Tank Selection

Obviously the most essential piece of equipment there is. There are a variety of size shapes and even materials to choose from. Careful thought is needed before choosing any aquaria.

Material
- All Glass. This is the material most often used. Sheets of glass bonded together by silicone.
Advantages - Relatively cheap, Easy to clean, scratch resistant. Easy to repair.
Disadvantages - Fragile and brittle, which make it easy to crack. The silicone edge can be peeled away and result in a leak. The tank corners are particularly prone to damage. Scratches that do occur cannot be treated. Curved pieces although available are very expensive.

- Plastic. Often used for small cheap tanks.
Advantages - No joints to fail. Very cheap.
Disadvantages - Easily scratched. Easily cracked. Impossible to repair. Usually small in size.

- Acrylic. Although technically a plastic I am treating it as a different option. Used for large and expensive aquaria and other quality aquatic equipment.
Advantages - More clear than glass. Relatively light. Easier to shape. Stronger and more impact resistant than glass. Scratches can be polished out.
Disadvantages - Easily scratched. Very expensive. Can't be repaired.

Shape and Size.
Unless the tank has been measured to fit in an alcove I would suggest that you get the biggest size that you are happy with. Most people exchange their first tank because it is too small to meet their needs. Not only that but large tanks offer a more stable environment than do small ones and believe it or not they are easier to maintain.

The next deciding factor is what the tank is for. Discus fish and angelfish require a deep tank of at least 15 inches. Fast swimming open water fish requires an aquarium at least 36 inches in length. African cichlids require a lot of rockwork and unless it is built like a wall at the rear of the aquarium (which looks very unnatural and is no use to the fish) a tank at least 18 inches wide will be required. Obviously it goes without saying that if large fish are to be kept then a large tank around will be required.

There are a lot of odd shaped tanks around now too, and whilst these might look trendy they would be a nightmare to landscape and maintain. I have lately seen:
- A 5ft deep hexagonal column 18 inches wide containing angelfish. The problems of maintaining such a tank would be immense. No standard airpump will work at that depth, a temp. gradient would form, cleaning the tank would be a real chore. Hex tanks are bad enough but this with the extra depth, don't do it.
- Two tanks connected together by a broad clear pipe. Quite how the connecting pipe would be kept clean and free from unsightly algae and other dirt is anyone's guess. And unless the two halves were absolutely level there is a chance of a very sudden and catastrophic failure.
- Picture frame tanks, which are no more than 3 inches wide and hang on the wall. These tanks are so small that they could house no more than 4 or 5 small tetras and soon look tatty because they are so impractical.

It is better to stick to the more usual shapes, which are very practical to use and offer great viewing. They can easily be made to any size and if in/on a specially built cabinet they can be made to fit into any room.

If something really special is called for there are bow fronted aquaria, but one big disadvantage is if they break on the front they are uneconomical to repair.

Tips for Aquarium

How Long Do You Wait Before Adding Fish?
Opinions vary so much on this subject that it is hard to give a reasonable answer. The Americans for instance have what is known as "cycling", which is the period of time a tank has to remain empty of fish until the good bacteria have established themselves and are controlling the conditions of the water in the tank. Most aquarists in the States recommend a six week waiting period using what they call "A Fishless Cycle". In order for the good bacteria to build up (starting the nitrogen cycle), they need a source of ammonia to feed on. When using this fishless cycle they recommend you add daily doses of pure ammonia to the tank for the bacteria to feed on, which is needed to actually start the nitrogen cycle working.

I would however like to point out that I personally have never used the "Fishless Cycle" method, and never shall. Having to sit and watch an empty tank for weeks on end is not my idea of a pleasurable hobby, so any references to "Cycle" in the following article shall mean the "Nitrogen Cycle", which in simple terms means the time that the system will take to establish a working biological filtration system.

I'm probably an old 'fuddy duddy' having only been involved with fish keeping/breeding/retail/wholesale/ and supply since I was eighteen, (I'm now 62) I've been reading just about anything of interest since I joined various tropical fish forums, and this 'cycling' thing seems to be a major topic. This is a 'new word' in fishkeeping to me, and I suppose also to other 'non American' members. Quite honestly, "do you really need all this to start a successful hobby?"

Let me, as an 'amateur' ichthyologist just run through a 'non chemical, non additive setup' that served myself and many other millions in the hobby successfully for several decades long before all these chemicals and additives became popular.

Preparation was the key, and for us 'oldies' it was a container/s in the back yard that collected clean strained rainwater. This was our source of top-ups, our new water supply, and often our source of live food, if the mossie larva or daphnia got into it. We would set the tank up, fit the u/g filter, and then arrange the pre-washed gravel. If available,we might also use unwashed gravel from another tank and possibly an old filter to speed the process along. Next we would fill the tank with our pre-aged water from our rain tub, bring it up to the right temperature, let it stand a few days, normally three to ensure the heat was constant and there were no probs. In those three days we would arrange plants and rocks, then perhaps introduce a guppy or two. The old pH testing strips from the chemist gave us a quick idea of the pH level, and if it was alkaline we would run a bit of peat in the filter bowl for a day or so to bring the level right. If it was too soft and acid we would add a bit of limestone or coral chips to the box filter and keep an eye on the pH until it was where we wanted it.

Basically that was it, with little or no stress to the fish. Our calculation for fish content was to allow 4 sq. inches of surface area per inch of fish, but with an air supply this could be increased. Water was never added unless it was exactly the same temperature as the water in the tank, and newcomers were never added until they were quarantined for ten days. Plants were meticulously examined for nasties and rinsed in a mild sterilising solution before adding to the tank. All mainly common sense.

Each tank had it own net and tools:
Nothing was ever taken from one to the other. Dipping of fingers or hands from one tank to the other was an absolute sin, and never done. Hands were washed before working on the next tank, and any drips or condensation were wiped away in case it/they dropped from one tank to the next lower one. A single drop of water can transmit a disease from one tank to another so quickly you wouldn't believe.

Water changes:
Water changes, (in my case) were done on a visual basis. If the water has evaporated ½" from its original marked level I would do a 30% water change, never every few days, and never more than perhaps once a month, and always using my aged water in the outside tub/s. Invariably the tanks might have needed a clean up, so in this situation we would siphon the rubbish off the bottom and into a bucket. The water that we siphoned out was dumped and replaced by our aged water. This was then our "water change" and few troubles were encountered. A balanced tank will keep itself free from excess toxins, e.g., the right water conditions, substrate-plants-filtration-and fish, any of which can cause an unbalance.

Water:
Too hard, too soft, too alkaline, too acid - all can be balanced without chemicals.

Substrate/gravel:
Too fine, packs down tight, causing bad circulation, especially with u/g filters, whereas too large a gravel will allow food to reach inaccessible places with dire consequences - food remains uneaten and quickly fouls the tank. Remedy, go for what's right, not what looks pretty.

Slow deterioration of rocks and ornaments:
Badly selected rocks and substrates, (lime-based gravels, sandstones, corals, shells, ornaments), will all change your tank conditions as they slowly leach or dissolve over time. That ornament or substrate may look great, but is it killing your fish?

Hiding Places:
Many types of fish need places to hide, but many things other than plants are usually unsightly. The upturned flower pot of the terra-cotta type can soon become disguised by algae growth and such, but a simple idea for quick camouflage is to spread silicone glue on the item and roll it in some gravel. You can do this with all sorts of things including bits of pipe that might be homes for your nocturnal fish such as some catfish.

Plants:
Too few plants - no hiding places for fragile fish, causing fish to be bullied. Again, find out the likes and dislikes of your plants. For instance, most Crypts prefer dimly lit areas, etc. Shallow gravel will not produce good plants. Bank your gravel to the rear of the tank (at least 3") and plant accordingly, big deep rooted plants to the rear, small types to the front. As with your garden, they need feeding and something to get their roots into. The wastes from your fish may in most cases be enough food, but a good root structure and light are essentials for all plants. A 'Plantab' for aquarium plants slipped under the roots will assist flagging plants. Or try this:

Plant Fertiliser:
Putting fertiliser under plants is a good idea, but unless it is in a tablet form it can be really messy. Try this. Mix a small quantity of organic peat and potting mix (again organic) in a bowl with water until the peat/potting mix becomes fully saturated. Use an ice cube tray and fill with the mixture. Pop it in the freezer till solid. You now have cubes of fertiliser that you can pop under your plants without mess. The ice will melt quickly leaving a nice deposit of fertiliser in the right place.

Weighted Plants:
Instead of attaching lead weights to plants, use a rubber band and a pebble. Place the pebble at the base of the plant and wrap the rubber band around both the pebble and the plant stem. Once buried it will remain unseen, and you have no bits of lead in your tank if the plant breaks free.

Filtration:
NEVER turn your filter or air off for any length of time, especially an undergravel filter. The bacteria buildup will skyrocket causing major probs instantly. Always have some form of air supply running if your tank is in the least bit crowded. Contrary to belief, the bubbles from an airstone don't put oxygen in the water. What the bubbles do is break up and disperse the CO2 that can build up in a tank. Watch for fish lurking near the surface with open mouths, a sure sign of lack of oxygen in the water. Not the Gouramis, Bettas etc, which are surface breathers anyway. For these fish, ensure the surface is scum free by dragging a sheet of paper over the surface of the water occasionally. This will completely remove the thin film that sometimes forms on the surface of the water. Check each day.

