Tropical fish are part of a delicate ecosystem that needs constant and careful maintenance. There are a few factors that need to be taken into consideration, not only in relation to the fish you own, but also to the way you take care of the fish and their environment. Read this article for tips on how to best care for tropical fish.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Setting up the Aquarium
Step 1. Choose the right position
When setting up your aquarium you need to make sure you place it in a place that is as little stressful as possible for the fish.
- Avoid places that would expose fish to loud noises, such as near a television, stereo, washing machine, dryer, etc.
- Avoid places that would change the water temperature, such as near a radiator, radiator, or air conditioner.
- Avoid places where fish would be disturbed by frequent vibrations, such as near doors that are often opened and closed or at passageways.
- Do not expose the aquarium to sources of direct sunlight, such as a window or skylight, as this may increase algae growth and alter the balance of the aquarium's ecosystem.
- Do not put the aquarium in a place where there can be drafts, such as near doors or windows.
Step 2. Install a high quality filter system
It is almost impossible to over-filter an aquarium, so it is better to over-filter a little than to have poor filtering. There are three types of filtering: mechanical, biological and chemical.
- Mechanical filtration uses a pump to pass water through a sponge that traps debris. The mechanical filter helps keep the water clean and clear, although most tropical fish don't need crystal clear water for their habitat, so clear water is mostly for your benefit.
- Biological filtering also passes water through a sponge, but in this case the latter contains bacteria that remove harmful substances.
- Chemical filtration uses special filtration equipment that removes harmful chemicals.
- If you have an aquarium with saltwater fish, you will also need a skimmer, a filter device that removes organic compounds from the water.
Step 3. Install a heating device
Uses a thermostatically controlled heater designed to work underwater. The thermostat can be set to a specific temperature and the heater will turn on if the water temperature drops below the set temperature.
The most important factor when choosing a heater is the correct voltage. Be sure to choose one with enough voltage to heat the aquarium you own, but don't buy one with excessively high voltage, which will overheat the aquarium. The general rule is 5 watts per 5 liters
Step 4. Install an air pump
These pumps create bubbles in the water, which facilitate the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide necessary for the fish to breathe.
- Typically, air pumps are optional, as most filtration systems introduce a good amount of oxygen into the water. In any case, they can be useful in aquariums where large quantities of oxygen are used by the environment, for example if the tank is very rich in vegetation.
- Some use air pumps for an aesthetic factor, for the beauty of the bubbles.
Step 5. Install an aquarium light
Typically an aquarium light includes a tube and a switch; Although there are many different types of lights available, fluorescent ones are the most common choice for freshwater fish owners. Some saltwater fish aquariums require more specific types of lighting, depending on the species of fish housed.
- Fluorescent tubes are relatively inexpensive to use and do not produce significantly heat, making them very suitable for use in aquariums.
- Different types of lighting are best suited for encouraging plant growth or enhancing fish coloration, but in general a full spectrum light offers pleasant and plant-friendly lighting.
Step 6. Prepare the physical environment
Carefully select the environmental features (rocks, plants, decorations) to include in the aquarium.
- The environment must reproduce the natural habitat of the fish as much as possible, or they will become stressed, sick and may even die.
- If you are not sure which environment is suitable for your fish, ask for advice at an aquarium store.
- If you are setting up an aquarium for saltwater fish, it is highly recommended to add live rocks, i.e. fragments of coral reef that have broken off naturally. Live rocks contain many living organisms necessary to keep the aquarium ecosystem healthy.
Step 7. Start the aquarium without placing the fish in it yet
Before introducing fish to the aquarium, put water in it and let the filter / pump system run for at least 3-7 days - this will stabilize the environment and make it hospitable to the fish.
Starting the aquarium before introducing the fish is also important because it allows the dissolution of harmful impurities
Step 8. Introduce beneficial bacteria
Introduce beneficial bacteria to aquarium water with a cycle-promoting product, which you can purchase at a pet or aquarium store.
