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 With
some simple, basic instructions, you can easily begin enjoying your first
aquarium. There are many sources that will help you get started, including
this website and the Jungle Customer Service Department. Books and magazines
at your local pet stores and libraries can also be helpful. You may enjoy
meeting other hobbyists through your local aquarium club or through the
internet, which is also a great source for information on fish care. And
don't forget, your local pet store professional can be a continual source
of information and advice. The more you learn, the more successful you will
be, and the more fish care becomes fun and easy!
 Choosing
an Aquarium
There are a variety of shapes and sizes of aquariums to choose from. Keep
in mind that the larger the tank, the less likely it will suffer from
undesirable temperature and water chemistry changes, and the less work it
will take. A good size for a beginner is a 10 or 20 gallon aquarium. Although
there are many shapes to choose from, be sure your aquarium provides for
ample surface area since this is how oxygen is readily absorbed into the
water for fish.
 Location
Choose a location in your home that is away from any heat sources and out
of direct sunlight. Also avoid cold, drafty areas as all of these things
can affect the temperature of your aquarium. Wherever you locate, be sure
it's placed where all can enjoy viewing it.
 Lighting
Lighting not only helps you see your fish and show off your aquarium, it
helps regulate living conditions of day and night that your fish and plants
are use to. Just as important, is the cover or hood where the lighting element
sits. It will also prevent your fish from jumping out of your tank. Lights
should be kept on between 8 and 12 hours each day and turned off at night.
 Decorations
There are many types of freshwater aquarium decorations that can help you
design the look of your tank's environment. Some even offer nice hiding
places for small fish and fry. Just make sure that the items you choose
are designed specifically for aquarium use so that you don't put anything
into the aquarium that will harm fish or plants. While "treasures"
gathered on your own might be beautiful, they also may contain materials
that will eventually break down in your aquarium and pollute the water.
Your pet shop can advise and familiarize you with an endless supply of decorative
wood and rocks, ornaments, backgrounds, and live and artificial plants.
Before placing any decoration in your tank, be sure to wash each piece thoroughly
with Jungle Seri Clean.
 Gravel
Freshwater aquarium gravel is available in almost every color and size.
We recommend an angular shaped 1/8 - 3/16 inch (3-5 mm) gravel, using about
1.5 lb. (680 kg) per gallon (3.8 L). While you may choose the gravel because
of its attractiveness, it also helps with the natural biological filtration
in the tank. The natural biological filtration in the tank. New gravel usually
contains dust and debris from the manufacturing process and from friction
during shipment and handling. To remove this debris, use Jungle Gravel Wash
to clean the gravel before placing into your tank. If you have decided on
an undergravel filter, go ahead and install the filter plates and lift tubes
into the aquarium before placing the gravel on top. Carefully place the
gravel into the tank 2-3 inches (5-7.5 mm) deep in the back and slope toward
the front to 1 inch (2.5 cm).
 Plants
If you want plants in your aquarium, you can buy live or artificial plants.
Artificial plants look very natural and require little or no maintenance.
Live plants, however, can contribute to the water quality by lowering nitrate
and phosphate, assimilating nitrogen and passing on oxygen. To help make
sure your live plants stay healthy and beautiful, use Jungle Plant Care
Solutions system of aquatic plant care:
CO2 Fizz Factory(tm)...Increases CO2 in Aquarium Water for Plants
CO2 Fizz Tabs...Replacement Fizz Tabs for CO2 Fizz Factory
Plant Food Tabs PLUS Iron...Beneficial Supplement for Healthy Aquarium Plants
Fertilizer and Water Conditioner...Fortifies Aquatic Plants and Makes Water
Safe for Fish Immediately
Plant Care® Fizz Tabs...Conditions Tank Water for Beautiful Plants
Aquatic Plant Care Book...Everything You Need to Know About Easy Aquatic
Plant Care
Whether you choose live or plastic plants, use a wide variety of types with
varying heights. Taller plants should be placed toward the rear, medium-size
plants in front of them and small ones in the very front.