Heat Distribution:
Fit your heater as low as possible in your tank and clear of the gravel, and if it is a separate unit from the thermostat place it at the opposite end of the tank. This will prevent cold spots in your tank and provide a constant temperature at all levels. (Heat rises, so if possible fix your heater in a horizontal rather than a vertical position for better heat distribution).

Twin Heaters:
Fitting two heaters in a tank seems a waste, but if you set one to only come on at say 72degF then in the event of a heater failure you won't lose all your fish, and you will always have a spare heater on hand.

Feeding:
Feed half as much as you think your fish need, and if its not consumed in less than five minutes, you are feeding too much. An established tank will sustain your fish for a week or more without food, so don't think you need to feed them every time you pass the tank. "Ooh look, they're all excited at seeing me, they must be hungry…" In goes another feed, the third today. How often have you done or said this?

When to feed:
Never feed at night then turn the lights off and leave the fish in darkness, a major problem. The corys and kuhlis won't mind, but your tank will suffer if the night dwellers don't eat all the remains of the food. Small fish have small mouths, so vary your food type to suit them all. Give them a live food treat now and again, brine shrimp, microworms, grindal worms, white worms, or even a chopped up earthworm if you have big fish. In time you will know their likes and dislikes.

Probs with algae:
Throw the scraper away an get a couple of small plecos. They're fun, hardy, and adore algae.

Snails:
To me they are a damn nuisance, and have no place in a tropical fish tank, but the fish love them if you crunch them up.

Impulse buying of fish:
Fine if you know the fish, and of course is great for the LFS (Local Fish Shop), but can cause many upsets and even tears if you don't read first, so take an hour or so and read all you can before you jump in the deep end.

Lastly:
Read, read, read - the three rules of keeping fish. Learn every possible thing you can about where your fish comes from, its water conditions, its temperature limitations, the food it eats, the species it can live with, its breeding habits, is it a loner or does it school with others, and in general, its likes and dislikes. piranhas and neons have an adipose fin and are distant relatives, but they definitely don't live together, so read and learn all you can BEFORE you add that particular fish to your collection. (No comments on the piranhas please)

It seems a lot to take in all at once, but all this info. is on this site and many others just waiting to be read if you care to read and study it. My philosophy is that "If anyone can teach me something I will listen, should it be a child, or a ninety year old." So I am learning each time I read an article about tropical fish.

We all lose fish at some time or other, and the reasons can be mystifying, but personally I feel that many of the losses are caused by either sheer neglect and not making oneself familiar with the fish BEFORE purchase, along with the possibility that many of the fish were actually poisoned due to the intake of chemicals, incorrect or too many water changes and such.

We can take a pill for a headache or an ailment, but if we take too many of them it will undoubtedly kill us. This will possibly cause a lot of backfire from the clued-up aquarists, but I still feel that if you read up on your fish, get to know its habits and living and water conditions and the neighbours it lives with, then you are well on the way to having a less stressful and very enjoyable hobby. Many newcomers try it once and leave quickly after their first failures. We don't want this to happen to you, so read everything you can about the hobby, consider your situation and your set-up, then, and only then, think (very carefully) about your next purchase.

...Just a note for people who keep goldfish in a heated aquarium:
All fish have the right to a decent life, even goldfish. I myself have culled thousands of fish in my time I suppose, but these were either runts or a defective strain that I would not allow to continue living and breeding for fear they would fill our tanks with some of the oddities I see today. Selective breed by all means, but don't allow your runts and defective breeds to enter the world of the aquarist. (Are there any 'true' strains still out there?). Goldfish are cold water fish, and keeping them at 70F+ degrees will shorten their life span by many years. We had goldfish that lived happily for ten years, outside in a pool that would freeze over in winter with over an inch of ice, but come spring they were always there. The heated tank may also cause undue stress to the fish, who knows. Why not be a good aquarist and introduce some youngster to the hobby by donating your fish to them rather than make the fish suffer all it's life?... but make sure they read a good book about goldfish first.

Tank Set-up and Maintenance

For a while, in my early days of breeding these cichlids, I had a problem with what I thought was overfeeding the fry. I was losing far too many to what appeared to be Malawi bloat. I had an inkling then about the cause, for I knew in my heart that I was not over-feeding. I had observed on a daily, and frequently on an hourly basis that the fry were always feeding on the algae covered rocks and back and side panels.

So out came the microscope, took a scraping off the side panel of one of the tanks, and as I suspected it was teeming with life. Should you ask me to name what I saw then I would fail miserably, but there was one I did recognize and that was a paramecium. Another that stood out was fish-like in appearance, right down to its tail. It was fast moving, and feeding on what appeared to be smaller life forms on the algae. There was one other that drew my attention; it was ladybird-shaped, fast moving, and had what appeared to be two pairs of legs on the sides and what looked like antenna protruding from its head. I might, some would say, know a little about my fish but when it comes to some of their uninvited tank mates… well I've given you a clue so perhaps you could tell me.

Tank maintenance:
Tank maintenance does not start with water changes, period!
Where to start?
You will actually start from day one, and continue for as long as you keep fish in it. What you are striving to do is keep the overall appearance of the tank pleasing to the onlooker, and more essentially a safe and healthy environment for your fish. You will find many reference books on setting up various bio-systems and of course you will choose the one that is applicable to you. One of the first things suggested is the adding of the substrate and that's fine, but to make life easer for yourself in the future try the following. (You will find it a bit of a time-consuming project, but remember you do have four weeks in which to perfect it, and the end result will benefit your water quality and your fishes' health). All of the following, although possible in the past, has now been made more practicable, thanks to the development of the digital camera.

1: Don't add your substrate yet. Take a piece of campers' foam, preferably 12mm or ½ inch thick. This type of foam is what might be called closed face (no surface bubbles). Cut it so that it makes a tight fit and place it at the bottom of the tank. It is important that it is a tight fit. The foam allows the décor to settle as it would on the substrate, thus filling in many of the smaller nooks and crannies that would be potential collectors of detritus and other unwanted debris. Should you have problems with the foam staying in place then several bits of double sided adhesive applied before filling will fix it.

2: Mark, number your decor in a way that will not be affected by water. Add and place your heaviest and any other items that are your first level of décor. Once you are satisfied that all the big rocks, logs - what ever you're using, are in situ, then continue with what else you wish to add. When you're ready continue to step 3. Note: it would be a good idea to take pictures of your set-up, Hence the need to mark or number your items. This shouldn't be a problem, digital cameras being the norm these days.

3: Add water to the required level. Switch on filtration and aeration. No need to turn on heaters at this stage. Be aware that heaters do add to water movement but for the purpose of this exercise can be deemed insignificant.

4: Tank full, flow rate adjusted for direction and turnover, all to your satisfaction? Check now for any debris that has entered the water by way of the décor. Very little debris good? - no, not good - add some more, and leave for 24 hours. Suggestion for debris - anything that sinks but can also be moved by the flow of water or the movement of fish. Important: don't add anything that would or could be detrimental to your filter/s, or more importantly to your fish. One other point - make sure whatever you add can be easily seen against the foam. In fact it would be a good idea to add flake fish food. The benefits of this would be twofold - not only will it show where the grunge will collect, more importantly it can be left in the water as an aid to cycling your water in the first four weeks.

5: Day 2. Check where all the muck has gathered. If it has gathered in easily accessible places, for example, the front of your décor, then that's fine. Any big gaps, holes or crevasses, again fine. What you're really looking for are those tight places where debris has gathered and no matter how hard you try cannot be fully extricated. Remedies; make gaps bigger or smaller; alter the direction of your flow. Take the latter first, for if you get this right the chances are you won't need to move anything. By making all these fine adjustments you will be eliminating all sorts of horrible things that in the long and the short term can only be good for your fish.

6: This is the hard bit and, if you haven't used a camera then you might find it near impossible to do successfully. Providing you haven't used anything that would or could be detrimental to your filter/s, or more importantly to your fish, then there will not be the need to empty the tank of water. Remove all décor and the foam mat and carry out your set-up as per normal using your photographs as a guide.

Regular tank maintenance
Daily checks.
Check the overall general health of the fish, not forgetting the health of an individual fish, such as one that does not show up at feeding times. Carry out ongoing treatments if required. Check temperature, filters functioning correctly, top up, and last but not least, siphon off any unsightly detritus, including any dead or dying plant matter.

Weekly checks.
Water change done with a power vac., or at the least a gravel cleaner. Just removing X percent of the water is simply not good enough. For the cichlids covered by A.R.L.C. I recommend 50% at all times. Remove of algae from the front glass - I recommend that algae growing on the other three glass surfaces be left intact.

Now back to the weekly chores:
Check for water quality, pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate, they are the common ones to watch out for. Others, which are also important, are oxygen, phosphate and copper. Correct readings for all should be strictly observed to uphold the best for your fish. Don't be tempted to clean your filters once a week unless you deem it a necessity. If you only have the one filter then only clean it out fortnightly. Should you have more than one filter, then do one a week. Yellow water I have only one thing to say about: "Improve your filtration", for sure inadequate filters are the cause. Carbon should only be used for the removal of medication after a course of treatment is completed.

