set-up tips

Plan your aquarium before you begin
It's no good buying fish before you're properly equipped for their arrival. So be prepared. Decide on the size and kind of aquarium, where it's going to be positioned and equip it accordingly. Don't introduce fish until the tank has been up and running for several days.

Never overfeed
Fish need a healthy, well balanced diet to enjoy a long, illness free life. However, any uneaten food quickly decays and provides an ideal breeding ground for bacteria and this creates deadly toxins. Watch the fish feed and only give as much food as will be eaten in 2-3 minutes. If any food is left over you're giving them too much. Remember fish prefer several small meals rather than one large meal.

Never keep too many fish together in one tank
Too many fish produce too much waste which leads to the harmful build up of toxins such as ammonia and nitrite. A general rule is to stock an aquarium with 2.5cm of fish per 4 litres of water. Although with an efficient filtration system and good maintenance routine, this may easily be doubled. For marine fish Calculate 2.5cm of fish to 16 litres of water. These figures can be doubled after six months. For example, in one of Dalbarb's standard 80 litre aquariums 50cm of fish would be ideal. The formula to work this out is: 80 litres / 4 litres = 20 litres x 2.5cm = 50cm of fish, which equals 10 fish 5cm long.

Inspect the aquarium and fish daily
Quite often the condition of the fish and the aquarium provides early clues of potential trouble. Look for any signs of parasites, wounds or abnormal behaviour which may be an indication of a sick fish.  Visible, excessive dirt or discoloured water is a sure sign that the aquarium needs cleaning.  Don't ignore conditions in the aquarium which may deteriorate to a point where the causes of disease can take hold.

Keep fish that live well together
Selecting good fish community is important from the start. Be aware of which species have unfriendly habits or temperaments. Don't guess or you could be taking home a fish who will terrorise other fish.  Always ask your aquatic supplier about compatible species.

Additional hints

Always de-chlorinate tapwater
Chlorine is harmful to fish! Use a water conditioner on setting up your fish tank. When doing partial water changes always de-chlorinate tapwater before it is added to the aquarium. Ask your aquarium supplier for advice on commerically prepared conditioners.

Ensure adequate filtration and heating
Operating a wrongly sized filter or heater on your aquarium will lead to health problems for your fish. A healthy environment will ensure happy and healthy fish. Ask your aquatic supplier for advice.

Keep a regular cleaning routine
You flush the toilet routinely don't you? Regular cleaning of waste will help stop the development of toxins in your tank.  You should complete partial water changes once every two weeks. Use a gravel cleaner to get at the embedded dirt in the bottom of the tank. Check the levels of ammonia and nitrite and clean your filter regularly. Make sure that the filter media is unclogged and changed when necessary.

Always isolate sick fish
A diseased fish is a danger to the fish community as infections can spread quickly. Gently net the fish and place it in a "hospital" tank where it can be treated individually.  Consult your aquatic dealer and keep the sick fish in isolation until it has recovered before returning it to the aquarium.

Never clean your tank or equipment with detergents
Never use commercial cleaning agents. Chemicals, even in the smallest amounts, are normally deadly to fish. Be aware of overspray from your air freshener and furniture polish finding its way into your aquarium as this will also harm your fish. Use clean water or water and weak vinegar solution to clean aquarium furniture.

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