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Pet City Mt Gravatt guarantees all freshwater fish for a period of 24 hours. New Aquarium Checklist tropical.indd 1 Should the sample test within parameters acceptable to the fish in question we are more than happy to issue a replacement or a refund. Aquarium – the larger the better t FRESHW Stand matching aquarium dimensions Cover to prevent evaporation ER FISH GUA AT TEE t RAN If anything happens within that time frame, please bring back a receipt, the fish and a separate sample of water from your aquarium. BEGINNERS GUIDE TO AQUARIUMS Coolite Foam under the Aquarium Filter Heater if necessary Water conditioners Thermometer Served by: Gravel Plants (Real or Fake) Decorations Test Kit Aquarium Lighting Join the Pet City Club and save $$$ every time you shop! Gravel vacuum Scrubbing pad Fish and Fish Food www.petcity.com.au Ph: 07 3349 2086 14/05/2012 5:11:14 PM Aquariums are a beautiful addition to every home. Aquariums do require care and regular maintenance but contrary to popular belief, aquariums are not difficult to maintain, nor are they difficult to set up. Pet City Mt Gravatt recommends having a “wish list” of what you would like in your aquarium so we are best able to advise you of compatibility between the fish and the best parameters for the water. Aquariums have the profound ability to decrease stress levels, lower blood pressure, increase the attention span in children and provide a beautiful aesthetic to the home. The following guide will help in setting up the aquarium of your dreams easily! Setting up an Aquarium Choose the largest aquarium that you can afford and that fits in the space available. This allows the fish the most growing space and actually helps limit the amount of stress in the aquarium environment. Make sure you have a glass cover to prevent fish from jumping out and limit evaporation. Place a piece of coolite foam between the glass and stand. Make sure the stand has been placed on a flat surface to ensure the entire tank is level. Position the aquarium to avoid direct sunlight and drafty areas. To measure the volume of your aquarium multiply the length x width x height in centimeters and divide by 1000 to get a result in liters. Match your filter to the size of the aquarium. When choosing a filter its desirable to have good water movement and lots of media. Pet City Mt Gravatt suggests filtering the water 5 to 10 times an hour. This means if you have a 100 litre aquarium, the filter is rated for 500 to 1000 litres flowing through it every hour. Filters should also include sponges and ideally biological filter media (such as ceramic noodles) to increase healthy bacterial growth. Sponges help collect larger particles of waste material. Some filters also include carbon or resins that polish the water by removing smells and stains. Pet City Mt Gravatt recommends canister filters that have high flow rates and lots of media – there are sizes to match every budget and aquarium size. Aquariums that house tropical freshwater fish will need a heater - look for those that are efficient. Pet City Mt Gravatt recommends EheimJager heaters which use fewer watts per litre and have very accurate thermostats. Use a thermometer to double check the temperature. Filling your aquarium is easy. As all fish are sensitive to chemical pollutants, tap water must be treated prior to it being added to the tank. We do not recommend rainwater (unless filtered) as most aquarium products are formulated to remove contaminants in tap water. Rainwater may have extra pollutants not accounted for from the roof of your home, or even in the tank itself. Pet City Mt Gravatt suggests using Seachem’s HeadStart Pack. This pack includes Prime which neutralises chlorine and heavy metals; Stability which adds beneficial bacteria to balance the aquarium water and Clarity which causes tropical.indd 2 n If you require any further information on any aspect of fish keeping please do not rium hesitate to contact one of our trained aquarium specialists. Just call 07 3349 2086 and ask sk for ome in the Aquarium Department. Better yet, come and have a look! detritus in the water to clump together and get caught ght in the filter sponge which leaves water sparkling. Fill slowly essen and use an ice cream container on the bottom to lessen disturbance of the gravel. Choose a gravel that isn’t too large as its easier to clean. Rinse thoroughly before adding to the tank. Position your decorations while allowing fish plenty of room to swim and hide. Pet City Mt Gravatt recommends an aquarium light as this allows real plants to grow and shows off the colour of the fish. 8-10 hours of light is sufficient for planted tanks. Make sure you turn off the lights at night as fish appreciate a night cycle. (Talk to a Pet City Mt Gravatt – Mt.Gravatt Aquarium Specialist if using the tank as a children’s nightlight.) Adding Fish Let the aquarium sit for a week before adding any fish. This allows for the multiplication of bacteria and the water to balance chemicals. Choose fish that are similar in sizes and temperaments. Pet City Mt Gravatt recommends choosing fish to live in all levels of your tank - top, middle and bottom. Remember not to overcrowd your fish and Pet City Mt Gravatt can advise you on the maximum amount your aquarium should hold. Add only a few fish at a time, this allows time for bacteria to build up and control the fish waste and nitrogen. Feeding Feed your new fish a few times a day, only what they can eat in a few minutes. Make sure to feed all levels of your aquarium: sinking wafers for bottom feeders and pellets for middle and top swimmers. Pet City Mt Gravatt recommends Spectrum Fish Formulas supplemented with frozen foods for variety. Cleaning Cleaning the tank is simple. Aquariums should have a water change of 10-20% on a weekly basis. Using a gravel vacuum is an easy and inexpensive way to siphon out dirty water and wastes. Smaller, more frequent changes are much better for the health of your fish as the chemical changes to their environment are subtler. Do not rinse your filters out under tap water as this can destroy beneficial bacteria. Instead rinse the sponges out in the dirty water that you have siphoned out from the tank. Biological filter media does not need to be cleaned, only replaced over time. Carbons and resins should be replaced or recharged on a monthly basis. Don’t forget to service the filter and clean all the moving parts. A Pet City Mt Gravatt Aquarium Specialist can show you how to do this. Wipe the algae clean with an aquarium safe scrubbing pad. There are lots of ways of achieving a great looking aquarium but the principles are all the same. Good clean water, efficient filtration and recreating the natural environment of the fish are the key to a successful aquarium. Pet City Mt Gravatt is happy to give you the right advice and great service so you can have a beautiful and problem free aquarium – easily. For any further information please don’t hesitate to contact us at 07 3349 2086. 14/05/2012 5:11:17 PM