Tropical fish aquarium problems

When you decide to keep a tropical fish aquarium, there are certain things that you
absolutely must NOT do. Even a very dedicated aquarist can encounter a wide range of
problems, especially during the start up period or when new fish is added that disrupt the
balance. Being aware of some of the most common pitfalls will help you to avoid these
mistakes and loss of precious life.
One common mistake that many beginners make is assuming that a small aquarium is
easier to care for than a larger one. The beginner should always go for a larger aquarium,
and keep small aquariums later when he or she is more experienced. The reasons for this
are quite obvious. Even though your aquarium is small, you will still have to pack in
quite a number of things. Most beginner aquarists want to keep at least half a dozen fish,
if not more. Even when keeping just one single fish, such as a goldfish in a goldfish bowl,
a small aquarium gets filled up with debris surprisingly fast and fish easily use up the
oxygen in small aquariums. Larger aquariums have larger volumes of water. This means
more oxygen for the fish, more space, and comparatively less dissolved wastes. It is
possible to get by with partial water changes less frequently when you use a larger
aquarium. A larger aquarium will be less prone to rapid changes in temperature and water
chemistry than a small aquarium, since there will be more water to preserve the
temperature and dilute any pollutants. You also have to be extra careful when you select
the kind of fish that will go into a small aquarium. Some fish need to school and can
thrive only in groups. Some fish are territorial by nature and will harm any other fish that
comes into its territory. Mixing different species, especially in a small space requires a lot
of know-how.
Adding too many fish too soon is another common mistake made by beginners. Always
keep the Nitrogen Cycle in mind when you set up your aquarium. The microorganisms
living in your water need time to develop. Only a rich culture of beneficial bacteria will
keep your aquarium healthy for a long period of time. Once the cycling process is over, it
is important to add only one or two fishes to start with and then to add all the fish you
indeed to keep of a certain species at the same time. Always give the fish time to adjust
slowly to their new environment, using the introduction method described earlier in this
book.
Over feeding is another trait of the over zealous beginner. Never over feed your fish. If
you feed too much, the uneaten food gets deposited in the crannies of the aquarium or just
float in the water. It will pollute the water and also consume oxygen when being
decomposed. Uneaten food can therefore make the water cloudy and also lead to anincrease in the bacterial population of your water. The amount of food you give your fish
should be roughly dependent on their body weight. Usually, one or two feedings per day
is enough. Feed your fish five or six days a week. This changes only if you are rearing
young stocks. In this case you will need to give the fish small meals more frequently.
A lot of the problems that you can encounter can be solved by frequent water changes. It
is important to find a good balance, since large water changes can be just as harmful as
too small or too few water changes. Ideally, change about 15% of your water at least once
a week. Do not change water fully, since this will throw away too much of the beneficial
bacteria and cause your fish large amounts of stress due to changes in water chemistry
and sometimes also temperature. It is therefore much better to change a small percentage
of your water as frequently as possible. Changing 15% of the water once a week as is a
good rule of thumb, but smaller and more frequent water changes are just as beneficial.
Another common beginner mistake is to choose unhealthy fish, since it can be hard for
the novice fish keeper to distinguish normal fish behavior from warning signs. Fish that
do not look very healthy at the store is a definite NO. Fish that float near the top, gasping
for breath are not a good buy. Fish that shows spots, sores or nicks should not be taken
home. If you find that your new fish topple over or cannot keep their balance in their new
home, this is due to shock from being moved and can kill even healthy fish. Make sure to
always introduce your fish slowly to avoid shock.
A pet shop that forces their fish to cohabit with dead fish or sick fish should also be
avoided. Though the fish you plan to buy look very brisk and healthy, they may be silent
carriers the infection. Getting this fish into your aquarium will transmit the infection and
can have disastrous consequences. Always buy fish from a reputable pet store that
remove sick fish to special quarantine aquariums.
Fish that are transparent with neon colors running along the sides should also be avoided.
These are not natural fish. The neon colors are injected into the fish, and will fade after
some time. The dyes injected into these fish make them sick at a later stage. It also a very
inhuman process in which the due is applied.