Freshwater Aquariums Archives - Page 4 of 5

Introducing a new fish into your tank is a little like sending a kitten into a room full of big dogs. Most of the dogs will play nice, but a few might have the kitten hiding in the corner quivering. In order to maintain the peace, you might have to be the guard dog for a little while, until they all get used to each other and learn to get along.

The same basic principles apply when you’re introducing a new fish into your tank, but we have a few additional tips that can help your wildlife get along with each other sooner rather than later, as well as make your new fish feel as comfortable as possible.

Best Methods of Introducing a New Fish into Your Tank

In addition to maintaining the peace, it’s important to use proper methods when adding a new fish into the aquarium family for the benefit of the fish itself. Placing the fish into your tank before it’s ready could endanger it or your existing wildlife.

Following are a few steps and tips that might help.

Determine compatibility

The first step is to talk with an expert, like our Seatech Aquariums technicians, in order to determine if the new fish will be compatible with the wildlife already in your tank. It’s tough to predict with 100% certainty that your fish will be friends, but experience has helped us identify which fish tend to be most and least compatible with each other.

Allow the new fish to get used to your tank’s water quality gradually

1. The first step in introducing a new fish into your tank is to float the bag that the fish is in in the tank. This helps the fish get acclimated to the water temperature. The bag needs to be floated for at least 15 minutes.

2. The second step is similar to tempering food items during cooking.

Add a cup of water from your tank into the bag where your fish is, and allow the fish to get used to that water. Add another cup about 10 minutes later. This process will allow the fish to at least become familiar with the water quality in its new home before it is forced to socialize with its new roommates.

A few minutes later, use a net to remove the fish from the bag and place the fish into the tank.

3. Your new fish is probably used to the water that it was in earlier that day before you brought it home, so try to match the same quality of water in your tank before releasing the newcomer into it. Your chlorine level should be zero for the optimal environment.

4. If you’re not already doing so, after your fish becomes acclimated to its new environment, we would recommend using RODI water for your freshwater and saltwater tanks. If you have a saltwater tank, ask us how to add salt to the water in order to create the perfect solution for your wildlife, or alternatively you can order RODI saltwater from us at Seatech H2O.

Make sure your other fish aren’t hungry for dessert

Feed the fish in your tank before placing the new fish into it. You don’t want your existing fish to confuse their new brother and sister for a nice treat.

Be patient and have fun

It’s OK if your fish hides behind the rocks or plants at first. It might be shy or afraid, but it should blend in with the crowd nicely in due time.

Call Seatech Aquariums for More Tips and Tricks

When you work with us at Seatech Aquariums, we can handle most of the above for you. All you will have to do is enjoy the results and feel the pride when you see that the new guy is completely happy in your fish tank.

Call us or see our blog page for more information about fish compatibility, aquarium maintenance tips, and fish facts.

If you’re new to owning an aquarium, you probably have a lot of questions about how to create the best environment for your wildlife. One question you may have is whether or not you need a heater for a fish tank.

The truth is, if you want to ensure a suitable environment for your wildlife, including a heater in your aquarium setup is a must – sometimes.

When You Need a Heater for a Fish Tank

You need a heater for a fish tank if you have tropical fish. Tropical fish can be either freshwater fish or saltwater fish.

One would think that fish and other wildlife adjust to their tanks, and in a sense they do. But they flourish more, are healthier, and are more comfortable when the fish tank environment mimics a natural environment.

A heater is therefore necessary to regulate the temperature inside the tank. A temperature of 78 degrees, or 76 to 82 degrees, Fahrenheit is ideal for many tropical fish, and you will need a thermometer to ensure that the temperature is just right.

You can choose either submersible heaters, which sit on the bottom of the tank, or heaters that are only partially submerged into the water. Both have their advantages and disadvantages; heaters that are fully submerged basically regulate themselves, while the controls are accessible with the heaters that are only partially submerged.

Both could possibly be dangerous when you’re doing water changes, especially the submersible heaters. If they’re left on when there’s less water in the tank, or when they are out of the tank, they could overheat and explode.

It’s also important to choose a heater of the right size, as a heater that is too large is more likely to overheat the tank. The ratio between aquarium size and heater wattage should be about 3 to 5 watts per gallon.

Ask for Help

If you’re unsure about whether or not you need a heater for a fish tank, or if you need help choosing and installing a heater, contact us for assistance. Obtaining help from an aquarium maintenance technician is especially important when you’re dealing with equipment that could endanger you or your wildlife or damage the tank itself.

In addition to installation services, Seatech offers a free consultation for beginners, so contact us with your questions. We’ll be happy to answer them.

Category Archives: Freshwater Aquariums

Introducing a New Fish into Your Tank: How to Maintain the Peace