Climate Cycling
What a lot…. no, I would go as far as saying what the majority of enthusiasts think and believe is that they should keep their tanks at a constant temperature all year round. Not true or correct for all species of tropical fish, Malawi cichlids being no exception. What is forgotten about is climate cycling - spring, summer, you know how it goes. Inducers, that's what we tropical fish keepers are. Without going into all the inducements we offer our fish, bar one, breeding - something nearly all of us do in the hobby - encourage our fish to procreate. The best way of doing this is to increase the temperature, along with the other inducements. This would in all probability be correct for your species.

Now here are the results of your enticements:
One: Success, they bred, breeding and territorial aggression.
Two: They breed again; breeding and territorial aggression has got worse.
I could go on, but after the third production of fry you should now be thinking of turning the heater down. By the 12th week of doing so the temperature should be in the low seventies and your males should now be in their winter plumage. That's the breeding season over. Three months of respite, time for the males to mellow out, and as a rule revert back to the non-aggressive types they are described as. Time for the females to recuperate and regain stamina. At the end of this three months you need to start bringing the temperature back up again, so by the end of the next twelve weeks it's around the middle seventies. Breeding will take place around this temp., but not at the rate as in the high seventies. Aggression will be mainly territorial.

The next 6 months you have two choices, you can go for the full on breeding, higher aggression state - that's back in the higher seventies, or keep to the middle seventies and still have the males in their best finery but less spawning activity and less bullying. For the community tank I seriously suggest the latter. This cycle should be maintained. It will bring the best out of your fish without overdoing it.

Foot note:
Since reading the two articles on the use of carbon they have changed my thoughts completely. I now have to say carbon used as a filter medium following the guide lines described in the aforementioned articles is the way to go.

Seeding a Tank/Filter

A tank should be "seeded" (inoculated with waste-oxidizing bacteria) when:
l. A remodeled tank is stocked-out.
2. An ammonia build-up occurs when:
- A tank is over-fed, or animals throw up their food.
- Air is left off a tank for too long a time and the biological filter bacteria die off.
- A tank's filter is cleaned too well, discarding too many bacteria.
- An organism gets killed or dies (does not survive shedding, injury, or other causes of death) in a tank.
- Too much city water (high in chlorine and ammonia) is added to a tank killing biological filter.
- A treatment used in tank kills off biological filter.

Excess ammonia should be decreased by water change or addition of AmQuel prior to re- seeding a tank.

Bacteria for seeding a tank can be obtained by:
- Getting a commercial product (Fritz-zyme, other commercial products).
- Backflushing a sand filter.
- Squeezing out sponge filters.
- Siphoning from an undergravel filter.
- Adding coral or gravel from an established filter.
- Adding filter floss from an established filter.

Bacteria should be obtained from a tank with a similar salinity to the tank being seeded. Seed should not be gotten from a tank having recent problems with ammonia, algae, or disease.

If sufficient bacteria are added, a new tank (or re-seeded tank) can be set-up without a three to four week "cycling" process.

Experience plays a great part in ascertaining the amount of debris, etc. needed to seed a tank - a 210 gallon tank needs two to three one-gallon scoops of coral (gravel) from an operating tank in order to properly inoculate it. Spread coral (gravel) evenly over tank bottom.

As the bacteria for a biological filter need food (= waste products) in order to survive and grow do not inoculate a tank and wait one or more days prior to adding organisms.

The Nitrogen Cycle(Fish)

Lets start off really basic. How far you get along into this is up to you.

Fish make Waste - Bacteria get rid of Waste.

Complex enough for you? OK, we can get a little more specific.

Fish produce Ammonia(NH3) as the majority of their waste. Ammonia is toxic to fish so we wouldn't want that to build up in our aquarium. Luckily, there are types of bacteria that use Ammonia as part of their metabolism.

They use up the available Ammonia and convert it to a compound known as Nitrite(NO2). So, all is safe and sound, right?

No. Unfortunately, Nitrite is also very toxic to fish.

Bummer.

Now it happens to be that another type of bacteria come along and use this Nitrite in their metabolism. They scrounge up all the Nitrite they can find and convert it to a compound known as Nitrate(NO3). So all is safe and sound?

YES! Well for the time being...

Nitrate is MUCH less toxic than either Ammonia or Nitrite but should not be allowed to build up. SO...the way to keep the Nitrate level down is...Water Changing.

I knew you didn't want to hear that but that's the way it is. For the majority of aquariums, water changing is just part of the scenery. No way around it. Anyone who tells you otherwise is trying to sell you something (in my not so humble opinion).

Got the concept? Want more specifics? Are you sure? Ok, you asked for it.

When first setting up an aquarium, the tank and all of the folderol inside of it are relatively clean and free of bacteria, especially the kinds that we want. An aquarium takes time to establish a colony of "bugs" to get at the nasty wastes. This is what we call a Bacteria Bed, or also a Bio-Filter

1. A new aquarium gets set up. (assume water etc. is ok)
2. Fish get introduced.
3. Fish get fed ( I would hope).
4. Fish swim happily in enjoyment of their new home.
5. Fish produce waste.
6. Ammonia from the waste starts to build up (TOXIC).
7. Bacteria start growing that use Ammonia.
8. Ammonia level starts to drop as Nitrite level builds (TOXIC).
9. Bacteria start growing that use Nitrite.
10. Nitrite level starts to drop as Nitrate level slowly rises (Much less Toxic)
11. Aquarist (that's you) keeps Nitrate levels in check by doing weekly, partial water changes.
12. Aquarist enjoys years of happy fish keeping and goes on to win the Nobel Prize.

Well, you never know... The point of this is, that the "break in cycle" takes some time to get going. A new tank isn't ready for a full load of fish because the Bio-Filter hasn't built up yet. Go slowly. Good things come to those who wait.

Had enough? Up for more? We can get more technical...ok then.

The types of bacteria that go through this Nitrogen Cycle are known as Aerobic Bacteria. Simply put, this means that they use Oxygen in their daily lives to do all the wonderful things they do. Without Oxygen, they cannot live. (Sound familiar?). They grow on surfaces in the aquarium. On the walls, gravel, decor, filter materials etc.

The best way to get these Aerobic bacteria to grow is to give them plenty of oxygen by having well aerated water AND to give them plenty of places to grow.

For many years, it was thought that Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter were the primary culprits in this dance of waste management in the aquarium. Recent research by Dr. Tim Hovanec of Aquaria/Marineland in California has shown that we may have been mistaken for all these years.

Now there's lots more that can be said on this subject, but I am tired and I think my Pizza might be here. Also do some web searching. There are many great resources out there. If you really want to rock your world, go out and get "Ecology of the Planted Aquarium" by Diana Walstad. Then take everything I just said and turn it inside out!

Well, not really, but you'll see.

Now go get some fish!

New Aquarium Blues

You have bought yourself a new aquarium, filled it up with water then added a few fish and naturally you feed it. The fish digests the food and excretes waste into the water. In nature fishes live in vast water bodies or in flowing rivers that refreshes its water continuously removing its waste. But in the stagnant and limited quantity of water in your aquarium the nitrogenous waste products breaks down into ammonia. Within a day the ammonia reaches poisonous levels in the aquarium. Your see your fish scratching itself. Within a few days the fish look sick...by a week the fish are dying. You blame the local aquarium shop for the unhealthy fish and go buy some more. The local aquarium shop owner suggests you to clean the tank and try again - and the deathly cycle begins again.

You have to allow the nitrification or nitrogen cycle to establish itself in your aquarium. In this cycle of events the waste decaying matter is converted to less harmful chemicals which your fish can tolerate and plants can utilize.

The Nitrogen Cycle explained:

When the ammonia levels in your aquarium reach a suitable level (in a few days) nitrosomonas species of bacteria from the air settles in the water and starts to form colonies in your filter or sand, these bacteria convert the ammonia (NH3) to nitrite form (NO2-). At this time the ammonia levels drop to low levels and the nitrite levels starts to increase. The nitrites in the water is also toxic to fish, your aquarium is not ready as yet.. When the nitrite level in the water has reached suitable levels another bacteria of Nitrobacter species starts to establish colonies in your aquarium. These bacteria convert the nitrites to nitrates (NO3-), which are less harmful in small quantities and is absorbed by plants or algae. Now the aquarium is truly ready to host aquatic life. This process takes anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks depending on water temperature. One of the indications of an almost complete cycle is visible algae on the glass. The process looks like this:

Ammonia ->> Nitrite ->> Nitrate

How to speed up the nitrogen cycle:

The beneficial bacteria multiply slowly and to speed up the nitrogen cycle you have to introduce these bacteria into your aquarium in large quantities. The best way to do this is by borrowing some from an aquarium that is already established. An established tank would be one that is at least 3 months old after it has been setup or cleaned. You could

1. Take a cup of sand (with the muck) from an established aquarium and add it to yours. 2. Put a cup of sand from an established aquarium in your filter temporarily. 3. Borrow a filter from an established tank and run it in your tank for a few days. 4. Squeeze the water out of a filter media of an established aquarium. 5. Fill your aquarium with water taken from an established (larger) aquarium.

