before you add any fish, you are going to want to cycle your tank first.  This is what’s called the Nitrogen Cycle. This is done to help encourage your tank’s filter to build up a bacteria ‘bed’, which will become essential for your fish if you want them to remain healthy.  

So how long should this process last?  That all depends upon the size of your tank.  Just be sure that you check the levels of both nitrate and ammonia, and that they are both at 0ppm before you add any fish.  This process can take a little longer than what is ideal, but will ensure that your fish remain healthy after they are added.

Step #7:  Add the Fish

Once you have chosen the fish that you are going to be adding, you must first acclimatize them to the tank.  This is to help make the transition to their new home as smooth and stress free as possible.

To do this, allow the bag that the fish came in to float in the tank for about 15 minutes.  After this, cut the top of the bag open and add about ½ cup of your aquarium’s water into the fish bag.  After about 5 more minutes, use a fishnet to transfer the fish from the bag that it came in to the tank.

Repeat this process with all of the fish you plan on adding!

The post How to Set Up a Fish Tank [2019] appeared first on Simply Pets.

If you have a fish tank, you more than likely want your fish to stay as healthy as possible. To do this, it is absolutely vital that you keep the tank conditions at optimal levels. To do this, it will require you to perform routine cleaning and maintenance to help keep the delicate Eco system of the tank exactly where it needs to be.

Water within your tank can very quickly and easily become harmful to all of the fish living in it when it is not properly maintained on a consistent basis.  When you clean and maintain your tank correctly, you will not have to switch out all of the aquarium’s water at one time. In fact, if you do switch out all of the water in your fish tank at the same time, you are actually going to be doing more harm than good, as you will be killing all of the good bacteria that have been built up inside the tank.

If you are new to keeping a fish tank and can be considered a beginner in the fish aquarium niche, you may be thinking that having a smaller sized bowl or tank would be much easier to clean and maintain; however, this assumption is actually incorrect.  The larger your aquarium size is, the easier it will be to keep the water inside it stabilized.

Here is everything that you need to know about cleaning your fish tank.

Why You Must Clean Your Fish Tank

When it comes to cleaning your fish tank, there are three main goals that you are going to try to be achieving.  These three main goals are more commonly referred to as the three Rs and include:

1. Regulating the tank’s nitrogen cycle
2. Remove any particulate and dissolved compounds
3. Replenish the tank’s essential minerals

Keep the levels of nitrates in lower concentrations

In case you were unaware, the nitrogen cycle within your fish tank is the process that converts ammonia into nitrite by bacteria, and then eventually to nitrate.  This is not good as both nitrite and ammonia are extremely toxic to all breeds of fish. This means that you are going to want to have colonies of bacteria within your tank that are going to be able to convert these harmful compounds into nitrate.  This is important because nitrates are way less toxic to fish, and can even be removed by simply changing the tank’s water on a regular basis.

Prior to adding any new fish to your tank, it will have ideally been cycled through.  Now there are a few different ways that you can cycle your tank, but one of the better and more popular ways is to simply add some artificial ammonia, which will help to build up bacteria colonies, aiding in the breakdown of both nitrates and ammonia.

Remove any particulate and dissolved compounds

When it comes to organic matter, it is going to be classified into either DOM (dissolved organic matter) or POM (particulate organic matter).  DOM is going to be defined as any type of organic materials that can flow through a filter that is 0.201.0 um, while POM is not going to be able to pass through at all.

The organic matter that you are going to want filtered out of your tank may include any type of waste products that can be made as a by-product of having a fish tank that is packed full of fish who are fed on a regular basis.  This can include leftover food and fish waste. Similar to how ammonia is broken down with the help of bacteria colonies, food waste and other types of organic matter are also broken down with the help of bacteria colonies.

If you have a freshwater tank, incorporating plants can help use up some of the organics, leaving the rest to be removed by incorporating regular water cleanings and changes.

Replenish the tank’s essential minerals

When you have fish that are living in water with levels of insufficient minerals, which includes being either too low or too high, it can result in your fish suffering from osmotic stress, which will eventually lead them to osmotic shock, which will cause them to die.

Often times people who keep fish tanks will use RO water when they need to add more to it.  RO water is special water that you can purchase and is fish tank friendly as it has gone through the process of reverse osmosis.  This means that the water has been purified, in the sense that most of the tap water impurities have been removed. The only downside to this though, is that most of the essential minerals that the fish require to maintain their health have also been removed.

So if you are going to use RO water, be sure that you also use one of the products that will add back all these essential minerals that the water has been stripped of.

