Tropical fish are actually a lot harder to keep a live than you would think. It takes a fair amount of care and knowledge for them to achieve their average expected life span. Stress will cause them to get sick and eventually die. Vibrations startle them. You have to put a pad under their tank because the vibrations from door slams, loud speakers… enter the tank through surface contact more than though the air. Even with significant padding, just gently setting a ceramic coffee cup down next to my aquariums startles my fish, especially the bottom feeders, such as Cory catfish and algae eaters. Aquariums need to be in a low traffic area and tapping on the glass is really harmful. Some species, especially the ones I have are very vulnerable to sharp , rough, or jagged edges, so they need silk, not plastic plants, much preferably live, and sand instead of gravel. Bottom feeders need to be able to find food, which can fall down into the crevices of gravel, and they don’t have scales for protection but they do have barbs that wear off on gravel. There are a lot of videos and articles on betas and Cory catfish.
I have a written this short article on basic tropical fish care based on my personal experience. I hope it is of some use for beginners or those considering investing into the hobby. It can be a lot of time consuming work, depending on how involved you want to get but it is very rewarding. Still, it’s not something you want to jump into without doing your home work first. Watching tropical fish can be very relaxing and relive stress.
Before you add fish to a tank you need to research their specific needs and preferences, including compatibility with other organisms. Not only do they get along with other fish you may ant to introduce into the environment, but also such aspects as do they eat or nibble live plants. Diet and temperature are actually a big comparability issue. The tank needs to be cycled and brought up to temperature before adding any fish,which may take more time than you expect, so have that done before purchasing you 1st fish. You shouldn’t add more than 3 fish at a time to a tank. Most fish eat anything smaller, so try and keep critters close to the same size. Providing lots of hiding places will make them feel more secure and less stressful. Schooling fish prefer to be in groups of 5 or more and will become aggressive towards other species if their numbers is less than 3. Community fish generally get along with everybody.
Believe it or not, larger aquariums are actually easier to care for because the more water you have, the easier it is to maintain “balance” in your environment. 20-gallon aquariums or larger is recommended. A general rule of thumb for freshwater fish is one inch of fish per gallon of water. Also, there is a more accurate 1 cubic inch of fish per gallon rule, where you multiply height x width x length, since overall size, not just length, determines water quality. A fat fish is going to produce more waste than a skinny fish. Note: a ten-gallon tank filled with gravel, rocks, plants, and an assortment of decorations does not hold ten gallons of water. In reality, the water volume is often ten to fifteen percent less than the size of the tank. A 3rd rule, the water surface area rule, the tank can be stocked with one inch of fish for every twelve square inches of surface area. However, this calculation has many of the same flaws as the one-inch rule. For instance, it was designed to assume the fish are relatively slender-bodied, which isn’t always the case. If wide-bodied fish will be kept in the tank, the calculation should be changed to one inch of fish for every twenty inches of surface area. Little fish such as danios and tetras produce low amounts of waste but big eaters like goldfish or plecos will produce higher amounts. The size of the nitrifying bacteria population in the biological filter determines how much toxic ammonia from fish waste can be processed. If there are too many fish in an established aquarium, tests for ammonia or nitrite will be positive. The beneficial bacteria, nitrates, population for an established aquarium is adequate if there is no ammonia or nitrite present. Remember to calculate with the maximum size your fish will grow into being as adults, since most fish are sold very young.
The old rule of thumb 1 inch of fish per gallon of water, unfortunately, only applies to small fish 3 inches or less. The rule does not apply to large fish, since as fish grow, they increase in length, width and height. Effectively, a 10-inch fish is 1,000 times larger than a 1-inch fish. One 10-inch fish eats a lot more food and excretes a lot more waste than 10 1-inch fish.
Inches in length = this many fish in mass
1 ==== 1
2 ==== 8
3 ==== 27
4 ==== 64
5 ==== 125
6 ==== 216
7 ==== 343
8 ==== 512
9 ==== 729
10 === 1,000
11 === 1,331
12 === 1,728
24 === 13,824
Don’t clean your aquarium too much.
Bleaching coral and over-cleaning reduces the number of fish that can be kept in an aquarium. An aquarium that is kept ultra clean and immaculate is a less stable environment. The algae and bacteria that grow on the decorations are beneficial. The algae provide oxygen for the fish.
Fish, not unlike horses or elephants, need different amounts of roaming room as well, usually listed by retailers as minimum tank size.
Ph balance is also something that varies with species and most aquatic plants generally like soft water, so you should research this for plant and fish compatibility.
