●  Overfeeding;
   ●  Overcrowding;
   ●  Overdoctoring. 

Beware Sudden Changes.  Sudden changes in population, temperature, pH, ammonia, and nitrite can cause BIG problems FAST in small tanks.  The larger your tank, the less you need to worry about how closely you “follow the rules” -- ours, yours, or anyone else’s.

LA Pic
Tanks on their own stand last longer.

Test for Leaks.  Never put your tank on top of a TV or stereo system.  Even non-leaky tanks splash and bubble – particularly when you clean them.  And always test for leaks before you decorate your tank.  You can’t put fish in it today, so use part of your waiting period to test for leaks – before adding any chemicals or decorations to your aquarium setup.

Put it in the Right Place.  Once you put water in your tank, you don’t  want to move it.  Even a 10-gallon tank weighs 100 pounds.  Keep it away from sunny windows, drafts, high-traffic areas, unsupervised play areas, air conditioning and heating vents.  Always put your tank on a level surface.

You Need Electrical Outlets.  Pick a place with an electrical outlet unused by other sources.  For your:  

   ●  Air pump;
   ●  Heater;
   ●  Light:
   ●  and/or a power filter.

You need at least three outlets.  Your hardware store sells a multi-outlet surge protector or you can use a heavy-duty grounded extension cord.

Use an Under Gravel Filter.  With a UG filter, your air pump pulls water through your gravel and up your air lift tubes.  As water flows through the gravel it aerates billions of bacteria that it drifts past.  Bacteria help convert liquid fish wastes and dissolve solid fish wastes.

UG Filters Biologically.  Two tribes of helpful bacteria -- the Nitrosomonas (sorry no photo on file) and the Nitrobacters (ditto) -- convert harmful ammonia to nitrites and then to nitrates.  These helpful bacteria are the biggest reasons for using an under gravel filter.

LA Pic
Sorting thru the wide selection of filters can be confusing.  (They ALL work.)

Power Filter Note:  Some people prefer power filters over under gravel filters.  Of the two types of filters, we strongly recommend the under gravel filter.  They never wear out -- unless Eric pushes a gravel vacuum cleaner thru your filter plate.  They’re easy to maintain, economical, and efficient.  Best of all, they convert poisonous fish wastes to harmless substances.  However, when you add a power filter, you get the best of both worlds.  The two working together make a great combo.

LA Pic
Choose from many more colors than the rainbow.  We prefer the naturals.

Use Aquarium Gravel.  Avoid sand and large, lumpy gravel.  Sand sifts through the slots in your filter.  It also “packs.”  Big lumpy rocks don’t allow your bottom filter to work right.  Regular aquarium gravel always works best -- natural or colored.  Use 1 ½  pounds of gravel per gallon of water as a rough estimate.  If you want to raise live plants or build interesting terraces, you probably need more gravel.

LA Pic
Right size heater for a 5.5-gallon tank.  You'll need a thermometer, too.

Add Your Heater.  Tropical fishes need 75 to 80^o.  The new submersible heaters work so great, we can’t over-recommend them.  They cost three times as much as the printed circuit ones, and they’re worth it.  By the way, there’s an easier way to set your printed circuit heater than it says on the box.

   ●  Attach your heater. 

   ●  Plug in your heater.

   ●  Let it set for five minutes.

   ●  Add enough hot water to warm your tank to 75^o

   ●  Then crank up your heater till your “pilot light” comes on.

You’re all set.  The submersible heaters are easier yet.  You just dial the temperature you want.  You’re done. Well, you have to plug it in.

Use Right Size-Heater.  Plain and not so plain goldfish survive without a heater just fine.  But if you prefer the exotics (goldfish as well as tropicals), you need a heater.  A constant temperature helps prevent diseases – especially parasites such as ich.  You need about five watts per gallon.  In a cool basement, you’ll need a much larger heater than normal.

Schedule Regular Maintenance.  It takes only 20 to 60 minutes per week to maintain an aquarium -- including feeding time.

   ●  Feed small amounts twice a day.

   ●  Change your filter cartridges every 4 to 8 weeks.

   ●  Use your gravel cleaner weekly.

   ●  Change 25% of your water per week.

   ●  Add water conditioner (and salt to taste).

   ●  Wipe your inside front glass weekly.  Yes, you may get your hannies wet.

   ●  Wipe your outside front glass weekly.

Age Your Water.  Avoid putting your fishes in fresh water straight out of the faucet.  Des Moines water contains all sorts of secret ingredients that kill bacteria and fishes.  Other cities use their own recipes to kill bacteria and fishes.  Cities that use chlorine and ammonia together are the most poisonous.  

Remove Chlorine.  Our DSM Water Works say they never have and  never would add chloramine to our drinking water.  However, they also say that if ammonia pops up in the water, it will combine with chlorine to make the fish-killing chloramine.  And farmers in our state use ammonium nitrate for more than making bombs.  Just be sure to use a chlorine remover.  You may also want to remove ammonia.

LA Pic
You can find over a dozen water conditioners.  We use NovAqua by the gallon.

Add a Water Conditioner.  Always age water at least 24 hours -- more if possible and add a water conditioner.  This rule also applies to any  water changes greater than 20%.  Oscars and other large fishes will survive water changes up to 50%, because they’re much tougher than little fishes.

Use a Fluorescent Light  The fish don’t need a light – you do.  You want the light so you can see your fascinating new pets.  Fluorescent lights work best because:

Incandescent fixtures cost about 10 bucks less at first, but cost more in the first two years just from replacing the bulbs.  We strongly recommend fluorescent lights.

LA Pic
Today's resin ornaments look so much better than yesterday's ceramics.

Decorate Your Tank  Many fish need nooks and crannies for security.  In the wild, their ability to hide keeps them out of predators’ bellies.   In your tank, they need the same feeling of security.  Once they adjust to their new quarters, they’ll come right out and show off.

LA Pic
Whatever your preference, you can find an artificial plant to meet or exceed it

Other Decor.  Wood, rocks, and plants make a natural aquascape. But fish (actually fish keepers) also like sunken ships, ceramic skulls, resin rocks, and other ornaments.  Just avoid bare tanks -- except for breeding or quarantine tanks.  Fish are easy to keep, educational, fascinating, beautiful, and fun.  LA

© 1980, © 2003, © 2004, © 2005  LA Productions