Tips for New Fish and Shrimp Keepers!

Some advice for people who are starting out in aquarium keeping and are looking for additional information.

betta

  • Choosing the Right Aquarium Size

Small aquariums from 9 to 55 liters are perfect for fish like bettas (fighting fish) and young goldfish. They will add aesthetics to your home or office. The super small ones from 0.5 to 9 liters are good for shrimp and snail farming with plants serving as food and biological filtration.
But many experts advise a 55 to 200 liters as a first aquarium for beginners. The reason for this is that larger aquariums are easier to clean due to the larger volume of water. This means that nitrate and ammonia that fish do not tolerate take longer to build up in the tank and you, as a beginner, have more time to learn what works for your tank. But that is of course if you are not on a budget and have the extra space in your room for a large aquarium.




  • Before putting all your favorite fish in the aquarium


The new aquarium setup should run for a few days before adding fish.
Buy an aquarium and everything you need to set it up (like a filter, heater, gravel, plants) and let it run for 2-3 days before going fish shopping.

The aquarium is like a small ecosystem, and it will have its own helpful bacteria that help maintain the biological balance in the tank. If you buy a new aquarium, there will not be any biobacteria in it yet. So it is advisable to try it with a small number of fish at first, giving them food and using a test kit to check that the ammonia and nitrite levels remain around zero in the water, just to see if your filtration system is working properly. If all goes well for 2-4 weeks, you can then add more creatures to your tank.

Remember: The colonies of biobacteria that filter the water and create balance in the aquarium take time to establish themselves, and a sudden overload of fish waste can cause ammonia and nitrite levels to rise to dangerous and even deadly levels. So it's best to take your time with your aquarium setup.






  • It is advisable to test your water


Without testing the water, it is impossible to know if ammonia and/or nitrite problems are developing, as we cannot see or smell them. Keep in mind that fish in the tank often adjust to slowly rising ammonia and nitrite levels and may not show signs of distress until it is too late. Newly purchased fish can be seriously affected if added to a tank with high ammonia or nitrite levels because they do not have time to adjust. So test your water with a test kit (pH and TDS) to make sure you're doing a good job of keeping your fish healthy.

thermometer/TDS/EC meter + pH meter kit Electronic TDS Meter Automatic Calibration Water Quality Measuring Tool





  • Feed your fish enough



It's normal to worry that your fish may be hungry or not getting enough to eat, but you can actually cause more harm by overfeeding them. Fish should be fed once a day and all food should be consumed within two minutes. Uneaten food can pollute the water and cause ammonia and nitrite levels to rise.





  • Choosing the right filter


You can't really over-filter an aquarium, but it's fairly easy to under-filter. Most beginner aquarium filters are rated based on the number of gallons the tank holds. This rating system works well for most, however, heavily stocked aquariums, or those with large predatory fish or fish that generate large amounts of waste should be equipped with oversized or multiple filters. For best results, Buy a filter designed for an aquarium a little larger than the one you have.





  • Your fish needs night light

Like all animals, fish need a rest period, and it should be the same time every day. In nature, the day/night cycle is fairly constant, especially in the tropics. Leaving the aquarium light on all the time stresses your fish and also contributes to the growth of unsightly algae. Put on the light of your aquarium on a timer is an easy way to provide a consistent lighting cycle.

Internal aquarium filter with pump White/Color LED Ramp Aquarium Light 12 Styles Filtration Media


  • Beware of excessive cleaning

When setting up an aquarium, the biological balance is delicate and unstable. Avoid scrubbing ornaments, stirring or vacuuming gravel, or cleaning the filter when it doesn't really need it, as this can destroy beneficial bacteria colonies and upset the balance.
If your aquarium or filter appears to need cleaning within the first 2-3 weeks after installation, the filter may be too small or not the right fit for your tank, you may have too many fish, or you may be overfeeding.

When cleaning your filter, rinse the filter media under running water, without using chemicals or overwashing them, so as not to eliminate or damage the colonies of biobacteria that occupy them and which play a very important role in filtration.





  • Adding water is not an alternative, you must change it regularly

Adding water to your tank as it evaporates can have a beneficial effect on pH and water quality. But it is not an alternative to having to change the water. Doing this instead of performing a water change on a regular basis will result in a build-up of pollutants such as nitrate and phosphate and a drop in pH and alkalinity. This can make your fish more susceptible to disease.
Change 10% of your aquarium water every week or 25% every 2 weeks.



  • Provide hiding places

Aquarium decorations not only give your tank a natural and aesthetic look, but also provide habitat, keep your fish safe, reduce stress, allow them to reproduce, and improve their color and survival rate of young. Fish often get stressed because there are not enough hiding places in the tank, seeking refuge behind a heater, filter tube or other object. So think about providing them with enough shelter.

Artificial plant Resin Rock Cave for Fish and Shrimp Aquarium Decoration Large Natural Wood Tree Root Branch Aquarium Decoration


Back to blog

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.