There are some chemicals, such as algae killer that you can’t use with scaleless fish. Aquarium Salt, for instance, I think might be bad some fish, which is used for treating some topical fish ailments, I know it is bad for live plants. ghost shrimp are sensitive to the same stuff, crustaceans… It’s best not to use algae killer. For one thing, tanks become immune to it. It’s hard to keep top feeders from eating bottom feeders food. I chop it up and spread it around so it’s harder for them to find it. I by charcoal and filter pad in bulk. Charcoal will last quite a awhile but it is better to rinse the padding in old aquarium water to save the good bacteria. You can use it till it disintegrates. Real sunlight causes algae growth. the warmer you keep a tank the faster a fish metabolism is and faster algae grows. Faster metabolism means healthier fish but shorter life span. Lower temps for tropical fish slow their metabolism which increases their life span but can kill them early because it reduces their immune system, making them more likely to get sick and die early. Warmer temps speed up the metabolism and shorten life span but boosts their immune system. Cat fish like 76 and betas like 78. I keep my tanks which have both types in them at 77. You can get dechlorinator with slime coat, fish have protective slime coating. You can bet quick start and maintenance bacteria. I use some mineral additive since I use some bottled spring water, avoid Nestles… others with plastic particles reported. Bottled water is softer and plants like soft soft water. Plants are really hard to keep alive. You may have to clean algae off them and that can be tricky. My sand seems to promote algae but it will grow some plants well. I have a mineral additive for plants. You can get a carbon additive but I use air stones. I have plant gravel but only use it in pots then put a layer of glass pebbles to keep the cat fish from ruining their barbs on it.. Also the betas will dig in it and scrape off their slime coat. Betas can be trained to do tricks and will recognize you. It’s tempting to pet them but don’t; It rubs off their slime.
I turn my waterfall filters off to feed my top feeders. You’re suppose to skim off what they don’t eat after a few minutes, most top feeders eat in nonstop frenzy but bottom feeders eat slowly, so I chop up the top feeders food enough so they all get an equal shot at it and they don’t steel the bottom feeders food as much. Then I turn the filters back on and let the excess go to the bottom. ghost shrimp clean up left overs but they d don’t live long and often become food themselves.
Soap residue takes a really long time dissipate. A tooth brush and tap water is great for cleaning algae off ornaments. I get cheap bulk pack of generic tooth brushes for like a dollar. Don’t trust using used ones. Boiling is good but many ornaments melt. It peals paint. Special paints are used on ornaments but it eventually peels with age and fish eat it, so they are best not used. Some ornaments are to rough or have sharp edges. Bleach can be used to clean tank then air out for several days, preferably a week. some ornaments may need to delete the bleach with water, then clean with vinegar and air out. Bleach or vinegar can be used to clean soap residue but time is better. A really long time. Evaporated water must be replaced. with water fall filters the lower the water the noisier they get get and they increase the water currents, wish some fish, such as bets, don’t like. Evaporation doesn’t get rid of harmful stuff so it is no substitute for monthly water change of about 25%. You vacuum the bottom. Stir it up with vacuum nozzle if gravel. If sand, lightly siphon off a little off the top then gently stir with finger to release harmful gas bubbles that accumulate. Sand will settle to bottom of soap free collection container and can be saved and rinsed. I try to keep enough ready so I can let it dry out before then re- rinse for use the nest time. New sand, gravel, and charcoal have to rinsed. I put sand in 5 gallon bucket and stir it then pour off cloudy water. Instructions on sand bag say put hose in bag and let water run out… When adding sand do the same for trapped air bubbles, especially when setting up tank. When adding water to sand, use saucer or hand to buffer water as you pour. You can get this stuff to clear water faster, clarifier but I’ve never used it. I like to rinse filters again a few days after water clears so I keep old water till then. Test kits are available. I suggest test strips, since tube kits are very hard to read and take a long time to use. Pet Smart tests for free.
Betas can be more finicky about eating than most and may take longer to eat but are really bad about stealing or just blocking other fish from food, even on the the bottom, even though they are genetically designed with curved up mouths to top feed in the wild.
Betas make bubble nest, it’s sign of good health. They also flare up to antagonize or scare foes and rivals. I have one now that does it when he wants food or attention. It’s healthy exercise but they shouldn’t be over stimulated. Some people use mirrors to get them to flare but they should be removed after and hour or so. Never tap on glass.
Never put female betas with male betas unless you are an experienced breeder. You can put males with each other in very large tanks where they can claim their own territory but I’d advise against doing it unless you are very experienced. Females get along together fairly well depending on personality and available space. Some fish are very territorial and will establish a pecking order as well as claimed territories. Fish, especially some species such as betas, can have very unique personalities as well as species specific traits.
I trained a short finned beta to jump and play tag. Fish often jump out of tanks, so make sure there are no gaps large enough for them to escape through. Short fins swim faster and catch other fish easier. Don’t pet fish, even if they become tame enough to let you touch them. It rubs off their protective slime coat.