Regular Tank Maintenance

Before we look at exactly how you should be cleaning your fish tank, you are going to want to learn how to maintain your tank on both a daily, as well as weekly basis.  Not only will this ensure that your fish tank stays in a healthy condition between cleanings, but it will also make the actual cleaning of the tank easier as well.

Daily Maintenance Tasks

There are three daily tasks that you will need to do in order to maintain a healthy tank that your fish will love living in.  And don’t worry, it will only take you a few minutes to do all three of them each day.

• Be sure that you feed your fish two times per day and remove any of the food that was not eaten after about a 5-minute period.  This is going to help prevent uneaten food from breaking down and lowering the quality of the tank’s water.
• Do a quick lookover of all the fish you have in your tank.  Are all of them behaving as they should? Are they disease free?  Do any of them look like they have any injuries?
• Double-check the temperature of the water in the tank, as well as the specific gravity that the water has.  When you monitor both of these parameters on a daily basis, you will be able to easily and quickly rectify any adjustments that may need to be made.

Weekly Maintenance Tasks

One day per week you are going to want to do a more thorough check of your tank.  Here is what you are looking for:

• Check the tank’s water.  Be sure to check the levels of pH, nitrite and ammonia, nitrate, and if you have a saltwater tank, the salinity.  For this, you can either choose to have your local fish shop test the water, or you can even purchase a testing kit for home use.  And the best part about the home kits is that they are extremely easy to use, as they are just a strip of paper that is color coded and will help you determine the levels of all the above within your tank.  
• Do a brief once-over on all of your tank’s equipment.  Check the lights, filter, etc. This is not going to require an in-depth analysis of everything, but rather just ensure that everything is still working properly.  Everything else can be done during the cleaning of the tank.

How Often Does Your Tank need to be Cleaned?

How much water you are going to replace within your tank and how often you are going to need to change out the water will depend entirely on what size your fish tank is, as well as the number of fish that you have living in it.

As a typical guideline, you want to aim to give a partial change to your freshwater tank, of about 10-20% about every 3 weeks.  Again, if for some reason the water becomes very dirty, you should change it sooner than that.

When it comes to saltwater tanks, you will need to change out about 10% of the water each and every week for the entire first year of having the tank.  After this timeframe, you can follow the same guidelines as freshwater tanks.

If you have more fish in your tank, you will also have a larger bio-load, meaning that the water is going to need to be changed more often.  The same is true if you have a smaller tank, as the water can potentially become unstable. No matter what type of tank you have, during the first few months of keeping fish in it, you are going to want to monitor the conditions of the water on a regular basis.  It will be easier to come up with an idea of how often you are going to need to clean your tank when you have a record with all of the different parameters on it.

But keep in mind that the parameters of the tank are going to depend entirely on the specific species of fish that you are keeping.  Just remember that the different species of fish are going to have specific requirements that you are going to need to research. This is the only way to be sure that the fish, invertebrates, or corals that you have in there are all going to be within acceptable parameters.

Cleaning Your Fish Tank

When it comes to actually cleaning your fish tank, there are several different steps that you are going to want to follow.  By following the steps listed below, you will make sure that you have not forgotten anything and that your tank stays within the optimal parameters and your fish stay healthy.

Step #1:  Preparation

To get started with cleaning your tank, you are first going to want to gather all of the supplies that you are going to require.  The supplies that you will need to thoroughly clean your fish tank include:

• Siphon gravel/sand vacuum
• Algae pad/scraper (a magnetic cleaner will work great)
• Large sized bucket (you want to make sure that this bucket is only used when you are cleaning out your tank.  This will prevent any household chemicals from getting into your tank accidentally)
• New filter (is optional but recommended)
• Used clean cloth or towel
• Prepared water (how much you will need is going to depend upon how much you are going to replace, as well as if your tank is freshwater or saltwater)
• Water testing kit
• Heater and Powerhead (for saltwater aquariums only)
• Salinity probe (for saltwater aquariums only)

Since the majority of fish tanks are usually too heavy to be moved, you are going to make sure you have a siphon that will allow you to suck water out of your tank, and a larger sized bucket that will allow you to bring the replacement water for the tank.

You are going to unplug all of the tanks electronics including the filter, heater, and any other pumps that may be running.  Next you will need to remove any of the larger ornaments or decorations.

When you are removing decorations from the tank, be sure that you do so slowly to avoid stirring up any of the debris that may be on the bottom of the tank.  If you are using artificial plants, they can also be removed if they are in need of a cleaning as well, but try to never remove any of the live plants that you may have in the tank, as this will disrupt their root’s growth.