Taking care of the beneficial bacteria:

NEVER wash and clean an established aquarium. If you have to, try the following procedures. The following steps will save your colony of beneficial bacteria from destruction.

1. Siphon out all the water, filter the water and save for later. 2. Remove the filter and keep filter wet in this water. 3. Do not clean the filter. 4. Remove the sand, rinse, filter the water and save this water as in (1) 5. Now wash tank, substrate (sand), stones etc. 6. After you reset the tank, pour back the water saved in steps 1 & 4. 7. Put back the filter without cleaning. 8. Change water after a few weeks.

NEVER add medication directly to your aquarium unless it is from a reputed manufacturer and the package clearly states that the medication is harmless to filtration bacteria and plants.

NEVER add antibiotics like tetracycline to the aquarium. Treat the fish with antibiotics in a bucket of water. Antibiotic and other Microbicidal chemicals (Betadine) will kill all the beneficial bacteria along with whatever infection you are treating.

NEVER clean out a filter media (sponge) completely. Rinse the filter media gently in clean water to remove surface blockage and re-install. This will retain most of the beneficial bacteria.

NEVER add chlorinated water directly to your aquarium. Chlorine is added to water to kill harmful bacteria; chlorine kills ALL bacteria very effectively. Allow water to sit in bucket with an aerator for some time before adding to your aquarium. Water stored in a sump or overhead tank would have lost all chlorine over time.

And Note:

NEVER add a lot of new fish to your tank in one go. The bacteria colony will not be able to handle the sudden increase in load. Buy and add new fish one pair at a time. Now you know why fish suddenly start dying after you have added a new lot of new fish.

NEVER increase the feed amount to the fish suddenly, the bacteria might not be able to take the extra load of excrement. To prevent overfeeding, when you are leaving town for a few days, put the daily feed amount in small packets with instructions to the person who is looking after your fish.

My fish are already dying, what do I do?

Reduce the levels of these toxic chemicals by a DAILY partial water change. Alternatively you could remove the fish and put them into a large bucket of fresh water immediately. Replace the water in the bucket completely every day till the aquarium has completed the nitrogen cycle.

You can add anti Ammonia compounds like Ammolock, Amquel etc. These compounds lock up the Ammonia and provide complete relief to the fish within an hour.

Your First Aquarium Helps

Your first aquarium should never be an impulse buy. You should be aware that you are about to embark on a mission to provide a suitable world within your home to your new aquatic pets. To understand your responsibility fully, you must realize that you are playing god to these creatures and therefore you are ethically required to understand their environment and requirements fully and to the best of your ability. These creatures that you have decided to make your pets and create a home world for them have no escape except through death. It is a startling reality, which is completely ignored by most.

What are these aquatic requirements you need to fulfill?

Fishes have to be provided with a sufficiently large water body. You can decide the size of the aquarium that your budget allows and buy fish that would be comfortable in that aquarium. Alternatively you could decide the kind of fish that you want to have and buy an aquarium that suits that species. It is cruel to put a large fish into a small aquarium; the unfortunate fish would have limited mobility and low oxygen levels. In the long run such a fish would be unhealthy and as a result may succumb to opportunistic diseases. A large aquarium with few fishes or many small fishes is dreams come true. Ideally plan your aquarium for a small number of fish with a large space to swim around in.

Fishes come from rivers and lakes where there are natural currents constantly refreshing the water. This movement ensures that water is constantly exposed to air. Water from the lower reaches of your aquarium must be brought up to the surface so that fresh oxygen may dissolve in it and carbon dioxide exhaled by the fish may escape into the air. To achieve this in an aquarium you can either use an aerator or a filter-power head. The aerator does more than introducing fresh air bubbles into the water, the air curtain draws up stale water from the lower parts of the aquarium to the surface. Water rides along the water bubbles reaches the top, ripples on the surface increases oxygenation and refreshed water from the surface flows down. Remember that the aerator you select should not be so noisy so as to keep you awake at night. A filter or power head is a better choice. Select one with the flow capacity to suit your aquarium.

Your aquarium needs gravel to simulate nature. The gravel at the bottom helps in many ways. The gravel becomes home to billions of bacteria which help in harmlessly decomposing the fish excreta. This is a very important function to make your aquarium habitable to fish. In water fish excreta breaks down chemically and produces ammonia, which is very toxic to fish. These beneficial bacteria convert ammonia to less harmful nitrates. Without these bacteria your fishes would fall sick within days and eventually die by the damage ammonia does to their gills. The life of these creatures is in your hands and you have to ensure that these useful bacteria are present in your aquarium. Firstly choose gravel which is between 1 and 3 mm. in size, smaller particles will become compacted and larger gravel will make it difficult for plants to root. Make sure the gravel is free of sea shells, gravel prepared from laterite from the coast is ideal. To give your gravel a head start with bacteria, you need to fill your aquarium with water from another aquarium which has been successfully functioning for 3 months or more. You can also take a scoop of gravel from such an aquarium and add it to yours. Another way, take the sponge from an established aquarium and shake it firmly in a mug of water. Allow the mess to settle and add this water to your aquarium.

Most rivers and lakes provide aquatic life with a stable temperature. The temperature may only vary a little in tropical areas, while in other colder regions water might even freeze. Not all fishes have evolved to survive in such stressful climates. Temperatures in small bodies of water like your aquarium might vary quite a lot between day and night. If you plan to keep an aquarium indoors, the temperature may not vary much. If you plan to keep the aquarium outdoors or in an exposed area then temperatures may vary quite a bit. If you suspect that temperatures might vary a lot then you need to reduce these fluctuations by the use of an electric heater. The wattage of the heater will depend on your aquarium size, ask local aquarists for advice. Do not use heaters without automatic temperature control. Remember that glass heaters can break if handled carelessly and broken heaters immersed in water can result in FATAL injuries.

Plants are found in many water bodies, its only natural for you to provide aquatic plants in your aquarium for your pets. Plants provide much needed oxygen during the day. Plants remove nutrients from the water, reducing the buildup of nitrates. Plants provide a hiding place for fishes and break the monotony of an aquascape. Plants need to be selected by their size and suitability to your aquarium size. Some species of fish do not like plants in the aquarium; others constantly dig the gravel pulling out plants. Plants need light to grow, do not skimp on lights. Some species grow well only in bright light. For the first 6 months or more your plants need trace element supplements to do well. Add a micronutrient or trace mix according to directions.

In nature the sun rises and sets with absolute predictability. This sets the biological clock in all living things. It is very important that you provide this cycle to your plants and pets in the aquarium. Unless you plan to keep your aquarium near a well lit window, a light is required. You will have sufficient light if you use Compact Fluorescent lamps (CFL) with good electrical efficiency and keep you power bills low. Common household filament lamps have low light output and high heat radiation and are not suitable for an aquarium. Lamps should be switched on in the morning and switched off 12 hours later. You can invest in a electronic timer if you wish to automate the job. Lights may be fixed in a hood, a cover over the aquarium. When selecting light bulbs for a hood ensure that your fixtures are water proof. You can suspend lights from overhead and leave the aquarium top open. To prevent excessive evaporation, use a glass sheet to cover the top of the aquarium. This sheet is known as a condensation plate. You can use a condensation plate to protect your lighting fixtures from moisture.

In nature there is fresh water flowing in rivers. We cannot provide our home aquatic world with flowing fresh water, waste chemicals accumulate and important chemical elements get depleted so its very important to change some of the water in your aquarium regularly. Since we are driven by a calendar week of 7 days, it's easier to remember change some water weekly. Replace a maximum of 50% your aquarium water every week and add micronutrients or trace mix. If your water supply is chlorinated, you need to allow the chlorine to dissipate by allowing the water to sit in a container for a long time. You can also use chemicals like sodium hyposulphite "Hypo" to bind the chlorine and make it harmless. Chlorine is harmful to fish and it kills the useful bacteria in the aquarium.

Selecting your new fish at the shop is important. Do not buy fish that look like their fins are frayed or look visibly sick. Avoid fish with white spots, fishes with visible injuries or parasites clinging to their bodies. When in doubt avoid buying. Do not pick fish from an aquarium where there are dead fish. Do not buy fish on an impulse. Check if the fish you wish to buy are compatible. Some species are territorial and may become aggressive. You can learn a little more about a fish's nature by spending a little time at the shop observing them. Start with very few fish and increase your population with a few at a time. The aquatic world you have created needs time to adjust to fish load.

Finally your pets need to be fed. Growth of the fish is dependant on the amount of food they get. The more food they get faster they grow and shorter their life span may be. Fish food is available as pellets, flakes and live feed. Select food from reputed manufacturers, use pellets that suit the type of fish you have. Some fish species are bottom feeders, for them you need to use sinking food. They will starve if you feed your pets only floating food. Vary the food a little and give your pets some variety. Feed the fish once or twice a day, use as much as they eat in 5 minutes. Remove all excess uneaten food immediately. If you wish long life for your pets, feed them lightly. Unlike other pets, you can leave fish unfed for many days. If you have to leave town for a few days you need not worry about the fish, they will do nicely for days without being fed. Do not feed them excessively to compensate.