You need a soft cloth and soft sponge plus a rough sponge for cleaning. Never wash with soap. Some people use regular sponges but most will have warnings against cleaning aquariums on them when you buy them. I have a clothe and sponges I got at pet smart. Stuff that is safe for humans may not be safe for tropical fish. Many towels are treated with chemicals such as drying agents… Paper towels are fairly safe. I try and use old towels that have aired out for a very long time to dissipate soap residue. I try and use stuff certified safe as much as possible. People use PVC homemade stuff but I’d give it a week to dry then clean with bleach/vinegar and dry some more. You can build your own filters… there are you tube videos on that and other fish stuff..
I use easy balance weekly treatment to regulate PH and reduce Nitrates. Nitrites are the good bacteria that quick start and Stress Zyme+ add. Easy Balance is a thick gel and should be dissolved well in chlorine free water before being added to tank. It should only be used in tanks with vigorous water flow since it will accumulate in low current areas in a thick cloud. I don’t use it in my 5 gallon tank that has a slower water exchange rate. You can get AquasafePlus to remove chlorine but make sure it is the plus version which has slime coat. I also use Stress Coat which also detoxifies heavy metals as well as adding protective coat and removing chlorine. There are medicines, such as antibiotics and API® Liquid Super Ick Cure…
Quick Start starts aquarium cycle fast enough to add fish but aquarium heaters can take a day or two to bring water up to temp. Heaters, filters, and air pumps die and fish can die fast. I keep extras, especially heaters, just in case I can’t get to the store. The temp should be well monitored. When adding fish, they should be put in quarantine tanks for two weeks or more. Never add more than 2 or 3 fish at a time. One inch of fish per gallon of water but there is the cubic inch rule which is more accurate. Fish are similar to animals such as elephants and horses; they need a certain amount of roaming room as well which may be more that the water condition rule depending on the species. Don’t let water fall below the top plastic of water heater. Unplug for half hour before taking out of water. Push down if necessary when doing water change. When starting filters don’t run dry and check to make sure they prime… some times they start up in reverse…
I use the the fine grit air stones, which I stand on end by using a homemade T. Using the same pump for different tanks requires adjusting air pressure with tank levels and water levels. Long air stones have t be very level or most of the air comes out one end. You also need to loop power chord below the outlet so water drips off and preferably put pump above tank. Use one way check valves as well. water will back up and siphon out in air hose. Also, cloth or filter material hanging over the side will siphon out water as well. These are just some of the basics.
If you have a canister filter that has been off for much over an hour, you need to clean it before you turn it back on. Why you say; well stuff has been dying in it due to lack of oxygen.
Anaerobic cycling is a low oxygen process and takes much longer to establish than aerobic cycling. Some additives can impede and even completely stop full cycling.
Quick Reminder: Simply replacing water due to loss via evaporation CAN NOT be substituted for water changes. All the toxins and other bad things don’t evaporate, well chlorine does but it takes a good while, so as the water volume goes down the toxic soup just gets thicker. Therefore, when you add water it just thins the toxic soup back out to the original toxic level. You need to fill tank before water a change, obviously with toxin free water. You should calculate what percentage of total tank volume you want to replace but when cleaning and vacuuming it’s better to have a fairly full tank; just low enough to prevent excessive splash out. Drain enough water to replace the proper percentage of a full tank, then fill the tank back up to the normal level. It’s a guesstimate at best, so it’s best to error a bit on the plus side.
Note: You can aerate the chlorine out of water before you put it in a tank but you need to test it before using it and don’t let it go stagnant, get misted or dusted with pollutants; yes, perfume mist, even sprayed at distance, depending on the draft present, from your tank can kill your fish. Everything under a bug spray stream gets contaminated and depending on various factors, nearby surfaces. Pesticide fog bombs get in just about every thing. Cooking fumes kill pet birds, such as canaries once used as sacrificial gas detectors by minors, but I don’t know about tropical fish. Faint traces of mild soap residue will kill tropical fish so…? Paint fumes, Air fresheners… can kill fish, especially Betas, Gourami, Paradise Fish… and other labyrinth fish; Corys are not labyrinth fish, but yes they can take air from the surface. Fumes are sucked into air pumps easier than mists.
A canary in a coal mine is an advanced warning of some danger. The metaphor originates from the times when miners used to carry caged canaries while at work because they have very sensitive respiratory systems. It was said that when a canary was about to die from toxic gas, it would start to shake the cage; some also say, it would start to sing desperately but I don’t know if either tale is true.
Note: modern metaphorical usages will usually be intended to call attention to the fact that it’s a sacrificial canary – if it actually does what it’s there to do, it’ll probably die on the job.
Disclaimer: These tips are based on my personal opinion and experience only, this is not professional medical or scientific advice.