12 Tips for a Successful Aquarium

• Obtain the largest aquarium you can afford and accomodate. Most novices soon regret starting with a small aquarium and want to upgrade.
  
• Site the aquarium away from direct sunlight and radiators, etc. They can cause overheating and sunlight encourages excessive growth of algae, in the tank and on the glass.
  
• All glass tanks must be set on a layer of polystyrene to spread the load evenly, otherwise the glass will crack. A full tank is very heavy and needs strong support. Never attempt to move a tank with water in.
  
• Set up the aquarium with gravel, rocks, heating, filtration and plants, then leave for at least 48 hours before introducing fish, having ensured that the temperature has stabilised at the desired level. Around 24 degrees Celsius suits most tropical species.
  
• Use an appropriately rated heater for your tank size.  If the thermostat fails, an overrated heater will rapidly overheat the tank and kill the fish before the fault is detected. This information is widely published in books and on heater packaging.
  

• Rocks should not contain water-soluble components. Avoid particular calcareous rocks such as limestone and marble will seriously increase the hardness of the water. Slate and granite are good choices. Metal objects should also generally be avoided although proprietary equipment with parts manufactured from from appropriate grades of stainless steel is safe.
  
• Good lighting is essential for successful plant growth.  Many custom-designed fluorescent tubes are available for aquarium use.
  
• Only a small number of fish, perhaps 2 or 3, should be introduced initially to allow the establishment of an active bacterial colony in the filter medium for efficient breakdown of fish waste products.  Many new tanks suffer a high initial death rate as fish are poisoned by their own waste.
  
• Ideally, new fish should be quarantined for 2 weeks before being introduced to the main aquarium.  If you have only one aquarium, ensure that you obtain only healthy fish from a reputable source.  One diseased fish can decimate the existing aquarium population.
  
• Ensure that new fish are compatible with those already in the tank.  It is distressing and costly to find that new fish introduced yesterday have eaten half of the previous occupants.  If in doubt, ask the dealer before buying.
  
• When transferring fish, care must be taken to acclimatise them to the new environment gradually.  Float the bag in the aquarium to equalise the water temperatures and then gradually add water from the tank to the bag before releasing the fish.  Sudden changes in water conditions can lead to disease or even fatal shock.
  
• Make regular partial water changes to maintain optimum water quality.  There are many factors affecting the need for water changing but removal and replacement of 10% of the water in the tank each week will suit most systems.  Before adding fresh water, ensure that its temperature is approximately the same as the water in the tank.