Plan your first aquarium with your family. Encourage your spouse and children to take part in its planning and upkeep. Keep the aquarium where it is out of reach of toddlers and four legged pets! Place the aquarium in a stable and safe place, safe for the family and safe for your fish.

Tank For Dummies

Your first tank arrives home, possibly with a bag of fish, possibly not. Possibly with a kit-type collection of assorted lights, heaters, and filters, possibly not. What are you going to do with it all? This article is intended to provide you with instructions for setting up your first tank. I assume you want your new tank to be something to admire, and that the typical "starter kit" aquarium complete with bubbling plastic skeleton is not going to cut it. Instead, this approach will give you a showpiece aquarium; one that will be an attractive feature in a semi-formal living room rather than an eyesore in the family rumpus room. As such, it will be naturally aquascaped with hardy, attractive, and (most of all) living plants, and be supplied with a nice collection of attractive, peaceful fishes.

There are plenty of different ways to set up such a tank, and you will get other advice from other club members, but the method I will describe is reliable.

Well, first off, I hope you haven't got a bag of fish yet. You need a couple of day's preparation before you're ready for that. Here's also hoping that you got some good advice when you purchased your equipment on what to buy. If you purchased at a department store or a non-aquarium specialty stores, you may have been sold whatever that particular store wants to unload. You may therefore have to make another trip to the store to get some decent equipment; and I would highly recommend one of the local aquarium specialty stores (Riverfront, Pisces, etc.) over Walmart. Before setting up your aquarium, this is what you should purchase:

1) A tank (obviously enough). It should be of all-glass construction and should ideally be in the 25 to 50 gallon capacity range. Anything smaller does not provide enough capacity to provide a stable environment in the hands of a beginner, and is really too small for an effective living room display anyway. Anything larger is more expensive than what you are likely to want to spend on your first aquarium. However, you should be aware that four-foot fluorescent bulbs are considerably cheaper than the three-foot variety. Therefore, even though a four-foot tank is more expensive to buy than a three-foot tank, it is less expensive to light and (as discussed below) lights are a primary expense. You should therefore seriously consider getting a four-foot tank; the final expenditure will not be a great deal more after the cost of bulbs and light fixtures are added in. A tank that measures 48"x12"x18 is very nice in this regard, but the smaller 36"x12"x18" size is more widely available and certainly does make for a nice display tank too.

2) An adequate light and hood assembly. This is the hardest item to find and possibly the most expensive item as well. The only hoods that are readily available for aquaria at a reasonable cost are those plastic aquarium hoods with the single fluorescent tube or a 20-watt incandescent fixture. They do not produce enough light for plants. At the very least, you need two full-length fluorescent tubes for a tank with plants, and even this will allow you to only keep a few shade-tolerant plant species. Most club members build their own multi-tube hoods using fluorescent shop fixtures. If you are handy with tools, this is highly recommended. Otherwise I would recommend getting at least two strip lights and a sliding glass aquarium cover. The aquarium cover is readily available at good aquarium stores but the strip lights may require a trip to Home Depot or Revy. Get full-spectrum fluorescent bulbs for your fixture. I would recommend the Philips Ultralume bulb as being an inexpensive and high-quality full-spectrum light. They are available in building supply depots with lighting departments, like Totem, Revy, Home Depot, etc. Other full spectrum bulbs (such as Vitalite) are also available in pet shops, but at a much higher cost. One of those pinkish-looking plant grow-lights is OK among the full-spectrum bulbs, but I would recommend that no more than half the bulbs above the tank be of this variety. I would not recommend those cheap warm-white or cool-white fluorescent bulbs; although inexpensive, they produce comparatively little light that is usable by plants. Neither would I recommend that a beginner use incandescent, halogen, or metal halide lighting. These lights have their place (I use all three myself) but they require special arrangements to deal with the heat they produce.

3) A heater. Any of the submersible or semi-submersible aquarium heaters are fine, but don't get the cheapest one available. Reliability is important here. You will want a heater rated for 100 watts to 150 watts.

4) A biological filter. However, I wouldn't recommend an undergravel filter for this tank. They are OK, but their drawbacks out-weigh their good points. They are difficult to maintain in the long term, require their own air or water pump, and should only be run in a tank with a separate mechanical filter. The need for a separate power supply for the undergravel filter plus another separate mechanical filter adds both cost and complexity to the tank. A single motorized biological filter unit that integrates both biological and mechanical filtration is simpler, less expensive, and much easier to keep clean than an undergravel filter. Mechanical biological filters are relatively new on the market, but are now widely available. They can either hang on the back of the tank, or be a canister. Most cost effective is a hanging filter. These come equipped with a supplementary biological filter module such as a biowheel (a waterwheel-like attachment) or a drip plate. Your filter should have a flow sufficient to turn over the tank’s volume about three times per hour. So a 33-gallon tanks needs a 100 gph filter. The real-world flow rate will be about 75% of the rated flow listed by the manufacturer.

5) A separate mechanical filter if an undergravel filter is being used. If a power biological filter is used, these are unnecessary since the power filter will have its own mechanical filtration module.

6) An air pump or water pump, but again only if an undergravel filter is used. A power filter comes with its own motor.

7) Fine gravel or coarse sand. The darker the colour the better. Get at least a couple of inches worth. That's about one pound of gravel per gallon of tank capacity. A little more is better. If you wish, a cup or two of a substrate additive like laterite or earthworm castings can be mixed with the bottom third of the sand. Feel free to leave this step out however, as this is an advanced technique which I would hesitate to recommend to a beginner. Not only do you run the risk of the sand going anaerobic, substrate additives make for a real mess when you finally tear down the tank. Do not use a substrate additive if you plan to have only a few plants.

8) A very solid stand. Your finished tank will weigh over 10 pounds per gallon of capacity. Remember that.

9) Rocks or driftwood for decoration and the security of the fish.

10) A scraper to clean algae off the glass. Both the magnetic pad kind and a razor blade scraper should be acquired.

11) At least one nice soft net. Both a big "trapping" net and a smaller "herding" net are good to own.

12) A good thermometer. Make sure you examine all the thermometers in the store and find one that is reading the same as the other ones. The liquid-crystal stick-on thermometers are good, but can't be moved once in place.

But what you don't need yet is livestock (fish and plants).

Now, to set everything up, first wash the gravel and rocks in water only (no cleansers) and rinse out the tank as well. Pour in the gravel and then the rocks. Hang the heater, thermometer, and filter on the back of the tank, but don't plug them in yet. Fill the tank slowly with cold or lukewarm water, trying not to blow the gravel around, while watching for leaks and making sure your stand is holding up to the weight. After the temperature of the water equals the room temperature, plug in the heater and adjust it so its indicator light just comes on. Plug the filter in too. Allow a few hours for the temperature to settle and adjust the heater if necessary. You want a temperature to stabilize at about 25C. It will likely be the next day before you can set a stable tank temperature.

Now, after things have been running and have been stable for another day or so (no sooner), buy some plants. I would definitely include the two plant species Cryptocoryne affinis and Java fern (Microsorium pteropus) because they are very easy to grow. Plant the C. affinis as you would any terrestrial plant, but tie the Java fern to your driftwood with some black thread. Do not bury the Java fern`s roots. You can buy these species in all good aquarium stores, or club members can always be found that have some to spare. If you have at least two full-length fluorescent bulbs (as you should have) you can also include some Vallisneria, since these plants are also hardy and easy to keep, but they do require a good deal of light. There are many other species of plants suitable for the beginner, but be careful if you don't know which ones are suitable. Make sure that the plants you chose are actually aquatic plants, not terrestrial plants that were stuck under water by unknowledgeable or unscrupulous storeowners. If in doubt about a plant species, ask another club member for advice, or take one of the plant books out of the library to help your identification. Make sure you spend enough money on plants that you get a good number (club auctions are really good for getting plants in bulk). One Cryptocoryne affinis or Vallisneria plant per gallon of water and a good handful of Java fern makes for a good first planting. But don't be discouraged if your plants die back immediately after planting; they will grow back. Cryptocoryne affinis is notorious for doing just that. Vallisneria is also known for languishing for a few months after planting, before starting to grow with abandon. Give your plants the time they need to get established.

After the plants are planted and the tank has sat with its filter running for a few days, you can add the first few fish; but only a very few (no more than three). Make sure that these first fish are not territorial, because if they are, they will stake their claims before the other fish get into the tank and attempt to drive off the new-comers when they arrive. Corydoras catfish make good first residents. You must now be patient. The purpose of adding these first few fish is to provide a source of ammonia to mature your biological filter. The biological filter requires time to grow a good culture of bacteria that will oxidize fish ammonia and change it into non-toxic nitrate. This generally takes at least a month; so give it six weeks to be sure. After the six weeks are up, you can populate the tank relatively safely. But don't add too many fish. You want a show tank, and a heavy fish population will only result in algae, dirty water, and maintenance problems. A relatively few fish swimming among healthy plants is much more attractive than a lot of fish in an algae-covered tank. The rule of thumb of "one inch of fish per gallon" is a good one, as long as you are talking about slim fish no longer than three or four inches in total length. Next month, I will discuss suitable selections of fish for the first-time aquarist.

