How to Set Up a Tropical Fish Tank

A freshwater tropical fish tank can be an eye-catching addition to your home that is both beautiful and beneficial. It will be a source of enjoyment to guests and householders and both children and adults will be captivated and entertained. For novices setting up a tropical fish tank aquarium for the very first we’ve put together some guidelines to make it easier for you to make the most of your new aquarium and to keep it in good condition and looking gorgeous.

Investigate the different species of fish you will be placing in your aquarium before going to buy your fish. Make sure you appreciate how large the fish are going to grow and the number that can be comfortably accommodated in your tank when they are mature. A crowded tank will not be a healthy tank! Next look into the types of fishes that can be kept together. A tank that holds various fish species that can live peacefully together is called a community tank. A few fish, for example tiger barbs and rosy barbs, might be fine when they are small but mature into aggressive bullies. There are lots of fish that can be put into a community tank including Neon Tetra, Rainbowfish, Hatchetfish, Molly, Harlequin Rasbora, Leopard Catfish, Opaline Gourami, Platy, Head Tail Light Tetra, Guppy, Pearl Gourami, Penguin Fish, Horseface Loach, Lyretail and lots more.

Now that your aquarium is filled with fish here are a few tips to help to maintain it:

* Do not overfeed - Rotting food left in the aquarium will emit poisonous chemicals and damage your fish. Only put in as much food as the fish can eat completely in about three minutes, twice a day. Fish are intended to be hungry the majority of the time and if they don’t move toward to the top of the tank when you open the lid to feed them you are feeding them too much!

* Twice a month partly replace the water. Wipe the glass every week using an algae scraper and every month or so take out the rocks and ornaments to remove any algae. Don’t remove all of the water or clean the filter, ornaments, rocks, plants etc at the same time. This will eradicate all the valuable microorganisms that you worked so hard to encourage when you set up the tank and stress the fish as the levels of ammonia escalate.

* When the water gets low, top up with water that is free of chlorine. If you don’t want to use de chlorinate the water with chemicals, leave a covered pail of tap water for 2 days to permit the chlorine to evaporate

* For newly purchased fish or fish with signs of illness you will need a small quarantine tank. Place any newly bought fish in the quarantine tank for about seven days to prevent the introduction of any diseases into your main fish tank.

* Continue to test the water for ammonia, pH and nitrite levels four or five times a week to catch anything going wrong before stress is caused to your fish. If the levels of ammonia or nitrites start to rise a partial water change can often help without having to use any chemicals.

Lastly enjoy your hobby and consider going to a local club. Talking with other tropical fish enthusiasts is a good way to find out more about your new hobby.