| By following these 5 basic rules when setting up | | | | excess tannins that would turn your water brown. |
| your tropical aquarium you can avoid a lot of | | | | Rinse the plants: give your plants a quick rinse off |
| heartache later on. It's going to take a little longer | | | | and remove any discolored or damaged foliage. |
| to see your fish swimming around doing their | | | | It's also worth taking a few minutes to check for |
| fishy thing, but it's so worth the effort. None of | | | | unwanted guests, one tiny snail lurking under a |
| this is difficult but the benefits can not be | | | | leaf can quickly turn into an infestation. I learned |
| underestimated, both for you and your fish. | | | | this lesson the hard way and once they are in |
| Wash the tank: even if your aquarium is brand | | | | they take a lot of getting out again. |
| new from the pet store it's always wise to give it | | | | Wash the fish? OK so maybe there's no need to |
| a clean before it's used, you never know who's | | | | toss them a shower cap and a bar of soap but |
| touched it and what might have been on their | | | | there is a serious note to this tip. Before |
| hands. Use warm clean water and absolutely do | | | | introducing the fish to your tank take some time |
| not add any chemical cleaners or detergents. Your | | | | to have a good close look at them. Look for any |
| fish will be poisoned by them and no matter how | | | | damage to their skin or scales and for any signs |
| carefully you try to rinse them off, chances are, | | | | of disease. If you see either then I suggest you |
| you'll miss some. Some compounds found in | | | | take them straight back to the fish store and ask |
| household cleaners are so toxic to fish that | | | | for your money back. If they offer to exchange |
| minuscule amounts can kill them. Never take a | | | | an injured fish I guess that's fair enough, but if |
| chance. | | | | the problem is disease then say no. If one fish is |
| Wash the substrate: again use warm clean water | | | | diseased there's a good chance they all are but |
| with nothing added. Used substrate will have all | | | | you just can't see it yet. Take a refund on all of |
| kinds of goo in it and will need to be thoroughly | | | | them and go elsewhere to buy healthier fish. |
| cleaned, new substrate will probably be dusty and | | | | All of this might sound like hard work but the |
| in need of a good rinse so as not to cloud your | | | | truth is it doesn't take too long at all. A little extra |
| water. | | | | time and effort at this stage can help avoid a lot |
| Wash the tank furniture: you guessed it, warm | | | | of problems later on, problems that will ultimately |
| clean water and plenty of it. By tank furniture I'm | | | | be much more difficult to deal with. |
| referring to anything you put into your aquarium, | | | | If you are serious about your hobby, be proud of |
| from heaters and filters to rocks and ornaments. | | | | your tropical aquarium and remember how |
| If you are putting in bog wood it's a good idea to | | | | important it is to make it clean and healthy for |
| boil it before use. This not only cleans it | | | | the star of the show - your fish. |
| thoroughly but will also sterilize it and remove | | | | |