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How do I keep a tropical fish aquarium?
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" Learn how you can QUICKLY set-up a safe & conducive environment for your fishes to stay in, so that they are HAPPY and grateful towards you, even though you are a total fish-idiot who have absolutely no idea how to swim! "
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Fish rearing is one of the most common hobby in the world. Unlike keeping other pets such as dogs or cats, fishes do not need a lot of attention. It is also relatively easy to maintain the aquarium once you know the basics. Fishes (other than the air pump) do not make a lot of noise, and are confined to an area of the house. This is what makes fish-rearing so popular.
Do you still remember the all-time favourite animated movie, Finding Nemo? This is still one of my favourites today. I believe this movie has greatly catapulated the sales of saltwater fish, especially the clown fish. LOL! Many people, young and old, are attracted to the many colours of the underworld.
If you are looking for a tropical fish guide that will teach you how to keep your aquarium fish happy, here you are!
Quick guide to keeping tropical fish
This is one of the best read I have ever encountered on keeping fish. Sean LeMay has been rearing fish for the past 30 years and I believe no one else is as passionate as he is. His experience in keeping tropical fish has helped him uncover hundreds of tips and fish secrets that no one seems to know. He has written this fish guide book to share his experience with fish lovers around the world.
If you are sick of flushing your dead fish down the toilet bowl or trying darn hard to keep your aquarium in good condition, read on.....
Sean will share with you:
- a little-known secret that will keep your aquarium water crystal clear.
- the ideal location to place your aquarium tank.
- the right type of food for your fish.
- how to maintain the water chemistry so that your fishes are kept happy.
- the 10 items in a fish first aid kit. Yes, they need a first aid kit as much as we humans do!..
- .....and tons of other information!
The book is comprehensive and touches on almost everything, including both saltwater and freshwater fish (except sharks and the likes of course!). There are 2 accompanying bonuses, of which I like the latter. It provides detailed information about 50 types of freshwater fish, presented in 'profiles'. And yes, there are tons of beautiful pictures in it.
I will definitely recommend this read for anyone who wish to start an aquarium at home, be it saltwater or freshwater. There is simply too much information in there!
Visit Tropical Fish Secrets here.
Common fish diseases/problems and remedies
You have to first determine the problem before you apply any medication to your fish. While some diseases have symptoms that look similar, they need different treatments obviously.
A good practise would be to keep a small quarantine tank on standby, in case you need it to treat your sick fish. Not all fishes are affected at the same time, so you need to separate the sick one from the rest as quickly as possible. Another good practise is to keep common medications handy, so that you can apply them as and when you need to. Take care not to overstock and do check their expiry dates from time to time.
Here are some common fish diseases. Learn to recognise their symptoms.
Fish Tank Problems
Ammonia poisoning. Fish are seen gasping for air at the surface of the water. This usually happens for a new tank setup. It's part of the nitrogen cycle during which ammonia is converted into nitrates. Most fishes do not survive during the initial stage.
Remedy: When you are first setting up your aquarium, run the pump and put in cheaper fishes to start the cycle. Another alternative is to put in fish food and allow it to decompose to produce ammonia gas. The whole procedure should take at least 2 weeks. Once the nitrate level in the water is safe, you can then put in your fish.
Lack of oxygen. Fish are seen gasping for air at the surface.
Remedy: This can be easily rectified by adding an air pump to the tank.
For more information on setting up a new tank, go here.
Fish Tank Diseases
Fish fungus. White or dirty white cotton-like growth on the skin. When left untreated, the fish will die.
Remedy: Change your water every other day. If the situation does not improve, it is best to quarantine the sick fish and treat it individually. There are many ready-made fungus treatments in the market. Just shop around and ask for the right one.
Tail and/or fin rot. Obvious signs are rotting fins and blood on the edges of fins. This is usually caused by bullying fishes and/or poor water conditions. Tuberculosis can also lead to tail and fin rot.
Remedy: If it is caused by a bullying fish, separate them and treat it with antibiotics (chloromycetin). If it is caused by poor water conditions, change the aquarium water frequently.
Velvet. They appear as yellow or brown dusty spots on the fish.The fish may show signs of irritation and may be rubbing on surfaces in the tank.
