Introducing fish into your home can benefit all the family however you need to be aware of what your fish needs with regard to food, lighting, surroundings and size of their tank. Tropical fish can be expensive so it is wise to research which fish can mix with other fish as some may kill the other.
If you have decided to purchase a glass aquarium then you could not have chosen a better time, the designs in glass aquariums are far more attractive and pleasing to the eye than in recent years and there is a much larger choice of sizes and shapes available.
Before you obtain a glass aquarium it is important to know how many fish you expect to keep as this will determine the size of the aquarium you will need. Many owners have overstocked their tanks resulting in a disastrous outcome.
Although most people use the one inch of fish per gallon of water ratio this can leave lots of room for error. Not all fish are the same size and same may grow considerably more than others making your glass aquarium unsuitable. Most fish owner will not know how old the fish are when they buy them so will not know how much more they will grow so it is important to research the type of fish you are considering to determine its true adult size.
If you are unsure where to find adequate information on your glass aquarium and fish you want to keep try visiting your local library or simply searching the internet for advice is always a good start. You could also try asking your local pet shop owner for their tips and ideas too.
Once you have done your research and have purchased your glass aquarium do not fully stock the tank in one go, it is advised that only 25% of the total volume of fish should be added at the same time. It takes time for colonies of bacteria to build up and adjust to the bio-load and be ready to eliminate fish wastes which are toxic.
Once you have set up your aquarium with adequate lighting, heating, filtration and have decorated it accordingly you can now add your fish here is how
Turn the light of in the aquarium as this will reduce stress to the fish
Place the fish in a sealed bag with water
Place the bag into the tank so that it floats on the water
Allow the bag to float on the water for 20 minutes
Open the bag containing the fish and add approximately one cup of the fish tank water
Close the bag and let it float on the water for another 10 minutes
Untie the bag and use a net to transfer the fish into the glass aquarium
Never add the water from the bag to the tank as this may contain toxins
Allow the fish to adjust for a few hours before turning the light of the aquarium back on
