| Now that the tank is running smoothly, the | | | | The second way and the one I have used is to |
| temperature should be around seventy-eight | | | | add fish. I started with six neon tetra and a |
| degrees. I would suggest adding two products | | | | couple silver-tip tetra. Danios are hardy as well. |
| that I use in my tank to aid in the breakdown of | | | | This is quicker but remember ammonia and |
| waste and improve cycling. They are called | | | | nitrites are deadly to fish and this can kill them. |
| "Cycle" and "Waste Control" from Hagen. I have | | | | Daily water tests must be conducted and water |
| been using them since day one and they work | | | | changes preformed if the levels climb to high. |
| wonders. | | | | Water testing is a very important part of having |
| OK time to use our test kit to test several | | | | a freshwater tropical fish aquarium. If we don't |
| components of your aquarium water. We will test | | | | know what the water is doing we will not know |
| the "PH", "Nitrites", "Nitrates", "Ammonia", "Iron", | | | | why we have cloudy water, our plants and fish |
| "Phosphate", "Carbonate Hardness" and "General | | | | die or maybe algae is growing. Earlier in the article |
| Hardness". There are several different test | | | | I listed the main items that needed to be tested |
| chemicals out there but I use the Hagen test kits | | | | for. I will now give you the range that each should |
| and find them very reliable. You're saying to | | | | be on average for a community tank. |
| yourself, I don't have any fish in the tank, why | | | | * The PH of my tank is generally in the range of |
| test the water. | | | | 7.0 to 7.6. It is more important to have a |
| The simple answer is we need to know where | | | | constant PH rather than the so-called ideal PH. |
| the water is because in order to get a nitrogen | | | | * Nitrites should be kept below .3 mg/L. Nitrites |
| cycle going and for it to complete a cycle, fish | | | | are toxic to fish so if the nitrites climb above this |
| need to be introduced. Before we go on I will | | | | level do a minimum 20% water change. |
| take the time to explain what a nitrogen cycle is. | | | | * Ammonia should be kept below 1.2 mg/L. If the |
| Nitrogen cycles happen continuously in nature on | | | | level is above this mark follow the instructions in |
| it's own, but in a Freshwater Tropical Fish | | | | the test kit to determine the level of toxic |
| Aquarium ecosystem we need to control it. | | | | ammonia and if a water change is necessary. |
| In stage one, ammonia is produced in the | | | | * Nitrate levels should not climb above 50mg/L. |
| aquarium via tropical fish waste, dead plants and | | | | Levels above this will contribute to the growth of |
| uneaten food. This waste will break down into | | | | algae. I try to keep my levels around 25 mg/L as |
| either ammonium (NH4) or ammonia (NH3). | | | | this supplies the plants with food but not enough |
| Ammonium is not harmful to tropical fish but | | | | for algae growth. There's a fine line between the |
| ammonia is. If the PH is under seven, you will | | | | the balance of nitrates with the number of plants |
| have ammonium. If the PH is seven or higher you | | | | in the tank. |
| will have ammonia. Most home aquariums unless | | | | * Phosphate levels should remain below 1.0 mg/L. |
| they are home to fish that need low PH will be | | | | Phosphates are a result of poor maintenance or |
| above seven. | | | | overfeeding. If the levels climb above 1.0 mg/L do |
| In stage two, bacteria called nitrosomonas will | | | | a 20% water change. |
| develop and they will oxidize the ammonia in the | | | | * Iron levels should be kept as close to .1 mg/L |
| tank, essentially eliminating it. The byproduct of | | | | as possible. Iron is a necessary element if you |
| ammonia oxidation is Nitrites. Nitrites are just as | | | | have live plants in your freshwater tropical fish |
| toxic to tropical fish as ammonia. | | | | aquarium. A lack of iron will result in poor plant |
| In stage three, Bacteria called nitrobacter will | | | | growth and even plants dieing. Excessive levels of |
| develop and convert the nitrites into Nitrates. | | | | iron on the other hand is toxic to fish. A case |
| Nitrates are not as harmful to tropical fish as | | | | where more is not better. |
| ammonia or nitrites, but nitrate is still harmful in | | | | * Carbonate hardness should be kept at or slightly |
| large amounts. The quickest way to rid your | | | | above, 80 mg/L. Carbonate hardness (commonly |
| aquarium of nitrates is to perform partial water | | | | called alkalinity) is the capacity for the water to |
| changes. | | | | neutralize an acid. I maintain a level of 80 - 90 mg |
| A new Freshwater Tropical Fish Aquarium without | | | | L. |
| anything in it will not start a nitrogen cycle on it's | | | | * General Hardness is the hardness of your |
| own. There are several ways to start a cycle but | | | | water. A level of 40 - 80 ppm with give you a |
| since this is a new setup I will will discuss the first | | | | slightly hard water which I find works great in my |
| two. The safest and least expensive method is to | | | | community tank. |
| add a few flakes of fish food every twelve hours. | | | | We now wait until the first cycle completes and |
| This replicates uneaten food which will decay and | | | | the tank settles in and we are ready to start |
| become ammonia and the cycle begins. The | | | | maintaining our tank. I will discuss this in my article |
| downside to this is approximately two more | | | | titled Maintaining a Freshwater Tropical Fish |
| weeks without any fish. | | | | Aquarium. |