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