Aquarium FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About Fish
When can I add fish to my new aquarium?
If you have just purchased a fish tank set up, then you will need to wait at least a week before you add any fish to it because the level of Ammonia in your tank is very high. If you add them immediately, you are most likely going to lose your new fish. Your tank will initially have a very high level of Ammonia, then Nitrite, and then end with an elevated level of Nitrate. You should ideally wait until at least the Ammonia and Nitrite readings are at zero – you can monitor the levels with a water test kit. I recommend purchasing the API Master Test Kit because liquid kits are more accurate than the strips.
How many fish can I put in my tank?
The amount of fish that you can put in your fish tank set up depends on the type of fish you are purchasing, and the type of tank that you have – a short, wide tank has more surface area, and can support more fish than a taller one. Unfortunately, there is no universal rule that can determine how many fish you can stock your tank with (the “1 in per gallon” rule is very misleading). Among other variables, you will have to factor in the amount of food the fish will eat, what kind of diet they have, how wide/tall/long they are, and their temperament. The best way to determine how many fish you can stock is to research each species before making a purchase.
Why do I suddenly have cloudy aquarium water?
The most common cause of a cloudy aquarium is a bacterial bloom. A bloom will typically happen when your tank is initially set up, and any time that you add fish too quickly or overfeed your fish. Water clarifiers are not going to help clear up a bloom of bacteria – you will have to sit it out and wait.
What can I put in a fish bowl?
Nothing. There aren’t any species of fish that will thrive in a fish bowl – not even a Betta, and definitely not a Goldfish. There is not enough surface area to properly aerate a fish bowl, and you cannot attach a quality filter to one. Fish bowls and small tanks quickly become polluted with fish waste, which is essentially expecting your fish to swim around in its own sewage while it slowly poisons itself to death. Second hand stores are a great place to find cheap fish tanks – just make sure you check the condition of the silicone first!
Why is adding the bag water bad?
You should always avoid adding the bag water when you purchase new fish because you can potentially transmit parasites, likefish ick, and snaileggs into your fish tank. Additionally, the water in the fish bag is heavily polluted with toxins after the car ride home. Adding “aged” water does not transfer beneficial bacteria – and it will not jump start the Nitrogen cycle.
Why does my fish have white spots all over it?
If your fish have a sprinkling of little white spots all over them – it will look like they have been salted – then they have fish ick. Ick is a parasite, and you will need to treat the entire fish tank set up – not just the affected fish. You can treat fish ick naturally with aquarium salt, while slowly raising the temperature of the water.
Why shouldn’t I use live feeder fish?
Typically, live feeder fish are not kept in a healthy environment. Regardless of what the store may say, it’s almost impossible to expect up to 1000 feeders to remain healthy in such an overstocked, polluted tank. There is often disease present, and many of them are infected with parasites – both of which can be transmitted to your fish tank if you feed them live feeders. Additionally, comets and rosy reds are not a very healthy meal for your carnivorous fish – they are very high in fat, and hold very little nutrition at all. At the very least, take the time to quarantine your live food.
Do I have to feed my algae eater?
Yes! Please do! The average fish tank does not produce enough algae to sustain an algae eater on a long term basis – even if you bought the pleco to get rid of algae. This is especially true if you have multiple species of fish competing for the same food source. Most algae eating fish specialize in one type of algae – they will occasionally graze on other types, but prefer a specific kind over the rest. In order to prevent starving your algae eater, you can supplement their diet with fresh vegetables – like zucchini and spinach.
What are some other good resources about keeping tropical aquarium fish?
Here are a few amazing resources that you should definitely check out if you are having fish problems!
I found these sites when I first started out and I still regularly check them to see what’s new – the information that you can learn is priceless. I highly recommend checking them out for yourself!
Have any great resources of your own? Leave a comment and let me know about them so I can add them to the list!
