Stick with one reliable source of information at first, and follow their advice until you feel confident enough to try things on your own.ġ0. When you're new to aquarium keeping, it's hard to know what techniques will work best for you. It's important to research equipment and livestock purchases before making them but asking the same question of a number of different 'experts' can sometimes result in confusion because everyone has a different opinion or method for success. For best results, purchase a filter that is rated for an aquarium a little larger than the one you own.ĩ. This rating system works well for the most part, however, heavily populated aquariums, or those with large predatory fish or fish that generate large amounts of waste should be fitted with oversized or multiple filters. Most aquarium filters are rated according to how many gallons the aquarium holds. You can't really over-filter an aquarium, but it's fairly easy to under-filter one. Uneaten food can pollute the water and cause ammonia and nitrite levels to rise.Ĩ. A new aquarium should be fed once a day, and all food should be consumed within two minutes. It's normal to worry about your fish going hungry, but you can cause more harm by feeding too much. Always err on the side of having fewer fish in your aquarium rather than too many.ħ. Many fish grow larger after they are purchased, and some fish are territorial and become aggressive when crowded with other fish. But there is a limit to how many fish a new aquarium can hold, regardless of how large it is or how efficient the filter is. When you're new to fish keeping, you want to buy every fish you see. Testing is the only way to know if your aquarium water is safe.Ħ. There is no magic 'safe' time interval for adding new fish, and you can't see ammonia or nitrite in water. New purchases can be severely stressed if added to an aquarium with high levels because they do not have time to adjust. Existing fish often adjust to slowly rising ammonia and nitrite levels and may not show signs of distress until it's too late. Not testing water in a new aquarium. It's impossible to know if ammonia or nitrite problems are developing or it's safe to add fish to your new aquarium without testing water. This can also result in a longer than normal cycling period.ĥ. The microbes that filter water and create balance in the aquarium are not established and a sudden overload of fish waste can cause toxic ammonia and nitrite levels to rise to dangerous and even lethal levels. A new aquarium is a biological clean slate. A new aquarium set up should be run for a minimum of 2 to 3 days before the first fish are introduced.Ĥ. Buying fish on the same day as the aquarium. A newly set up aquarium is not ready for fish on the first day.

Repeat this process until the aquarium is fully stocked.ģ. While there are products on the market that help speed up this process, the safest way to cycle a newly set up aquarium is to 1) Add just a few fish initially, 2) feed sparingly and 3) Test ammonia and nitrite levels until they stabilize at zero before adding more fish. It takes time to establish the biological balance in an aquarium.

Always start with the largest aquarium your space and budget allow.Ģ. Aquariums 20 to 55 gallons are ideal for first time aquarists.

Conditions tend to be more stable in larger aquariums, and if things start to go wrong, you have more time to correct them. Small aquariums can be more difficult to maintain than larger ones and are not well-suited to beginners. Here are a few of the most common problems that beginning aquarists experience.ġ. When you're new at it, however, it's easy to do things that might not be good for your fish or your stress level. Aquarium keeping is a fun and rewarding activity that can provide years of enjoyment, education and even stress relief.

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