Don't bother with chemical filtration in your filter box, such as activated carbon. With proper tank maintenance, carbon is not necessary. Also, don't be overly concerned about buying lots of test kits. The pH of Calgary's water is stuck on 8.2 and it's well-buffered and stable enough that (with proper tank maintenance) your tank pH will never be significantly different than that of the water that comes out of the tap. Therefore, as long as you follow proper set up and maintenance guidelines, there is little point in testing your tank pH. You may want to buy an ammonia test kit, but if you set up the aquarium correctly and allow enough time for the biological filter to mature, you won't have any ammonia to test anyway. And don't worry about getting any fish medications, tonics, or other such garbage. If anyone has ever saved a fish with over-the-counter antibiotics I have yet to meet him. It is much better to simply set up and maintain the tank properly, and you just won't see any disease.

However, do be concerned with getting high quality fish food. Good flake food is adequate for the fish I will describe next month, and the Aquarian and Tetra brands are especially good, as are many others. Good aquarium stores will only sell good foods, but department stores may sell poor quality flakes. In addition, some freeze-dried foods such as krill, ocean plankton, and mosquito larvae are also good dietary supplements. Commercial frozen foods are also good, but much more expensive. If you want to get more involved in the hobby, home made frozen foods are inexpensive and fun to make, and recipes can be found readily in The Calquarium’s back issues. And if you find yourself becoming a budding fish fanatic, you can collect live insect larvae and crustaceans from country ditches and ponds during the spring. These bug-hunting expeditions can be a lot of fun. When feeding your fish, feed them lightly. Heavy feedings will result in rapid fish growth and lots of spawning activity, but will also considerably increase the amount of waste and algae growing in the aquarium. Since this is a display tank, not a breeding tank, feed only a little and you will have a much nicer tank. Feeding as much as your fish will eat in five minutes, twice a day, is more than plenty. And don't be concerned about missing a few feedings either. Your fish are fine without food for as much as a week. If you are going to be away for longer than that, make arrangement for a very light feeding every other day. Under no circumstances should you ever use those Plaster-of-Paris "weekend feeding blocks". The food particles in them are so small that no adult fish can eat them, and the blocks harden water as they dissolve. They are useless wastes of money and inedible sources of pollution.

You should seriously consider feeding your plants. Iron and manganese fertilization is necessary in Calgary's water, since our water (sourced from the Rocky Mountain run-off) is deficient in trace metals. There are lots of commercial fertilizer mixes that are just fine. However, I would only add fertilizer with a water change unless you purchase an iron test kit. If you regularly add fertilizer without monitoring the levels or first removing some water, you can get a toxic build-up of iron over time. So if the instructions on the fertilizer bottle are to add one drop of solution per gallon, and you change five gallons of water, just put five drops in the tank after the water change. Repeat this the next time you change water. Don't add any more than this unless you monitor the iron levels with a test kit. Remember that plants actually need very little iron. And don't use fertilizers that contain any phosphates or nitrates. Also, don’t concern yourself with CO₂ fertilization. This is an advanced technique, and (although it’s sort of fun to monkey around with the gear) CO₂ fertilization is not necessary for a healthy tank.

As for changing water, that is a very important part of weekly maintenance. I would recommend changing 25% weekly. This is a bit of a chore unless you have either a Python water changer or one of its competitors. These devices take almost all the drudgery of tank ownership and are well worth the money. Clean the glass with your algae scraper as well. Also clean the mechanical filtration module of your filter weekly, but leave the biological filter module for only twice-yearly cleaning. Even then only rinse the biological filter medium in old tank water. You can expect to devote 1/2 hour of maintenance to your tank weekly, but again, don’t stress out about missing the odd week’s maintenance schedule.

When changing water, make sure that the temperature is as close as possible to that of the tank, and add some dechlorinator as well. Dechlorinators, despite contrary opinion, are not strictly necessary in Calgary (I never use them) but are good insurance for smaller fish. If you use a dechlorinator, feel free to add water straight out of the tap through your Python (or other) water changer (just add the dechlorinator to the tank before refilling). Make sure however that the replacement water is well aerated during refilling in order to release any excessive dissolved gas. The Python is designed to aerate water during refilling and so will release dissolved gas nicely. Most good aquarium stores in town sell the Python and a seemingly identical (except that it’s blue) competitive product is also available for a little less money.

With light feedings, low fish densities, lots of light, and regular maintenance, you can easily set up a thriving, beautiful tank. But you will still have some algae, and algae-eating fishes are a good idea. I'll discuss these and other fishes for your new tank next month.?

Freshwater Aquarium

Read these notes and maintain a healthy, problem-free aquarium. You won't encounter the usual problems that occur and you won't be among those who ask "Why did my fish die?"

Assuming you have acquired a tank that doesn't leak and have installed an adequate form of filtration, a heater (necessary for most tropical fish), a cover (preferably containing a source of light) and have added water, your tank is now starting the process of becoming 'balanced'. This will happen and takes several weeks, at the end of which the 'good bacteria', necessary to support life in your aquarium will reign supreme! This process can be speeded up by immediately adding a) half a dozen small fish (see below) that will produce waste to feed the bacteria, and feeding the fish lightly once or twice a day b) some water from an already set up, healthy aquarium, which already contains good bacteria c) some gravel from an already set up, healthy aquarium, which already contains good bacteria or d) adding an amount of a product specifically designed for this purpose, sold at your local aquarium store. If you want to know more about this 'cycle' of the aquarium there are many books available on starting a new aquarium that will explain it in detail. For now, suffice it to say that this cycle will happen and unless care is taken, disaster occurs. Your aquarium may develop a new tank bloom (fogginess in the water) while this cycle is occuring. It will clear.

During this time and as always, regular care and maintenance is IMPERATIVE if you want your fish to live long and healthy lives.

Make sure all equipment used for your aquarium is used only for your aquarium.

Fish may be put into your aquarium as soon as the water clears from setting up the aquarium and you are sure that all the equipment is working properly. As stated above, the fish will start that 'good bacteria' in the aquarium that is vital. Too many fish in your aquarium now, may result in losses. More fish may be added in a few weeks. Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you add any more fish until then and even then, add them a couple (if small schooling fish, add four or five) at a time over a period of a month or so. Try to choose hardy, easily maintained fish to start with. Some good choices are Danios, (they like to swim in schools), Platies and/or Swordtails, (lots of brilliant colours are available) and two or three Cory Cats to patrol the bottom. If you are obtaining your fish from someone who is knowledgeable and reputable tell them about your setup, including the size of your tank, and ask for their advice.

Change approximately one-quarter of the water in the tank weekly, making sure that the dirt in the bottom of the aquarium is disturbed and sucked out with your syphon. The replacement water must be very close in temperature to the water that you removed and ABSOLUTELY MUST BE DECHLORINATED WATER. THIS WILL AVOID ANY POSSIBILITY OF GILL DAMAGE. Also, if you buy the dechlorinating solution, it usually has other 'stuff' in it to reduce stress and maintain the slime coat.

Continue regular maintenance, once a week. It should take no more than 15 minutes.

Keep an eye on the temperature from time to time. A drop in temperature will encourage stress-related diseases, e.g.: 'Ich' and enough of a rise in temperature would cook the fish and the good bacteria, resulting in the loss of your efforts.

When changing water, the best advice is to unplug your heater and power filter. Failure to unplug your heater and possibly exposing it to the air could result in cracking of the heater glass. The important thing here, is to remember to plug everything back in after!

Keep the glass clean, both inside and out. This can be done with a razor blade type of scraper, or bunched up white paper towels. Keeping the glass clean is necessary for aesthetic reasons, obviously, but also so that you can quickly notice any changes in the behavior of your fish that will alert you to the fact that something might be amiss.

If you are using a power or box filter, ALWAYS leave half of the dirty filter floss (if that's what you are using) in the filter, leaving some of those 'good bacteria' to continue their valuable work. (Change your filter floss when it is really dirty and/or the flow rate from the filter has slowed down noticeably). Rinse out the sponge in the power filter, if you are using one, under TEPID water - never hot. Using hot water will completely destroy the good bacteria that you are striving to establish and maintain. Charcoal, if used, can be rinsed each week--tepid water again. Replace at least once a month. In between times, when it looks really dirty, it is o.k. to rinse it under the tap - TEPID water again.

AFTER THE INITIAL PHASE IS OVER, maintain a regular schedule as always, keeping in mind a few important things that will ensure a healthy aquarium:

1. It is inadvisable to add store-bought fish to your aquarium unless you can quarantine* them for at least three weeks. Some people may laugh at this because they've never had a problem. However, it takes one unhealthy fish to wipe out your entire population and it does happen. Unless you are ABSOLUTELY sure of your source, PLAY IT SAFE. If you do have a quarantine tank, maintain the same schedule of care as your main tank so that when the time comes to put your fish into the main tank, the water will match and there won't be any shock involved (either to you or the fish)!

