Important Things To Know Before Starting Your 10 Gallon Fish Tank!

When beginning a new aquarium understanding the nitrogen cycle is very important. Many new fish tank owners jump into the hobby of fish keeping too quickly. Before purchasing fish, the aquarium must be cycled. This could take anywhere from twenty four hours to four weeks. In an established fish tank there are some bacteria that help the breakdown of ammonia to nitrates, but they are not there in a new tank because they are generated from existing fish. If there are no existing fish, then there are no good bacteria.

What you need to know about the nitrogen cycle is this. Fish eat food and generate waste. That waste along with excess food and plant debris become ammonia in the aquarium. Ammonia is toxic to fish and needs to be broken down. That's why the nitrifying bacteria is important. This bacteria, turns the ammonia into nitrites which are more tolerable to fish than ammonia. Next, various nitrifying bacteria will turn the nitrites into nitrates, which are Much less toxic to the fish and other fish tank life. The nitrates are collected and minimized by filters; however they will eventually accumulate in the tank. Regular water changes are essential to remove the nitrates from the water.

Establishing and running your 20 gallon fish tank before you introduce the fish to it is extremely important. Wash the tank and any substrate and decorations totally with water. Don't use any soap. Fill the Aquarium with de-chlorinated water and attach filters and lighting. Allow the tank to cycle until the water is no longer cloudy and sufficient P.H and water temperatures have been established.

Now the fun part, getting the fish! In hardy fish such as danios, barb, gouramis, and live bearers. They should be able to endure the high nitrite levels and ammonia in the new fish tank. Only introduce about four fish at a time. Float the fish in the bag in the aquarium for about fifteen minutes before adding them to the tank. This will help the fish grow to be acclimated to the water temperature in their new home. When adding the fish, be careful not to allow the water from the bag into the fish tank. It may be tainted, or will at the very least, throw off the temperature and P.H. Allow the fish about two hours to become acclimated before feeding.

Feed your fish only what they can eat in the first two to five minutes. Overfeeding is a general problem in an aquarium. It is important not to overfeed, because leftover food will become debris adding to the ammonia levels. This is especially vital in new Fish tanks that lack nitrifying bacteria. Test the water P.H. every day within the first month. Watch the tank for cloudiness; if the fish tank becomes cloudy, it may be needed to add a clarifier. Watch the fish for signs of stress or illness. A healthy fish will be swimming consistently. Lethargic fish will usually hover near the top of the fish tank. After about a week exchange approximately ten percent of the water and start regular maintenance.