Beneficial bacteria are needed and are an integral part of the aquarium environment. Without them, the delicate ecosystem that fish need to survive will not be established
Part 2 of 3: Introducing Pisces into Aquarius
Step 1. Add hardy fish
When choosing the first fish to introduce into the aquarium, look for the more robust species. Some types of fish manage to survive better than others in an environment with high levels of ammonia and nitrites, as the aquarium most likely is at this point.
- Among the most resistant fish we find the danio, the gourami and the viviparous fish.
- Do not add more delicate types of fish at this early stage of setting up the aquarium environment, as they will most likely not survive.
- Ask the shopkeeper where you will be purchasing the fish to help you choose the species that fit best in a newly created aquarium.
- Avoid overcrowding the aquarium. Do not add more than three fish per week to the aquarium, or the ammonia could rise to toxic levels, which could prove lethal to the fish.
Step 2. Choose the right fish
As you begin to gradually populate your aquarium, choose fish carefully. There are hundreds of tropical fish species and not all of them can coexist well: some are aggressive, others are territorial, still others are predators and so on. Make sure you choose species that can live together in the aquarium without fighting or killing each other.
- Choosing the wrong fish will not only cause unnecessary suffering to the aquarium inhabitants, it is also easily avoidable by doing some research.
- Do your research and talk to the shopkeepers of the shops you buy fish from so you can learn about their needs. Also, to make sure your fish get along well, check that they have compatible needs for the environment they live in. If they all have different habitat needs, the aquarium ecosystem will not be able to meet them all.
- Also, to ensure that your fish have similar environmental needs, make sure the optimal temperature and pH for them are also similar.
Step 3. Gradually introduce new fish
Do not throw new fish directly into the aquarium. Fish must be able to regulate their own temperature: being placed directly in new water can cause them considerable stress.
- Turn off the lights in the aquarium so they don't disturb newcomers.
- For freshwater fish, immerse the plastic bag used to transport them (still closed) in the aquarium for about half an hour.
- Open the bag, put some aquarium water in it and leave the fish there for at least another 15 minutes.
- Take the fish with the net and place it in the aquarium.
- Throw away the bag after removing the fish.
- Leave the aquarium lights off for a few hours or the rest of the day.
- For saltwater fish, you must isolate the new quarantined specimen in a separate tank before placing it in the aquarium.
Part 3 of 3: Maintaining the Aquarius
Step 1. Feed your fish regularly
This is not necessarily as simple as it may seem. Initially, when setting up the aquarium, feed the fish once a day; when the aquarium is well started, you can start feeding them according to the “little and often” rule.
- Saltwater fish, especially if they have been caught in the wild, may need to gradually get used to the food provided in the aquarium over a period of a few weeks.
- Some owners recommend introducing a "rest day" once a week, during which time the fish should not be fed. This is thought to improve fish health and encourage them to actively search for food.
- Food is the main source of dirt and harmful substances in the aquarium, so it is essential not to put too much of it, because overeating is one of the main causes of death for fish kept in aquariums.
- Give the fish only the amount of food they can consume in 3-5 minutes, no more. Remember to read the instructions on the package.
- If food is allowed to float to the surface or sink, you are overfeeding the fish.
- There are three main types of fish feeds, namely feed for fish that swim on the bottom, in the middle or in the upper part of the aquarium. So make sure you buy the correct type of fish feed you own.
- In general, it is advisable to feed the fish a variety of high quality frozen and pelleted feeds and thaw the feed before feeding it to the fish.
Step 2. Check the water temperature every day
Check the water every day to make sure its temperature is constant and within the ideal range for the fish housed in the aquarium.
- In general, the ideal temperature for freshwater tropical fish is between 23 ° C and 28 ° C.
- For saltwater fish, the recommended temperature usually varies between 24 ° C and 27 ° C.
