| If you are a beginner to freshwater tropical fish | | | | properly before you add any fish. Although some |
| keeping you will have many questions about how | | | | people recommend adding one small fish to the |
| to keep your tank and fish healthy. Keeping | | | | newly set up tank for cycling we recommend a |
| tropical fish is a popular and fascinating hobby so | | | | 'fishless cycling' method. Nitrifying bacteria convert |
| read about your new hobby and learn as much as | | | | the toxic ammonia produced by the fish, to less |
| you can. Looking after freshwater tropical fish is | | | | toxic nitrites and finally to much less toxic nitrates. |
| not hard as long as you follow the basic guidelines | | | | In order for them to do this and to cope with a |
| outlined here. | | | | full tank of fish they must exist in sufficient |
| The Size of Your Tank | | | | numbers and encouraging them to make healthy |
| Before you can get started you will need to | | | | colonies in your tank is what cycling the tank is all |
| make a decision on the size of tank to purchase. | | | | about. |
| Although a small tank is cheaper it will be harder | | | | The Fishless Cycling Method |
| to maintain than a larger tank so I would | | | | Instead of using a fish to do this you can use a |
| recommend a tank of at least thirty gallons. A | | | | fishless cycling method. You will need a starting |
| larger tank is easier to keep healthy as problems | | | | culture of the nitrifying bacteria. You can buy |
| occurring in a small tank can easily get out of | | | | cultures from pet shops or, if you have a friend |
| control. For example if a fish dies or some food is | | | | with an established fish tank, ask them for some |
| left to rot a small volume of water can become | | | | of their gravel or filter material to seed your tank. |
| polluted very quickly and affect the other fish in a | | | | You will also need an aquarium test kit that allows |
| short time. With a much larger volume of water | | | | you to test for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. |
| there is a larger margin of error for you to spot | | | | Now add a small teaspoon of ammonia to the |
| the problem and put it right. | | | | tank. It should be ammonia that has no additives, |
| Stocking the Tank | | | | such as color. Test the ammonia level and if it |
| Whichever size you choose find out the | | | | does not register on the strip add some more. |
| maximum number of fish that can be easily | | | | Add the same amount of ammonia each day until |
| accommodated and do not exceed this number. | | | | you see nitrites present. Now reduce the amount |
| Never place the maximum number in the | | | | of ammonia added by half and continue adding |
| aquarium at one time but slowly add them, one at | | | | daily until the ammonia and nitrite levels drop to |
| a time, over a few weeks after you have | | | | zero. Now do a 30% water change and your tank |
| successfully cycled the tank. | | | | is ready to start adding your fish. |
| Filling the Tank | | | | Maintaining the Aquarium |
| The water you use should be free of chlorine and | | | | Once tour tank is cycled you will want to monitor |
| chloramines. Chlorine is used by all water | | | | the ammonia and nitrite levels. If you start to see |
| authorities and can be removed by allowing the | | | | a rise in these do a partial water change. It's also |
| water to stand for two days. Some authorities | | | | a good idea to do a partial water change weekly |
| also use chloramines which cannot be removed | | | | but never replace all of the water. Change the |
| this way so you will need to buy a water | | | | filter material regularly and keep a careful watch |
| treatment preparation from your pet store. | | | | over your fish to spot any trouble before it can |
| Always use this each time you do a partial water | | | | escalate. |
| change. | | | | Conclusion |
| Cycling the Tank | | | | Keeping tropical fish is fairly easy and an endless |
| 'Cycling the tank' refers to the process by which | | | | source of pleasure for you and your family. A |
| good, nitrifying bacteria are encouraged to multiply | | | | sparking clear tropical aquarium is a beautiful |
| in your tank. You should always cycle a new tank | | | | addition to any room. |