Remedy: Quarantine the fish because Velvet is highly infectious. Treat it with copper at 0.2 mg per litre. Repeat once every few days if needed. Do not prolong the treatment as copper can cause fish poisoning.
Ich or White Spot (Ichthyophtirius multifiliis). It appear as white spots on the body. It is usually caused by poor water quality.
Remedy: You can head down to the pet shop and get a remedy for it. To help in the treatment, raise the temperature of water to 27ºC (80º F) to speed up the cycle time of this protozoa (Ichthyophtirius multifiliis).
Click here to learn the number one thing you need to do before you set up your new aquarium.
How to keep freshwater plants?
Having plants in an aquarium will improve the overall look and 'feel' of the tank. Besides beautifying your tank, plants help to reduce nitrate levels in the water and to provide oxygen for the fish. Setting up a tank with water plants can be a daunting process, but it's well-worth your time. Water hardness There are 2 types of hardness, carbonate hardness and general hardness. We shall only discuss carbonate hardness since it is much more important than general hardness. The hardness of the water depends on the amount of carbonates dissolved in water. Carbonates can be produced when carbon dioxide dissolves in water to form carbonic acid. Plants generally need at least 5 miligrams per litre of carbon dioxide to photosynthesize. To measure the hardness of water, head down to the pet shop and get a test kit. pH The pH of water is related to the carbonate hardness of the water. The presence of carbon dioxide will lower the pH value of the water. The water should be kept slightly acidic, around 6.4, for both healthy fish and plants. Substrates You will need a good substrate for plants to survive. The most common substrate is gravel. You should only use gravel purchased from the pet shop because it has been washed and is chemically-free. Gravel should not be sharp to prevent it from the injuring the fishes. The substrate for plants should be at least 2 inch (5cm) deep to allow the roots to penetrate it. Fertilisers Fertilisers provide trace elements that are essential for plant growth. How do you setup the soil? First, wet the gravel, but do not add the water into the tank as yet. Then lay the gravel at the bottom of the tank (around 0.5 inch). Add in the fertilliser. It should cover the whole tank. Be sure to ask the guys at the aquarium shop how much fertiliser you need for your tank size. Place your plants on the fertiliser layer and adjust until you are happy with the arrangement. Finally, add in the remaining gravel until it is at least 2 inches deep. Pat the gravel lightly to 'tighten' it. When you are pleased with your artwork, add in the water. I learnt this from the pet shop owner. The whole procedure is neat and clean and will not cloud the water. You will also save time on arranging the plants. Carbon dioxide Plants need carbon dioxide to make food and oxygen. So be sure to supply the tank with a constant flow of carbon dioxide gas. You can use a carbon dioxide reactor or a carbon dioxide gas tank, depending on your budget. Fish produce carbon dioxide as well, but if your tank is heavily-planted, the carbon dioxide produced is by and large insufficient. |
Sufficient lighting
Plants need sufficient light to photosynthesize as well. Invest in a compact flourescent light as it produce intense 'white' light that is ideal for photosynthesis to take place. Regular flourescent lights are cheaper, but they usually produce 'pink' light which is less effective.
Temperature of water
Plants survive best in 'cool' water. Be sure to get a fan or aquarium chiller if you are using lighting. A fan can reduce the temperature by around 2-3ºC and that is good enough. If you can afford a chiller, go ahead and pamper your plants (and fishes).
Essential elements
Plants cannot produce nutrients on their own. They need nutrients to photosynthesize, for cell growth, production of chlorophyll, etc. On top of the fertiliser that you have added, you need to add in supplements that usually come in liquid forms. This is because the frequent changing of water will deplete the water of these essential elements. These nutrients include sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphours and sulphur.
Related sites
If you are an arowana hobbyist, here is a site that you must see! Steven Yeoh has good quality information on how to keep arowanas happy. He will show you how to setup an arowana tank, select an arowana and even how to breed an arowana. Arowana breeding is not as difficult as it seems!
A complete guide to design and build your koi pond. Learn the types of drainage and filters that are necessary to ensure a thriving koi pond. Learn also how to keep your koi fish healthy and beautiful.
You can link your website here @ only $9.95! Click here.
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