| Okay so you have decided that you want to own | | | | temperature and P.H. of the water. If all is |
| a fish tank. Great! All you need to do is go | | | | clear you may add a few hardy fish. It is |
| to the pet store and pick out a tank and the | | | | important to choose fish that can withstand |
| prettiest fish in the store, and you are | | | | high levels of nitrites and ammonia, because |
| ready to go right? Wrong! Starting up an | | | | these levels are always high in a new tank |
| aquarium is a process. It takes time and a | | | | due to the nitrogen cycle. Debris in the |
| lot of patience. If you are a beginner, it | | | | tank from fish excretions help to generate |
| is recommended that you start out with some | | | | the good bacteria that is needed in order for |
| hardy freshwater fish, but don't buy the fish | | | | the fish to survive. Since there are |
| just yet. You need to set up the aquarium | | | | currently no fish in the tank this will take |
| first. Most aquarium retailers will sell an | | | | some time. It usually takes about four to |
| aquarium in the form of a kit. This takes | | | | six weeks. |
| the guess work out of purchasing. | | | | |
| | | | Once you have purchased your fish, let them |
| In order to get your tank ready, first rinse | | | | float on the surface of the tank in the bag |
| out the tank with clean tap water. Rinse the | | | | for about fifteen minutes. The purpose of |
| gravel and any substrate as well. If you are | | | | this is to allow the fish to become |
| using an under gravel filter, place it in the | | | | acclimated to the water temperature in the |
| bottom of the tank. Next cover the filter | | | | aquarium. Carefully add the fish into the |
| with approximately two to three inches of | | | | aquarium using a net and a bucket. Don't |
| gravel. Fill the tank about a third of the | | | | pour the water from the bag into the |
| way full with water that has been | | | | aquarium. The water from the bag could throw |
| de-chlorinated. The next step is to add any | | | | off your perfectly regulated water, as well |
| plants or decorations to the tank. Check | | | | as introduce new bacteria to the aquarium. |
| with your retailer on the specifics for | | | | Watch the fish carefully for signs of stress. |
| adding live plants. Some live plants need to | | | | Stress causes illness in fish. Monitor |
| be anchored, while others can be left free | | | | their activity levels. Inactive fish or fish |
| floating. Next connect the air pump and | | | | hanging out near the surface of the aquarium |
| filtration system, and fill the tank the rest | | | | indicates stress. There is a stress coat |
| of the way. Lastly put the lid on the tank | | | | that can be used, if symptoms of stress do |
| and let it cycle for one to two days before | | | | appear. Wait anywhere from a week to a month |
| adding any fish to the tank. | | | | before introducing any new fish to the |
| | | | aquarium, allowing the existing fish to |
| Watch the tank for cloudiness and check the | | | | become acclimated to their new environment. |