Step #2:  Remove the Water

You are going to want to replace about 10-20% of all the water in the tank about every 3 weeks.  You can use a siphon gravel vacuum that has a hose attachment to easily clean all the gravel at the bottom of the tank, as well as remove the water at the same time.

Try to suck up smaller amount of the gravel with the siphon, as any waste will also be sucked up through the tube and sent to the water bucket along with the water.  As for the gravel, it will simply fall back into place at the bottom of the tank.

Some of the fancier siphons come with a built-in regulator to help control how much water flows through the hose, and some siphons will also come with longer hose attachments so that you can put the waste water directly into the sink (this is ideal if you don’t require any of the water to wash other pieces of equipment in.)

This step is not only going to remove the water from your tank, but it will also clean all the gravel by removing all of the waste that has sunken down to the substrate.

Step #3:  Removing Algae

One of the absolute easiest ways that you can clean the glass of your tank is going to be using a magnetic algae cleaner.  A magnetic algae cleaner has two magnets, one being attached to the inside of your tank, the other being attached to the outside of your tank.  All that is left to do is drag the outside magnet over the glass walls of the tank, and the magnets on the inside will follow, gently removing most of the algae that has built up.

If your tank is made of acrylic, make sure that you select a cleaner that is not going to scratch the surfaces of your tank.

If any of the decorations from your tank need to be cleaned as well, you can easily do this with your bucket of water that you siphoned out of the tank.  Just be sure that you are using a clean toothbrush with soft-bristles to avoid scratching anything. Another thing to remember is that you will never want to use any kind of soap or other cleaning products, as this can potentially be very deadly to the fish in your aquarium.

You may even want to think about getting a clean-up crew, as they will eat some of the algae that has built up in the tank.

Step #4:  Cleaning the Filter

Depending upon the quality and type of filter that you are using, you may need to clean and even change the water that is in your filter.  One of the most common types of filters used today is known as a sponge filter. To clean one, you are going to remove it and then rinse it in the bucket that has the water you siphoned out form the tank.

You never want to run your filter directly under any tap water, as this is gong to remove any of the bacteria that have been built up and is necessary for the health of your tank.

If you are using a different type of filter that acts like a mechanical filter (sponge, filter fiber, ceramic rings, etc.), is going to need to be rinsed off and replaced as quickly as you can to limit the amount of bacteria colonies that are lost.

If you are using a filter that contains ammonia absorbers, ion exchange resins, or carbon, they will need to be replaced every couple of weeks or so, as they will no longer work as they should and how much they absorb will began to decline.  

Once the filter is clean, you should also clean the rest of the filter as well, including the filter tubing.  This is easily done with a filter brush.

Step #5:  Replacing the Water

Once you have completed the last four steps, it is time to top of your tank’s water.  The type of water that you will add is going to depend upon whether you have a freshwater or saltwater tank.

• Preparation for Freshwater

If you can, try to prepare the water that you will be using to fill your aquarium in advance.  Simply take some tap water and let it sit for 24 hours before you start to clean your tank. This will allow all the chlorine that is in the water to evaporate out.

It is necessary to use water conditioner to help eliminate any heavy metals, toxins, and chlorine that can be harmful to your fish.  When you prepare your tank water in advance, it will give the water a chance to get to room temperature as well.

• Preparation for Saltwater

When it comes to saltwater tanks, you are going to have to be much more precise when you are changing the water.  There are going to be three separate parameters that will need to be observed, temperature, pH, and salinity.

If you have reef in your aquarium, you will need to use RO (reverse osmosis) or DI (deionized) water.  You can get this from your local aquarium store. In fact, this is the type of water that should be used for all of your saltwater tank setups.

If you do need to use tap water, you will want to do a total Dissolved Solids (TDS) test, ideally getting a reading of zero, but less than 10 is acceptable.  Next you are going to want to dechlorinate the water and add a special salt mix. There are many different options for this, so be sure that you choose a higher quality mix from a well-known brand.

Once this is added, leave the water overnight prior to adding it back to your aquarium, giving the salt a chance to completely dissolve.

• Adding the Water

Wen you add the water back into your tank, be sure that the salinity and temperature of the water is as close to the tank’s as possible.  This will avoid any sudden changes within your tank.

After a couple of hours, double check the tank’s water parameters and make sure that it is not cloudy.  Lastly, if you feel so inclined, you can clean off the outside of your tank with an approved aquarium glass cleaner and soft cloth.

Congratulations, you have just successfully cleaned your fish tank!

The post How to Clean a Fish Tank [2019] appeared first on Simply Pets.

