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Related Articles & Questions
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- Food & Nutrition
What fish and supplies are best for a beginner's small tank?
Without anything to use for scale, it is hard for me to tell how big your tank is, but in general it seems very small. Also, the water that is in the tank appears very cloudy right now, so that would be the first place to start. Water quality is very important, and will make or break your ability to house and care for fish. I would recommend getting a good filter system (you can visit a local pet store to assist you with brands in your area, as I am not familiar with what you can get in India). Be sure to bring the measurements (height, length, width) of your tank, or the gallons or liters so they can tell you what capacity of filter you will need. Everything else will depend on what types of fish you get - if you plan on getting multiple fish, they will need to be small - a general rule of thumb is one square inch of fish per gallon of water. Depending on the species you get, you may need to also get a bubbler to ensure there is enough oxygen in the water for them, and you will also
Updated on November 25th, 2025
- Health & Wellbeing
Fish sick after vacation feeder, not eating, breathing fast. What now?
Check the water chemistry. Confirm ammonia and nitrite levels are 0.25ppm or less and nitrates are 40ppm or less. Use a liquid test kit or submit a sample for testing. Most pet stores or aquarists will do this for free or for a small fee. Partial water changes, about 30% can be done to decrease high levels. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent further stress or shock. My preferences for water conditioning are AmQuel Plus and NovAqua in addition to StressCoat. Confirm water temperature between 78F and 80F. You can soak pellets in some garlic juice to stimulate his appetite.
Updated on November 25th, 2025
- Health & Wellbeing
Can I use cycled filter media for instant fish in a new tank?
Actually this is a good idea! I would however, make sure that the water temperature is the same as in the already running tank, so the good bacteria in the filter do not die. But , yes you can definitely do this without having to wait.
Updated on November 25th, 2025
- Health & Wellbeing
How much sea salt to mix for my saltwater aquarium fish?
If your are using a product such as Instant Ocean ( www.instantocean.com ) or Reef Crystals ( http://www.instantocean.com/Products/Sea-Salt-Mixes/reef-crystals-sea-salt.aspx ), then directions will be on the container. Other products may also include instructions. The amount of sea salt will depend on the specific gravity you desire. Ocean water, or water used in marine tanks, has a specific gravity of 1.025, so you will need to dissolve enough salt into a quantity of water to reach that level. You will need to allow for 24 hours to make sure the salt has completely dissolved. If you want a step by step guide, click the link below. http://www.saltwatersmarts.com/guide-to-mixing-saltwater-517/
Updated on November 25th, 2025
- Health & Wellbeing
First fish tank: What Tetras and supplies for my 12-inch tank?
Before you buy any fish, you will need to set up the tank. A basic set up includes: a tank, filter, hood/light, heater, gravel and some decor. The tank should run without fish for at least 4 to 6 weeks. This gives it time to cycle. The Nitrogen Cycle is critical to the health of the tank and any fish you will be keeping. During this time, beneficial bacterial will populate the filter and substrate (gravel). These bacteria will be responsible for breaking down fish wastes and other wastes (uneaten food, dead plants, etc.). You will need a home test kit to monitor water chemistry (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, pH) or you will have to submit water samples for testing. Most pet stores will do this for free or for a small fee. At first, you will see high levels of ammonia and nitrites. Over time, as bacteria grow, these levels will drop. When ammonia and nitrites are at 0 ppm and nitrates are below 20 ppm, you can consider adding fish. Regular (every 1 or 2 weeks) partial water changes as we
Updated on November 25th, 2025
