Basic Aquarium Care By Various CDAS Members

Note: the following tips are generalisations and may not suit all aquarists or their fishes. Consult your local aquarium shop owner or join an aquarium club to obtain more specific advice.

 

1. Canberra and Queanbeyan tap water contains fewer chemical nasties than many other major cities. However, when you start up your aquarium for the first time, the water should be allowed to age for a week with the filter running before adding fish. A little water from another tank will seed your tank with good bacteria. Subsequently, a 25% weekly water change will improve water quality. This water can come straight from the tap and as the tank settles, the duration between water changes can be stretched out to 2 to 3 weeks.

 

2. Our tap water is relatively soft (ie., low in disolved solids such as salts). It is also slightly alkaline. Neutral pH is 7.0, and our tap water is usually 7.2 to 7.8. Because it is soft, if you allow fish waste to build up in your tank, it will eventually cause the water to go acid. This acidity may well be harmful to your fish. This is why you should do a gravel wash at the same time as you change your water. Don’t take the gravel out of your tank and wash it, just buy a gravel washer attachment for your siphon hose (or make one out of a plastic bottle and hose).

 

3. In general, fish are overfed. A good rule of thumb is to feed only what the fish will eat within a minute. Start out with a pinch or two of food and see how much they really need. Also, try to give your fish a variety of foods. Feed your fish live foods such as brine shrimp, daphnia and garden worms and they will thank you by being healthier and more colourful.

 

4. The bigger the tank the better. Fish in bigger tanks generally live longer. Although be aware that larger tanks require higher capacity filters, which may be beyond your price range. It may be better to settle for one or two smaller tanks and a proportionally smaller number of fish.

 

5. Research the fish you want to keep. You should have a good idea of what water conditions they need, how big they grow, how aggressive they are, and what they need to eat in order to survive. A classic example of what can go wrong is the person who has a mixed community tank of Tetras, Barbs, and small Catfish. Well planted, it looks a treat. The person then introduces a Cichlid in the form of an Angelfish. Pretty soon, the smaller Tetras start to disappear as the Angelfish grows and eats them. Introduce one of the larger Cichlids, such as an Oscar or Red Devil, and they can say goodbye to the rest of their fishes and all the plants!

 

 

There are a lot of fishes that have specialised feeding habits that need to be taken into account. Kissing Gouramis, for instance, need a lot of vegetable matter in their diet. Many Killifish need live food to survive. Discus, on the other hand, will eat a variety of foods but must not be kept with other Cichlids or they may well be hounded to death.

 

Some fishes that can be difficult to look after are:

 

Tetras: They like soft water that has a neutral or slightly acidic pH. Lots of plants will make these little fish feel secure and highlight their stunning colours.
 

Siamese Fighters: They need warm (27°C+) water, and don’t do well with excessive water movement.

Large Cichlids: They are generally messy fish that need a big tank with a big expensive filter.

Chinese Algae Eaters: Be aware, these guys like to chew the scales of tankmates when they get big enough.

Discus and Angelfish: Although you might thing that these are a type of Cichlid and, therefore, tough, they need special care. They will die on you if the water is not warm and clean enough.

 

The secret to successfully keeping these fish is to be observant of your pets and to ask around for tips and information.
Talk to your local aquarium shop owner, buy a book, have a look on the internet or join the Canberra and District Aquarium Society.