If you are thinking about finally making the big leap and getting your very own aquarium to fill up with cool freshwater fish, there are some things that you are going to need to know before you actually get started.  In fact, in this guide, you will find literally everything that you will ever need in order to get your fresh water aquarium all set up, including what the absolute best fish to get are. In this guide, you will discover the exact aquarium you should get (no matter if you are a complete beginner or are more advanced), as well as what fish you need to get to make your new aquarium really awesome.  Oh, and you’ll learn how to make sure all your fish stay healthy as well.

When it comes to fresh water fish aquariums, there are several different choices that you are going to have to make, which will determine exactly how easy or difficult your aquarium is going to be to take care of and maintain.  This is exactly why many of the new aquarium keepers choose a freshwater tank over a saltwater one; the freshwater ones are simply much easier to take care of and maintain. And on top of that, you don’t need to go out and spend tons of money on expensive aquarium equipment.  Plus, keeping a nice freshwater aquarium will give you the benefit of having an aquarium, but without having to pay all the costs associated with an excessive setup.

What You Must Know About Freshwater Aquariums

When you have a fresh water aquarium, it is not something that you can simply setup and then forget about.  Here are some of the leading concerns and what you need to know before you decide to get a freshwater aquarium.

• The Temperature of your Tank

While there are a lot of people out there who will tell you that freshwater aquariums are extremely simple to maintain, they would be wrong.  Even when you are working with a very basic aquarium setup, there are always going to be aspects that you will need to keep in mind for your aquarium to thrive like you think is should.  One of these things just happens to be your tanks temperature. In fact, any and every freshwater aquarium is going to be maintained and kept in a certain temperature range in order to maintain the fish that live within it.

Luckily, most people who have a freshwater aquarium are able to easily maintain the tanks temperature, often times the plants that they add to their tanks are neglected.  Just keep in mind that the plants you add to your tank are just as dependent upon the temperature as the fish are.

With this being said, it is actually critical that you select fish that all live within a certain temperature range.  Think about it for a second; if you select a fish that thrives in cold water and put it with a fish that is for tropical regions, do you really think that they are going to be able to coexist without having any problems?  This means that when you are selecting the fish for your tank, you also keep in mind the plants that you are going to add to the tank as well. Essentially, the average temperature for a freshwater tank is going to be between 72 and 82 degrees.  When it comes to aquarium plants, the average temperature is going to be between 76 and 86 degrees. Essentially, just make sure that the fish you select are able to coexist with the plants you select.

• Your Freshwater Tank’s pH

The potential of hydrogen (more commonly known as pH) in your tank is one of the most important factors to consider in any aquarium setup.  Depending upon the type of fish that you plan on having in your tank, the pH balance is going to vary. This means that different types of fish are going to require a different pH level.  There are some fish that will thrive in a more acidic atmosphere, while there are others that are going to prefer a more basic tank.

With this being said, it is very important that you are careful not to mix the two different types of fish.  If you were to put fish that prefer a more acidic environment with fish that prefer a more basic environment, the end result would be dead fish.  This would be a terrible situation and force you to start all over from the beginning again.

The pH of your tank is very similar to the temperature of your tank in the sense that it is another factor you are going to have to take into account before you are able to select the fish you want for your aquarium.  As with temperature, the pH is going to not just affect the fish you have in your tank, but the plant life as well. So you know, the average pH for freshwater fish is between 6.5 and 7.5, while the average for plants is 6 to 7.5.

Freshwater Tank Testing Elements

There is no doubting the importance of the pH balance and water temperature of your freshwater aquarium.  However, there are also several other factors that are going to need to be taken into account as well. Each of these certain factors are equally important to keeping your freshwater aquarium community as healthy as possible.

To really factor in all of these elements, you are going to need to invest into a water testing kit.  This will allow you to track all of the different elements that are related to the water that is in your aquarium.

While there are many different things that you can focus on, the main elements that you are going to want to monitor with your home freshwater testing kit are going to include:

• Nitrate (this needs to be at zero)
• Ammonia (this needs to be at zero)
• Alkalinity (this needs to be between 4 and 8 KH)
• Nitrate (this needs to be less than 50 ppm)
• Water hardness (this needs to be between 4 and 12 GH)

For many of the new freshwater aquarium owners, the whole idea of balancing water pH can be very intimidating.  However, with the use of a simple home testing kit that can be purchased at any pet store or grocery store, you will easily be able to maintain your tanks pH like a professional.  And don’t worry, fixing your tank when it is out of the correct pH range is as easy as adding a special pH supplement that you can get at any pet shop.