2. When you quarantine, it is essential that you wash ALL aquarium equipment under hot water after any use. Otherwise you run the risk of transferring disease. NEVER USE HOUSEHOLD SOAP when washing aquariums and related equipment. Salt can be used as an abrasive/cleaner or a very dilute bleach solution can be used when cleaning equipment. Always rinse well afterward.

3. When obtaining fish from ANY SOURCE, never put the water that they came in into your tank. Pour the fish and water into a net and put only the fish into your aquarium.

4. When bringing new, healthy fish to your aquarium, check to see if the temperature in the container and the tank is close. A degree or so fluctuation is not harmful. You may opt to float your container of fish in the tank for a few minutes for the temperatures to equalize.

PLANTS: If you use plastic plants, wash them when dirt and/or algae are visible. Live plants can be added shortly after your initial aquarium 'cycle' has finished but once again, unless you are sure of your source, you might be adding disease, snails or other unwelcome guests, unless precautions are taken. If you either don't care, or can't be bothered, plastic plants are for you. If you do care, a brief live plant sterilization*** can be used although this doesn't always get rid of snail eggs. So, sometimes, even though you are careful with new additions, snails may appear in your aquarium. Then the best you can do is to take them out as you see them.

LIGHTS: If you have live plants in your aquarium, they won't survive unless they have enough light. This usually means at least 10 hours per day. A timer is invaluable for this. (A timer is only usable on lights that are 'quick start' or incandescent). They are inexpensive and a must if you ever spend a day or two, or more, away from home. Be sure to plug only your lights into the timer. The heater must be on all the time during the cooler weather and the filtration must be non-stop all the time. If you have only plastic plants, then the length of the aquarium 'day' will be up to you. Try to keep the 'day' uninterrupted if possible. If the aquarium is in an otherwise dark room, the on and off of lights is stressful for the fish. Keep in mind that incandescent lights produce more heat than fluorescent lights. During hotter weather, this might be a problem.

Keeping the temperature between 75 and 78F should work well for most tropical fish.

So - minimal care of the right kind can keep your aquarium in top shape. Your aquarium should be good for many years of uninterrupted enjoyment.

Anytime you are away from home for a day or more: don't overfeed your fish just before you leave. Food they can't eat will rot, grow fungus and smell. Your adult fish will be o.k. for a weekend, even a week, without feeding. If you are going to be away longer and someone else feeds your fish, TELL THEM TO FEED ONCE EVERY OTHER DAY, while you are away and ONLY SMALL FEEDINGS****. SHOW THEM HOW SMALL! More tanks have gone bad due to overfeeding by well-meaning fish-sitters! Your fish will survive longer unfed, while you are away, than they will if they are overfed.

Smell: your aquarium will never smell - unless you have overfed or a fish has died. Eyeball your aquarium for dead fish or other problems, once a day - before lights out is a good time.

Algae: sometimes, due to a number of circumstances, algae will become a nuisance. Regular maintenance will get it off the plastic plants and interior of the glass, but if its growth becomes rapid and unsightly between weekly cleanings, too much light might be the problem, so reduce the duration of your light period slightly. Keep in mind that if your aquarium is near a window, algae will grow more rapidly even if there is decorative paper on the back of the tank. Plants are attractive and if algae continues to be a problem, adding more live plants might also help.

Quite often no matter how many helpful hints are listed, there are more questions, so don't forget, call a more experienced aquarist if you need help!

Winter is a time when some real emergencies can happen due to power outages. This doesn't happen often, but if it does, the aquarium will be fine for a couple of hours, as long as it isn't overpopulated. If it's any longer and if the temperature starts to drop, do a small (dechlorinated) water change using slightly warmer water for as long as warm water is available. This will be necessary every two or three hours thereafter while the power is off. Wrapping the tank with a blanket or taping styrofoam pieces on all four sides could be done to reduce heat loss for an extended period of time, but the water would still have to be changed every few hours due to lack of filtration and oxygen.

When the power is back on, uncover the tank and check to see that everything is working and the fish are o.k.

TO CALCULATE THE SIZE OF YOUR AQUARIUM (in U.S. gallons):
Width x height x depth (inches) ÷231 = gallons. (For example 12 in. X 12 in. X 24 in. = 3456 cubic inches. 3456/231 = 14.96 (15 gallons)

TO CALCULATE APPROX. HOW MANY INCHES OF FISH YOUR AQUARIUM CAN SAFELY HOUSE:
Width x length divided by 30 equals inches of fish. (For example 12 in. X 24 in. = 288 square inches (of water surface). 288/30 = 9.6 (inches of fish) This is a very rough guide. You could have considerably more than this if the fish are tiny, such as Neon tetras but perhaps less if the fish is large and full bodied such as an Oscar.

TO CONVERT degrees Fahrenheit to degrees Celsius:
Subtract 32 from the number of degrees F. and divide the result by 1.8. (For example 80° F is 80 - 32 = 48. 48/1.8 =26.7° C )

! Patience is important when you start up an aquarium. It always pays off.

* Quarantining: Use a small heated and filtered tank, with a lid. (Use a **'dirty' filter.) Take some of the floss from a filter that is in use, put it with some fresh floss in the filter in the quarantine tank. At least this will guarantee that your fish won't suffer as much stress from the tank going through the 'cycle'. The dirty floss already has some of those precious 'good bacteria' in it.

***Sterilization of live plants: Use a tablespoon of Alum (available in any drug store) dissolved in a gallon of tepid, dechlorinated water, for five minutes ONLY! Remove from the alum solution and rinse in some clean, tepid, dechlorinated water. (Repeat this treatment several times at intervals over 7 to 10 days and then inspect the plants carefully. If no live snails, even very tiny ones, are found, it should be safe to place the plants in your tank.)

****Feeding: Put A SMALL PINCH OF FOOD IN AND MAKE SURE THE FISH EAT IT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES, THE UNEATEN FOOD WILL SINK TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK AND MAY NOT BE EATEN. It will fungus, smell and look unsightly. Feed your fish once a day. Remember, most fish will always appear to be hungry. Variety in your fish's diet is a good thing.

READ BOOKS - YOU NEED TO KNOW!

GOLDFISH ARE TEMPERATE NOT TROPICAL FISH

ITEMS YOU WILL NEED TO BEGIN:
- An aquarium of your choice (Get the largest you can afford and for which you have space.)
- A lid (canopy with light included)
- A suitable stand
- A heater suitable for the size of the tank
- A filter - many types available - and filter media
- An air pump (for some types of filters).
- Gravel (used with an under-gravel type of filter) or for aesthetic reasons if you have another type of filtration.
- A scraper
- A syphon for water changes
- A bucket to prepare water to return to the tank
- A stick-on type of thermometer
- Backing for the tank if desired
- A bottle of dechlorinator for water changes. (Get one that says it removes chloramines.)
- A variety of fish food
- An inexpensive timer
- A site for your aquarium setup where there is an electrical outlet.

READ BOOKS - WE NEVER KNOW ALL WE THINK WE DO!

If you encounter any problems that aren't mentioned in these notes, please let me know and I'll add them to the list.

Setting Up A Fish Tank

Check List for Setting up a Fish Tank
--Pick tank wanted
-Verify tank has no leaks, cracks, or any other faults that could cause tank failure.
-Verify tank is clean and disease-/toxin-free (previously washed, sterilized with bleach, and rinsed).
--Set up tank in display location. Position tank with water, electricity, air, and drain nearby.
-Verify tank stand will support weight of tank plus contents (substrate, water, etc).
-Verify tank is level.
-Verify nothing is under tank that will crack it or cause tank stress when substrate and water are
added.
--Choose substrate.
-Choose particle size, particle shape, type, and amount (to give wanted depth) of substrate.
-Thoroughly wash substrate (until wash water is relatively clear).
--Choose aquascaping.
-Thoroughly soak, and wash any aquascaping materials to leach toxins.
-Remove organics that will quickly decay; slowly-decaying organics as driftwood, etc may require
fairly frequent water changes, depending on tank volume and rate of decay.
--Choose live plants (if to be employed) and determine lighting (duration, intensity, wavelength) needed
to maintain plants.
--Add under gravel filter, if using this type of filter, or another filter type.
--Add substrate, and level (if not level the water circulation will go through thinnest parts, or paths of
least resistance, and you will have "dead zones" in an under gravel filter system).
--Add tank water to be used, and adjust to the salinity (or freshwater) desired.
--Turn on air/filters and circulate tank water until clear.
--Connect up any UV light sterilizers, ozone units, diatomaceous earth or sand filters, and protein
skimmers, and verify working correctly. --Add lighting desired, and set lighting cycle.
--Add live test organism (guppy, etc) and note its survival to verify no toxins in tank.
--Seed tank. Seeding is done before addition of plants and aquascaping so that seeding material does not
get on plants and aquascaping and cause more cleaning work. Turn off sterilizers, ozone, and skimmers
(leave air and filters running) until bacteria from seeding are drawn into filters (1-2 days). Seeding can
be done before or after the small test organism, which produces little ammonia, is used.
--Add aquascaping.
--Add plants; verify plants contain no predatory insect larvae (dragonfly, damselfly, etc).
--Verify all tank support systems are working.
--Add tank occupants (after healed from collection/transport damage, and after verifying they appear to
be disease-free) shortly after seeding so biological filter bacteria are fed fish wastes and thus are
maintained.
--Add light-transmitting tank cover to keep fish from jumping out of tank, to decrease aerosols from
escaping tank, and to decrease air-borne toxins from settling in tank.

