Freshwater Aquariums For Dummies Cheat Sheet To start and keep a freshwater aquarium, you need not only a tank, but the other equipment necessary to keep the water habitable for the fishy inhabitants. As you purchase those fish, make sure that you go to a good dealer and that you buy healthy fish. And when those healthy fish get sick, as some may, tap into the often simple remedies to restore them to the pink (or neon) of health. Good Freshwater Fish for BeginnersYou’re starting a freshwater aquarium and need to know what kind of fish to stock it with. The fish in the following list are good species of freshwater fish for beginners: What to Look for When Buying Freshwater FishBuying fish for your freshwater aquarium is opportunity for a fun trip to the pet store. As you choose fish to take home, look at the physical characteristics in the following list to determine whether a fish is in good health: Body color is rich, not faded or dull. The color should be complete and not missing in any areas.

There are no open sores, visible ulcers, boils, or obvious skin problems such as peeling scales or blemishes. Fins are long and flowing or short and erect. The fish should not have any ragged, torn, or missing fins. Scales are flat and smooth, not protruding away from the body. The stomach is well rounded, not sunken or concave. Girth of the entire body is of normal size, not bloated or emaciated. Visible excreta (fish waste) should be dark in color, not pale. All the fins on the fish’s body should not be collapsed or completely clamped shut. The eyes are clear, not cloudy, and they are not popping out of their sockets. There are no visible parasites, such as ich or velvet. What You Need to Set Up a Freshwater Aquarium SystemWhen you decide to set up a freshwater aquarium, you commit to getting a number of items aside from the fish. You need equipment and supplies to help keep the aquarium environment healthy for your fish. Use the following list as a shopping list when you head out to get your tank:

Common Freshwater Fish MedicationsSometimes, your freshwater fish get sick. If you notice signs of illness, try the following remedies — most of them applications you use in the whole tank — to treat your sick fish:buy aquarium gumtree Salt: Common table salt is generally used to treat ich and other parasitic diseases.buy a jellyfish aquarium Methylene blue: Used to treat diseases such as ich, fungus, and velvet.fish tank buy melbourne Malachite green: Use this wonderful medicine to treat velvet, fungus, and ich.mail order aquarium fish australia Formalin: A bath-type treatment only, it should not be used in the main tank. avo fish tank for sale

A great remedy for parasites, it doesn’t work well on internal infections and can be very toxic.cheap fish tanks chester Penicillin: Treats bacterial infections and is non-toxic. Tetracycline: This antibiotic is great for bacterial infections and is non-toxic. Acriflavine: Treats ich and fungus, but may turn water green. Characteristics of Good Fish DealersAs you shop for the tenants of your freshwater — or saltwater — aquarium, look for a fish dealer who sells healthy fish and can offer information and assistance when you need it. A good fish dealer has the characteristics in the following list: Clean tanks and shop. Friendly, helpful, knowledgeable staff who answer your questions, go out of their way to help, and are familiar with equipment, putting together systems, and needs of each fish. Large selection of aquarium equipment, food, medicine, and fish in stock.

Free services, such as water testing. A guarantee on the fish and equipment they sell. Willingness to inform you where you can get something they don’t sell. Autopsies of dead fish to help determine cause of death, and medication adivce to prevent the need for autopsies. Genuine interest in you and your aquarium(s). Starting an aquarium is a lot easier than you might think. In fact, here at Tetra® and TetraCare® we’ve helped thousands of beginners get started the right way and stay on the right path. And like any hobby, the more you know about it, the more enjoyment you’ll get from it. So here are just a few aquarium basics to get you started. AQUARIUMThe bigger, the better. Believe it or not, larger aquariums are actually easier to care for. The more water you have, the easier it is to maintain “balance” in your environment. That’s why we recommend starting with a 20-gallon aquarium or larger. A Beginner’s Guide To Aquarium Maintenance

Feed once or twice, in small doses Keep your aquarium light on for 8-12 hours; 78º F is optimal Change 25% of the water; add Tetra® AquaSafe® Solution, Tetra® SafeStart® Solution and Tetra® EasyBalance® Solution Clean tank, use water only Clean glass (inside and out) Clean decorations (plants, rocks, etc.) Clean gravel, siphon up wasteadd AquaSafe®, SafeStart®, and EasyBalance® LOCATIONIt matters more than you think. Pick a spot away from direct sunlight, windows, heating or air vents, and high-traffic areas. EQUIPMENTMeet the tools of the hobby. Filter: The heart of your tank that provides clean, healthy water. Air Pump: Adds an extra boost of oxygen. Heater: Fish can’t produce their own body heat, so they rely on the temperature of the water. That’s why a heater is essential. Thermometer: The average ideal temp for freshwater tropical fish is 78º F. Lighting: On average, you should leave an aquarium light on for 8-12 hours;

Gravel: Besides adding natural beauty, gravel gives beneficial bacteria a place to live. This bacteria help break down the wastes your fish create. Make it livable, breathable and healthy. Condition: Always add a conditioner when adding tap water to your aquarium to de-chlorinate it. Cycle: “Cycling” a fish tank means growing healthy bacteria on a new filtration system so it filters out dangerous toxins. Tetra® SafeStart® Solution cycles your aquarium immediately, so you can add fish right away. Replenish: Adding a water treatment, like Tetra® EasyBalance® Solution, replenishes essential trace elements and minerals between water changes. This helps prevent the water in your aquarium from getting “stale." FISHStart with one, preferably inexpensive. When setting up an aquarium for the first time, you want to make sure your tank is cycled properly and the equipment is working. That’s why it’s best to start with one inexpensive “test” fish from your local fish retailer.

Not all fish play well together. Different fish have different personalities. Community Fish are good tank mates, while Aggressive Fish need special mates, or none at all. It’s always good to confer with your local fish retailer as to the best mix of species. And specifically, tropical fish and goldfish should not mix. Lifespan of more than 2 years Can live for decades Lifespan of less than 2 years Lifespan of less than 5 years Lifespan of 20 years Creating a beautiful aquarium is one of the most enjoyable aspects of owning an aquarium. Here are a few simple tips to get you started. Use a variety of small, medium and large plants. Create a dramatic focal point using a single item, such as a white anemone or mushroom. Decorative caves and tunnels give the fish a place to hide and make them feel safe. Artificial plants look real and are easy to maintain. But real plants help balance certain biochemicals and nutrients. Keep in mind, live plants do require some maintenance, such as trimming and additional fertilizers.