What Fish to Populate your Aquarium With

There are many people out there who believe that having a saltwater aquarium is much better than a freshwater one.  This is mainly because there is a common misconception that a saltwater aquarium is a lot more interesting than its freshwater counterpart, as well as saltwater fish being more exciting than freshwater ones.  Yes, there is a definite difference between the types of fish that freshwater and saltwater aquariums can have, there is actually an enormous amount of diversity that can be had with only selecting freshwater fish for your tank.

Just keep in mind that the number one factor when you are selecting your freshwater fish and plants are going to be experience and compatibility.

If you are looking to make your aquarium diverse with a combination of different freshwater fish breeds, it is going to be extremely important that you only select the fish that are going to be compatible with each other.  This means that you are not going to be able to put the aggressive fish with the basic community fish. If you do, it will lead to the aggressive fish putting all the community fish to death by either eating them or stressing them out until the simply die.

Not only is your aquarium’s setup an important factor in the fish that you end up selecting, but so is the experience level you have as well.  There are actually some fish that are much easier to maintain, while others are much more involved. If you are a more inexperienced fish keeper, you are not going to want to choose a freshwater fish that is only recommended for the more experienced aquarium keeper.  If you do, it will not only be extremely frustrating, but it will also cost you a bunch of money that you probably don’t’ want to waste on fish that are more than likely going to die.

Now keep in mind that you are able to purchase whatever fish that you want to purchase, but keep in mind that the more expensive the fish is, the more advanced the fish keeper should be.  If you do not have the right experience to properly maintain these particular fish, it can quickly become a very expensive lessen in the sense that your entire freshwater aquarium is going to be dead.

The Beginner Freshwater Fish

While there are numerous different types of freshwater fish that would be perfect for your tank, there are actually several that are the perfect match for those aquarium owners who do not yet have the experience of others.  Some of these fish breeds include the goldfish, beta fish, cichlids, barb fish, glofish, and even guppies. You are about to get a crash course in all of the various freshwater aquarium fish types that you should consider having in your tank.

• Glofish

A special type of Danio fish, the glofish is commonly recognized by its ability to glow.  These are some of the most fluorescent types of fish available in a freshwater tank, and are becoming more and more popular every day for the newbie aquarium builder.  They are great as a starter fish as they do not require a lot of extra work, and they just happen to be one of the more peaceful breeds that get along with just about every breed you can find.  They thrive in water that is between 64 and 75 degrees, and has a pH balance of between 6.5 and 7.5. These fish are successful with an omnivorous type of diet, and you can expect them to grow to a length of about 2 inches long, mainly dependent upon the tank size.  However, glofish are able to survive in jus t2 inches of water.

• Cichlids

Being one of the more popular fish for the beginner freshwater aquarium advocates, cichlids actually come in an extremely wide variety that has something for everyone.  The most popular of the cichlids just happens to be the electric blue one, but this particular breed just happens to be on the more aggressive side as well. Not only are they more aggressive, but they can also grow to be over 8” long, putting the in a tank that is at least 70 gallons.  While these cichlids are on the larger size when it comes to freshwater aquarium fish, they are extremely easy to care for, but they do have a carnivorous diet. On top of that, the average temperature of the tank needs to be between 76 and 82 degrees, with a pH of at least 7.8, and a max of 8.6.

• Betta Fish

One of the fish that everybody loves to have, betta fish are great if you are a fist time fish owner.  They are not only extremely colorful, but are also very peaceful, unless you put them with another betta fish.  If you put two of these fish together, it will quickly become much more difficult for you. You see, the male betta fish just happen to be very aggressive, making them one of those fish that you need to keep alone.  Even when they are paired with female betta fish, the males are still going to become very aggressive. The only exception is for an extremely short time when the males and females are mating.

If you do decide to add a beta to your aquarium, chances are that only one male betta is going to work.  However, there have been many instances where several female betta fish have successfully been housed together without any instances at all.  

With that being said, one of the most popular betta fish that freshwater aquarium owners like, is the crown tail betta, more commonly known for its amazing tail design.  While this is a carnivorous fish, it can also grow to be about 3” long in overall length. This means that the minimum aquarium requirement is going to at least 1 gallon.  The temperature should be between 75 and 86 degrees, while the pH is going to be between 6 and 8.

• Goldfish

Being one of the most common fish for aquarium starters of all time, goldfish are perfect for adults and children alike.  If you choose to get a red cap oranda goldfish, you will have just adopted the easiest freshwater fish to take care of. Not only is this breed of goldfish easy to take care of, but it is also extremely good looking and peaceful as well.  While they can grow up to 10 inches long in length, they are going to require an aquarium that is a minimum of 30 gallons. And so you can add some other fish to the tank, know that the average temperature that these fish thrive in is between 65 and 75 degrees, with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5.