Step 3. Check the water parameters
Every week it tests the hardness and alkalinity of the water, as well as the levels of ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, pH and chlorine. The ideal values for freshwater fish are as follows:
- pH - 6, 5 - 8, 2
- Chlorine - 0, 0 mg / L
- Ammonia - 0, 0 - 0, 25 mg / L
- Nitrites - 0, 0 - 0, 5 mg / L
- Nitrates - 0 - 40 mg / L
- Water hardness - 100 - 250 mg / L
- Alkalinity - 120 - 300 mg / L
- Saltwater fish have more specific requirements that vary from one species to another and will require additional specific kits to test the water. To find out the specific needs of the fish you own, consult an experienced dealer or owner. In general, most saltwater fish need:
- Relative density: 1.020 - 1.024 mg / L
- pH: 8.0 - 8.4
- Ammonia: 0 mg / L
- Nitrites: 0 mg / L
- Nitrates: 20 ppm or less (especially for invertebrates)
- Carbonate hardness: 7-10 dKH
- Water test kits are available at most pet and aquarium stores.
- If any of the detected levels are too high, remove and replace some of the water until the levels return to normal.
- If the water is cloudy or dirty, do a partial change and check that the filter is working properly.
- In freshwater aquariums, once a week remove 10% of the water and replace it with the same amount of water that has been properly treated against chlorine. Make sure that the temperature of the water you add is the same as that of the water in the tank, otherwise you could cause a temperature fluctuation that would be stressful for the fish.
- Once a month, remove 25% of the water from the tub and replace it with water that has been properly treated against chlorine. The water you add must be at the same temperature as the water in the aquarium, otherwise you could cause stress to the fish.
- In saltwater aquariums, remove 20% of the water once a month or about 5% once a week. Make sure you don't add freshly mixed salt water to the aquarium! Instead, prepare the water by mixing the salts in it at least a day in advance.
Step 4. Clean the aquarium walls
Every week, clean the inside walls of the tank and remove the algae formations.
- Choose a cleaning tool specific to acrylic or glass (depending on the material the aquarium walls are made of) to avoid scratching the surface.
- If there is an overgrowth of algae, this typically is a sign that something in the aquarium environment is not properly balanced. Test the water parameters, make sure there are not too many fish, check not to overfeed them, check that the tank is not excessively exposed to natural light, etc.
Step 5. Maintain the filter
Every month, carry out a complete maintenance of the filter system.
- The water filter system is crucial for the good maintenance of the aquarium, because it removes debris and harmful substances from the water and neutralizes ammonia and nitrites.
- Check the filter pieces. If necessary, rinse them with the water you removed from the aquarium. Do not rinse them with tap water or other water - this will upset the balance of beneficial bacteria and may even kill them.
- Replace the various pieces of the filter and rinse them.
Step 6. Maintain the air pump
Change the porous stone once a month (this is useful for the good functioning and life of the pump).
Clean the internal parts of the pump at least once a year
Step 7. Prune the plants
If there are live plants in the aquarium, prune them once a month to prevent them from overgrowing.
Also be sure to remove any yellowing or decaying leaves
Advice
- If you have to choose between freshwater or saltwater aquariums, keep in mind that fish and saltwater aquariums are more expensive and require more effort to maintain.
- Never clean the whole aquarium in one go. There are millions of beneficial bacteria living in the tank that help maintain its ecosystem. Removing all the water at once would seriously upset this balance.
- Check the fish daily to make sure they appear active and healthy.
- Check for symptoms of illness, which include loss of appetite, loss of color, drooping or torn fins, injuries or strange substances on the body, hiding, swimming oddly, and gasping on the surface. This is often a sign that something is wrong with the environment: either the water parameters are not right, or the fish are fed too much or too little, or the constituent elements of the aquarium (rocks, plants and decorations) are not suitable. the type of fish you own.
- Do not put rocks or other objects found in lakes or rivers in the aquarium: they would damage the ecosystem.
- Wash your hands before and after touching any element of the aquarium.