After tank is set up:
--Monitor ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, etc levels until satisfied tank biological filter is well established,
then do periodic water quality testing.
--Adjust air flow, water flow, and lighting cycle to get display effects desired.
--Observe animals and plants closely for problems.
--Do periodic water changes.
--Do not feed animals for a few days, or do light feeding for first week.
--Never overfeed animals.
--Remove any excess food, and dead animals or plants as soon as possible to avoid fouling and disease. --Adjust lights (duration, intensity, wavelength) and light cycle to lessen algae growth.
--Remove overly aggressive animals.
--Do a daily tank check to verify all is going well.

Horse Riding For Pleasure

DO you want to learn to ride a horse, but are put off by doubts in your ability? Do you have an underlying fear that you just aren't good enough? Do you feel time has passed you by and it is too late? Do you already ride, but only to win? Do you ride in a style that you struggle to enjoy?

Are you limiting your riding pleasure by worrying about what others may say or think? Are you holding yourself back from fulfilling your true potential? Are you living your life the way YOU want to live it?

Many of us lack confidence when we build our satisfaction on the approval of others. When we rely on anothers reaction, to determine what course we take. We can learn to depend on other's opinions. This can influence our future choices. This is not living true to ourselves.

Sadly, many of us vividly remember our bad experiences and perceived failures to the point of forgetting about our success. We build up the picture of many failures and bad experiences and soon lose our confidence.

Perhaps our family and friends have encouraged this over the years. All too often a scary or bad story gets more attention than a story of success. How many of us have rushed home to share our story of success only to have been passed over by something dramatic on the TV or a tragedy.

How many of us do have the support from family and friends, but fail to believe in our own ability? We listen and act according to the opinions of others.

What can we do about this?

It all comes down to listening to our inner voice, following our intuition and living in balance with our heart's desire, our life's purpose.

When we listen and act according to our inner voice, our frustrations with the world dissipates. We feel joy, fulfillment and sheer gratitude for life.

Horse Riding for pure pleasure, is just that. It is using the skills we currently posses and the style of riding that expresses our true character, whatever the style, that makes our hearts sing. We ride for our pleasure and ours alone.

No thought is given to whether we please another, or not. Approval from others may be gratifying, but it is not essential to survive. In fact, getting approval all the time simply isn't possible, you will always be offending someone or stepping on someone's toes, or not living up to their standard. Seeking approval from these people guarantees unhappiness.

Riding for pure pleasure only takes our needs into consideration. If competing is what fills us with joy, we compete. We do it with purpose. We don't need to fear another will beat us to what we desire, for there is enough for all. If a space is taken by another, there will be a better one for us, further on. We ride for the pleasure it brings. There is no hurry, or fear, or doubt.

No matter what kind of riding we choose, there is a style for us to enjoy, that perfectly suits our personalities, and current skills.

We are full of gratitude for the moments of pleasure it brings us.

Remember these things as you ride. If there are changes to be made, do so. Life is too short. Live and ride the way you were born to.

First Riding Lesson

Once you have gained your balance at the walk, there are some exercises that you can do that will improve your seat.

In the first couple of lessons, try to avoid the kind of exercises that lift you out of the saddle at this early stage (like leaning backwards onto the horse's rump, or bending down and touching your toes) These can be done once you have developed a firm, deep seat.

1. Arms raised slowly sideways and upwards, with palms facing downward, until arms are horizontal. Hold for a few seconds, and then slowly lower them back to your side. Repeat three or four times.
2. Perform above exercise and continue raising arms to point straight up over the head. Repeat three or four times.
3. Firm Hips. Place the palms of the hands on the hips, fingers to the front, elbows outward and in line with the body. Press down.
4. Hands briskly back by your side.
5. Back to no 1 except this time raise the arms straight in front of the body until horizontal. Repeat 3 times.
6. Same as no 2 but with arms raised in front of the body until straight above the head. Repeat 3 times.
7. Hips firm as above, then breathe in and lean the body forward, keeping the body straight and the seat firmly in the saddle. Breathe out, straighten up and lean back slightly, then straighten up to normal position. The movements here will be very slight to begin with, the aim is to keep the body straight and the seat firmly in the saddle.
8. Hips firm. Breathe in, and turn the body from the waist to the left. Breathe out and turn back to the front. Then do the right, and back to the front. The hips and lower body should not move. Later as you get better this and no7 can be done with your arms stretched sideways.
9. Hips firm. Arms stretched sideways. Then swing your arms both together smoothly and rhythmically backwards, upwards, forwards, round and round. Remember to breathe in and out in time with the rhythm.
10. The reverse of no 9
11. Alternately swing one arm front to back the other back to front. Repeat 3-4 times.
12. Bend the arms, so hands as fists are level with the shoulders. Shoot them out briskly to the full length of the arm, fingers out stretched, palms down. First do this sideways, then forwards, then upwards.

These lessons should first be done at the halt.
Progress, when confident, to the walk ( on a lead rein or lunge) and later, when you are really good, try these at the canter.

You can practice these exercises at home without a horse! Simply purchase one of those giant exercise balls. These are excellent for gaining balance. Simply sit astride your "horse" and away you go.

A fence , or wooden horse can also be used.

How to Tack a Horse

Horse tack is the term used to describe all the items used to make a horse ready to be ridden. For most of us (who use the English style of riding), the tack consists of a saddle blanket, a saddle, a bridle and a girth. If you are just starting out, learning how to tack a horse is one of the most important lessons that you can learn (behind how to ride a horse).

Before you tack your horse up, you need to take a few precautions. The most important one is to tie your horse up. When you tie a horse up always use a quick release not or quick release snaps. We always say at the stables that it is better to have to catch a healthy horse than to take a trapped horse to the vet. Another basic safety point is to always wear a helmet and body protector when around your horse.

Now that you have the horse tied up then it's time to start tacking your horse. Talk to your horse and brush it down. Doing this not only calms your horse but lets you check your horse over for any lumps or bumps that it might have picked up.

Once your horse is checked over, tied and you are already to begin. Take the reins and the top of the bridle in the same hand and put them over your right shoulder. Make sure that nothing is dangling on the ground that your horse can trod on.

Put the saddle together. If you haven't done this already it is always best to get someone experienced to help (and of course read our guide to how to saddle a horse).

Once you have your saddle ready then it's time to put your saddle pad onto your horse.

Now depending on the type of riding you are planning on doing the the saddle pad varies. For show hunting then the saddle pad is shaped like the saddle and just shows under the saddle. The white is outlined. For schooling you can use pretty much whatever pad you like. Square pads are very popular. Finally for dressage the saddle pad is square, the front of the pad fits the shape of the horses shoulders.

Once you have put the saddle on the horse in the correct manner, put the reins over the horses nech, remove the halter and slip it over the horses neck.

Put the bit back in the horses mouth after you have unbuckled the nose band of the bridal first.

Guide the bit into the horses mouth, making sure that you take care not to hit the horses teeth (or loose a couple of digits). If the horse resists opening their mouth then a cheeky trick is to slide a finger into the area on the gums that the bit rests on. If it is cold, remember to warm the bit before.

Slide the crown piece over the horses ears.

Nearly finished...

Attach the throat latch loosely as if it's too tight then it can cut off the horses air supply. Like most things when tacking the horse, if you can't slide few fingers between it then it is far too tight.

Attach the nose band in a snug fashion, again make sure you slide one finger between the band and the horses nose.

Now it's time to get the right length for the stirrups. We always say before you jump on then make sure the stirrup loops come up to your armpit.

Buckle your helmet and it's finally time to mount the horse.

Tips For Your Horse

In typical Memphis fashion, the weather has turned from warm and balmy to bone-chilling cold in a matter of days! I don't know about you, but it takes me awhile to get acclimated to colder weather. And about the time I start to get used to it, the weather warms back up!

Here are some cold weather tips for your horse:
• Feed more good, quality, hay to help add some extra "Fuel" for your horse during cold weather. Horses' bodies work hard during cold weather burning up more energy to keep warm. Extra food in the form of hay helps tremendously!

• To keep water troughs from freezing, place a plastic ball or football in the trough. Of course, your ponies will want to play with the new toy!

• Place a mineral or salt block in your horses feed tub. Not only will this slow down fast eaters, but it will provide extra salt encouraging thirst so that your horse will continue to drink enough water when cold. Many get picky in cold weather and don't like to drink frigid water.... Yikes, who can blame them, I hate BRAINFREEZE!

• Keep aware of the ground conditions when riding. Freezing conditions can make the ground REALLY hard on your horse's toes!

• Warm yourself and your horse up slowly, and do lots of stretching. It's easy to pull and strain muscles in cold weather. When we're colder, we tense up. Make sure to take your time and warm up and down those muscles. So that the next morning both you and your horses aren't sore!

Give some of these common sense and easy tips a try this winter. Hopefully, these will help make your winter "hibernation" a little easier for you and your horse.