• Tiger Barb

Another one of the more commonly recommended community fish, barb fish are perfect for the beginner aquarium owner.  While the tiger barb is the most common fish breed, it is also one of the easiest fish to take care of at the same time.  While the barb fish is very easy to maintain, it is also one of the more semi-aggressive fish as well. This means that you are going to have to head caution when you are adding other types of fish to your tank.  The tiger barb will grow to a max of 3 inches long, and due to this it is going to require a minimum of at least 30 gallons. The temperature of their tank should be someplace between 74 and 79 degrees, and maintain a pH of at least 6, but with a max pH of 7.

• Guppies

Guppies are one of those breeds of fish that just about every childe has heard about one-way or the other.  When it comes to keeping guppies in your fresh water aquarium however, the most popular and easiest type of guppy to keep is going to be the green cobra guppy.  This fish is one of the more friendly and peaceful fish, and is very easy to care for as all they require is a omnivorous diet. Maxing out at about 2” in length, the minimum size aquarium that they need is going to be at least 20 gallons, and a temperature that ranges between about 64 and 82 degrees.  As for the pH levels, the ideal pH is between 5.5 and 8.

• Blue Johanni Cichlid

Often chosen for many fresh water aquariums because of their beautiful blue coloring, the Blue Johanni Cichlid is a very bright blue color and has different lines of black floor that runs the entire length of their bodies.  Due to the potential size of these cichlids, the recommended tank size for these ones is going to be at least 50 gallons. While they are easy to maintain, they are considered to be a more aggressive fish, so you are going to need to pay extra attention to the other fish that you add to your aquarium.  Being native to Lake Malawi, which is located in Africa, you can expect them to grow to be about 5” long at full maturity. As for diet, they are a herbivorous fish that are their healthiest in a water temperature of 76 and 82 degrees and a pH balance of between 7.8 and 8.6. When it comes to feeding, they require a diet that is made up of vegetable rich lake type foods such as plants and algae.

• Peppered Cory Cat

Being one of the more affordable fish on this list, the peppered cory cat is one of the best fish for beginner aquarium goers.  Being silver in color, it has thin black markings that go up and down its body and just happens to be one of the more peaceful fish available for fresh water tanks.  With a recommended minimum aquarium size of at least 30 gallons, the water’s temperature should be anywhere between 72 and 79 degrees, and have pH level of between 5.8 and 7.  With its only natural location being from South America, they are an omnivorous fish and tend to thrive on a diet that is composed of both freeze-dried bloodworms, as well as catfish pellet food.  They also enjoy other types of live and frozen foods as well.

• Otocinclus Catfish

If you are a newbie to fresh water aquariums, the otocinclus catfish is one of the best fish that you can start out with.  While it is not as bright as some of the other fish on this list, it is also one of the fish that is overlooked by many as well.  But don’t let the lack of bright colors fool you, as this is one fish that is much more hardy than many of the other ones available for your fresh water aquarium.  Flourishing in tanks that are at least 30 gallons or more, these are some of the most peaceful fish you will have in your tank, helping keep your community of mixed species running smoothly.  The ideal temperature for these fish is between 74 and 79 degrees, with a pH level from 6.8 to 7.5. The otocinclus catfish is a herbivore, which means that they usually prefer to have their diet made up of algae and other vegetation.  If you do not have any algae in your aquarium, you will need to feed them some type of supplemental food that does contain a high amount of vegetation. You can expect these fish to reach a length of about 2” long when fully grown.

• Cherry Barb

Being a magnificent shade of pink that will attract most fresh water aquarium owners, the cherry barb is a small aquarium fish that will reach a length of about 2” long.  They are a particularly peaceful fish that is very hardy and extremely easy to maintain and care for. They do prefer their water temperature to be between 74 and 79 degrees, and a pH somewhere between 6 and 7.  They are an omnivorous fish that prefer to eat a diet that is packed full of a variety of meaty foods like brine shrimp and bloodworms, combined with flake food as well. The smallest tank size that you will want if you decide to get a cherry barb is going to be at least 30 gallons.

• Boesemani Rainbow

Another one of the fish that attracts the attention of many new fresh water aquarium owners, the Boesemani rainbow fish has extremely bright and beautiful coloring that makes you want it in your tank.  While this particular breed of fish does cost a little more than some of the other colorful fish on this list, it is also very peaceful and extremely easy to take care of and maintain. Because of these qualities, it is highly recommended as one of the better starter fish if you are an aquarium beginner.  This is an omnivorous fish that prefers a diet of flakes, live and frozen foods. However, it is very important that you only feed them smaller foods that are going to be able to fit down their small throats. They grow to a max of about 3” long when fully grown and require no less than a 30 gallon tank. They prefer to be in water that is between 72 and 77 degrees and has a pH of 7 to 8.

