 Tips & Tricks |
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 Starting
Tips
Getting
Underway
How
to Lower Your Aquarium's Temperature
 Starting
Tips
Choosing the size of the aquarium
Chose an aquarium as big as possible. A larger aquarium means
a more stable environment, easier care and more choices for the decoration and
inhabitants. Moreover, your fish will live together better in a bigger space.
Having a smaller aquarium means no or very little biological
balance and a very unstable temperature. This means that a little too much food
or a dirty filter and boom, you've lost control! You end up with unclear, smelly
water!
Cleaning the aquarium
Before filling the aquarium, use a slightly damped cloth
to clean and remove dust. Never use cleaning products as they could be deadly
to your fish
Location
Avoid placing the aquarium near a window where it would be
hit by the sunrays. The sun would generate an algae growth that will quickly
become out of control. Instead, place the aquarium in a room with dimmed light,
putting the emphasis on the aquarium
Leveling the Aquarium
Be sure your aquarium is well leveled before you fill it
with water. Badly leveled aquariums tend to have a shorter lifespan.
Filter and Water Heater
Before putting any fish in the aquarium, make sure the filter(s)
work properly and the water has reached its stable temperature of 24-26 C (78-79
F).
Getting
Underway
Adding Fish
Start with only a few fish and progressively add,
over a few weeks, new species. Ask the specialists at Aquarius about which species
should go in first and last.
Testing the Water
You should, during the 6 first weeks, be thorough into making
ammonia and nitrite tests. When these show high levels, be careful when adding
new fish, and verify that filtration devices work properly. Testing the water
frequently shows you minor problems before they become major, therefore avoiding
catastrophic situations.
Concentrated Bacteria
You should add concentrated bacteria (Cycle product) to your
aquarium to help build up the bacterial activity necessary for healthy life.
This type of bacterial like neutralizes toxic ammonia and nitrite. This is especially
true during the first six weeks, where you should add the product once a week.
Natural Plants
Natural plants provide your fish with a securing environment
and contribute to the biological balance in your aquarium (plants absorb the
deadly carbon dioxide and convert to oxygen). Aquatic plants will quickly transform
your aquarium into a water garden, a lovely hobby accessible 12 months a year!
Choosing Your Fish
Avoid choosing territorial or aggressive fish, unless
of course you wish to have WWF fights in your aquarium! Therefore, we recommend
that you add smaller fish that swim in school (like tetras and/or rasboras),
viviparous fish (mollies, platies, guppies, etc) or gouramis and angel fish.
Quality of the Fish
You should ideally buy fish that are quarantined before
being sold. Most fish go through various shocks during their shipping from their
natural environment to foreign countries and they need some isolation to gain
back that great shape. A quarantine environment allows the stores to treat sick
or weakened fish and to keep an overstock. A store that has quarantine aquariums
usually offers a better variety of healthier fish.
How
to Lower Your Aquarium's Temperature
Summer is coming and hot temperatures are already here!
Tropical fish can resist high temperatures,
but variations must be progressive.
To avoid seeing your aquarium transformed into
« fish soup », several techniques can be used:
Remove your aquarium’s lid and place a fan above the water surface.
The amount of oxygen in the water lowers with heat. It is recommended to create
water movement at the surface or to install an air pump.
Shorten lighting hours, and in some cases, turn it off. For planted aquariums,
lighting can be on for about 6 hours in the morning or at night.
Avoid putting ice cubes in your aquarium : variations are negligible and ephemeral
If you are equipped with an external filtration systen, try placing it in a
bucket with some ice cubes or cold water.
If possible, install an air conditioner in the room.
Try to avoid important or quick temperature variations:
it causes stress that weakens the fish and makes them more vulnerable to illness.
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