• Harlequin Rasbora

Being one of the more affordable fish on the list, the harlequin rasbora is a very beautiful orange color that has a black triangle on the backside of its body.   Unlike some of the other fresh water fish, they prefer to swim around the top of the tank and need at least 10 gallons to be happy and healthy. The perfect water temperature for them is between 72 and 77 degrees with a pH balance of 6 to 6.5.  They will grow to around roughly 2” and eat an omnivorous diet. They thrive on a healthy dose of flake foods, tubifex, and freeze-dried bloodworms.

• Albino Peacock Cichlid

Being a beautiful and shimmering pink and white color that is flecked with hints of neon yellow and blue, the albino peacock cichlid is one of the few albino fish that actually has eyes that are pink in color.  The minimum recommended tank size for these is slightly larger at 50 gallons that is only because these fish are able to reach a length of up to 5” once they are fully grown. This fish is a carnivorous fish, meaning that it will need a diet that consists of both vegetables and meat sources.  Typically, they are fed a combination of flake food, as well as pellet based foods, as well as frozen or live brine shrimp. They prefer their tank to have a temperature of between 76 and 82 degrees, and a pH level that is between 7.8 and 8.6.

Freshwater Fish for the More Advanced

Just because you are looking to set up a fresh water aquarium tank does not always mean that you are a beginner who has never done this before.  And if you are not a beginner, this means that you have some type of experience when it comes to having and maintaining fish, giving you the knowledge that is required in order to properly care for some of the more advanced freshwater fish breeds.  Some of these breeds of fish can include: African butterfly fish, fahaka puffers, black ghost knifefish, kissing gouramis, clown loach, silver arowana, tiger Oscar, and the African tiger fish.

• Fahaka Puffers

Generally chosen because they have the unique ability to puff themselves up, the fahaka puffers are some of the most sought after freshwater fish that you can have.  However, they do pose some types of problems for their tank owners, as they have never been breed successfully while in captivity. They are on the more aggressive side and will need a tank that is no smaller than 125 gallons.  This is because they will grow to maturity and reach a size of 17”, or 1 foot and 5 inches. While they are a carnivorous fish, they are going to require a larger number of plants that will allow them to hide.

• African Butterfly Fish

While the African butterfly fish is one of the more unique looking fishes that has fins looking like a butterfly’s wings, they are also very aggressive and will require much more care than many other fish.  They grow to reach a size of about 4” once fully grown and prefer their tank to be no smaller than 30 gallons. As for the temperature of the water, it should be between 75 and 86 degrees, and the pH should be from 6.9 to 7.1.  The African butterfly fish is a carnivorous fish, meaning that you will need to feed it other smaller fish or shrimp, but can get by with a healthy dose of freeze-dried foods that are recommended to feed to carnivorous fish.

• Black Ghost Knifefish

Being particularly oddly shaped, the black ghost knifefish is somewhat difficult to maintain and take care of.  While this fish is on the more semi-aggressive side, you are going to need to take that into consideration when you are selecting other fish for your aquarium.  They are a carnivorous fish that will eventually grow to be around roughly 18”, or 1 foot and 6 inches long. They require your aquarium to be at least 50 gallons if you want them to maintain good health.  The water temperature needs to be between 73 to 80 degrees, with a pH balance of 6.5 to 7.

• Clown Loach

This is a unique fish as it is easily recognizable by the black and orange stripes that is wears.  It is also one of the more sought after fresh water fish because of the bright decorations that it will bring to your tank, as well as the naturally peaceful nature.  While the clown loach is a peaceful fish, they are also moderately difficult to maintain and will require a steady diet that is mainly omnivorous. They grow to be about 12” or one foot long and thrive in tanks that are at least 50 gallons.  They enjoy water that has a temperature between 72 and 86 degrees, and a pH balance that is from 6 to 7.5.

• Kissing Gourami’s

One of the more appropriately named fish, the kissing gourami is one of the more popular fish because they appear to ‘kiss’ other kissing gourami fish when they meet them in the same aquarium.  They are a silvery pink color and have a very peaceful name, however, they are really considered to be on the more semi-aggressive side. This means that you are going to need to carefully select the other fish that you decide to put into your aquarium with these fish.  They eat an omnivorous diet and need to be in a tank that is no smaller than 30 gallons. On top of that, you are gong to need to know what you are doing in order to care and maintain them. They prefer their water temperature to be between 72 and 82 degrees, and a tank pH of between 6.8 and 8.5.

• African Tiger Fish

Requiring only the more experienced fresh water aquarium owners, the African tiger fish can grow to a larger size and is only recommended for tanks that are at least 500 gallons.  In fact, when they are fully grown, the African tiger fish can reach a length of 3 feet 4 inches long. On top of that, they are also known to be very aggressive with the other fish that are in the tank.  They prefer the temperature of their water to be between 73 and 82 degrees, and a pH level that is from 6.5 to 7.8.

• Silver Arowana

In many different Asian cultures, the silver arowana fish is a symbol of extreme fortuitous.  Because of this, there are many people who practice feng shiu who actively seed out this particular breed of fish.  They are a moderately difficult fish to maintain and can be on the semi-aggressive side. This means that you are going to need to be careful when you are selecting other fish to put into the same tank.  They are able to reach a full grown size of 3 feet 4 inches, meaning that the smallest tank you should have for them is going to be 250 gallons.

• Tiger Oscar

Being one of the most difficult fish that you can have in your freshwater aquarium, the Tiger Oscar is hard to keep happy and healthy, making it a less recommended fish for the inexperienced.  In fact, it is highly recommended that you only attempt to keep this fish if you are an expert with tons of experience. They are a semi-aggressive fish that eat a carnivorous diet, and can grow to the length of 12”, or 1 foot.  Because of this, they require a minimum tank size of at least 70 gallons, and require a temperature that is between 72 and 77 degrees. As for pH, that is going to need to be between 6 and 8.

So Which Fish are Best for My Aquarium?

While there are many people who decide to go into their very fist aquarium experience believing that they are only able to purchase certain breeds of fish, they soon find out that they are very far from the truth.  In fact, while most of the fish are restricted by only the temperature of the tank, you are really only limited by the temperament of the particular breed of fish that you decide to have in your aquarium. While you do not have to only select one species of fish to populate your aquarium, you can and it will be a very boring tank.

The best thing that you can do for your aquarium, whether you are just starting out or have years of aquarium experience, is to diversify your fresh water tank as much as possible.  You should jump into diversity with the fish you decide to have, which will create an amazing aquarium experience. Just be sure to remember that in order for your tank to maintain a healthy environment, you are going to want to match fish that have similar temperaments, as well as requirements.  It is always best if you choose fish that are equivalent with your level of experience, as well as compatible with the other fish in the tank. If you do this, you will have no problems when you decide to grow your tank and build an aquarium that thrives.

Freshwater Aquarium Ownership, an Overview

While there are many that will have you believe owning a freshwater aquarium is not as rewarding as it sounds and that a saltwater tank would be better, this is all a matter of their personal opinion.  Being a freshwater aquarium owner can provide you with just as much diversity as a saltwater tank, but for a fraction of the price and time involved with the maintenance. In fact, there are many freshwater fish that are actually more aggressive and even pickier than their saltwater counterparts.

At the end of the day however, the type of aquarium you decide to have is all about your personal preference.  No matter which one you decide to go with, both a freshwater aquarium and a saltwater aquarium will bring you tons of joy and entertainment.

The post Ultimate Guide to Freshwater Aquarium Fish 2020 appeared first on Simply Pets.

A recipe for home made fish food, perfect for large cichlids, catfish, etc.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs Flat fish (haddock, sole, flounder, hake)
• 2 Cans Tiny whole shrimp packed in water, not oil
• 2 Cans Minced crabmeat 16 oz.
  Fresh spinach or peas

Directions

Blanch spinach/peas, drain well, and set aside. Drain shrimp and crab well. Cut fish into 1″ cubes, and combine with all other ingredients. If using a blender or food
processor, chop fish into a coarse paste, then add other ingredients. Using a meat grinder, process all ingredients using a fine die. Pack mixture into resealable sandwich bags, and pack down to about 1/4″ thickness.

When feeding fish, use a very sharp knife (a pumpkin carving knife is perfect) and shave strips into tank. For smaller fish you can grate food into the aquarium.

Feed no more than once each day, and use care not to overfeed. Zucchini or romaine lettuce would be fair substitutes for spinach, but we like spinach, so there. When adding any of your own ingredients be careful: you don’t want to be left with over 2 pounds of useless
food. Always choose a non-oily fish if substituting. We always buy flat fish, whatever is on sale at the time. When feeding large fish, this food will outlast commercial
foods by 3:1 or more, and costs about 25% of store-bought foods. We still feed our fish Doro Min daily to assure a balanced diet. With feeder fish, and earthworms gathered from the yard in the rain, our fish food bill has stayed reasonable.

The post Homemade Fish Delight appeared first on Simply Pets.