 Temperature
Maintaining a constant temperature is very important for the health and
well being of your tropical fish. A good quality heater and thermostat is
a necessity, and the temperature should be monitored to prevent overheating
or chilling. While different species of tropical fish may require slightly
different temperatures, most fish are comfortable with a range between 76oF
and 82oF (24oC and 27oC). A good temperature for a community tank of several
different species would be approximately 78oF. Remember, fluctuating water
temperatures can cause fish to become stressed or ill, so keep the temperatrue
consistent.
 Filling
the Tank
By now your aquarium is decorated just the way you had imagined! Your plants
are in place, the gravel is gracefully sloped, the filtration system and
heater are installed, and now you're ready to fill your aquarium with water.
You can use water from your faucet that you have conditioned with Start
Right or Water Safe PLUS Tank Buddies. Conditioning water is extremely important
as it will make the water safe for your fish since tap water usually contains
chlorine, chloramine and sometimes heavy metals. So, even though this water
is safe for humans, it can be deadly to fish. Start Right or Water Safe
PLUS Tank Buddies will make the water safe for fish immediately by neutralizing
chlorine, chloramines and heavy metals. They also promote the fish's natural,
protective slime coat and add beneficial electrolytes to the water. You
can condition the water before or after you fill your tank. To make sure
you don't disturb the gravel and decorative accessories in your tank, you
can place a small bowl in the center of the tank and pour water gently into
the bowl. As you fill the tank, you may want to make small adjustments to
your decorations along the way. When everything is arranged just the way
you want it, go ahead and turn on your lights, filter and heater (set heater
at 78oF). Allow the system to run for a few days to make sure everything
is working properly and monitor the temperature of the water. When you are
sure that everything is operating as it should, you are ready to add your
first fish and establish the biological cycle of your tank.
 Your
First Fish and the Biological Cycle
Before adding fish, you need to understand about "cycling" your
tank which establishes the biological cycle that is essential to a healthy
tank. When you setup an aquarium, you are actually creating an environment
for living organisms, such as fish and plants, to coexist. This is called
an ecosystem. In nature, aquatic ecosystems can be found everywhere in the
form of streams, rivers, lakes, the ocean and natural ponds. In each of
these, both plants and animals thrive in an environment of water that is
naturally clean, clear and healthy becuase of the biological cycle. Introducing
fish, plants and food into an aquarium begins the natural process of cycling.
Just as in nature, fish in a tank will excrete waste products and this,
together with uneaten food, ends up as ammonia. Although ammonia is dangerous
to fish, in healthy, established aquarium that has cycled, there are millions
of beneficial nitrifying bacteria living in the gravel bed to consume this
ammonia and convert it into nitrite. Now, this nitrite is also toxic to
fish, but as nitrite begins to accumulate in the water, other bacteria begin
to consume the nitrite and convert it into relatively inert nitrate. As
these bacteria grow and multiply, the colonies become large enough to handle
a typical system load of waste. This is commonly referred to as a bacterial
bloom. During this time of bacterial bloom, your tank will become cloudy
as the natural biological cycle establishes itself. This is perfectly normal
and it will disappear when your tank has completed its first cycle. This
process takes 2-6 weeks and is also known as New Tank Syndrome. Because
of the extreme conditions that occur during this process, it is best to
start your tank out with a few, inexpensive fish. Once your tank has cycled,
it will be safe to add additional fish. To help boost the biological cycle,
use Jungle Start Zyme which has beneficial bacteria and enzymes that will
help you establish a healthy aquarium.
Biological Cycle made simple:
1. Your fish eat.
2. Fish excretes waste.
3. Ammonia forms.
4. Bacteria oxidize ammonia, forming nitrite.
5. Other bacteria oxidize nitrite, forming nitrate.
6. Plants utilize nitrate in a natural supply.
7. Nitrate increases in the aquarium.
8. Partial Water Changes reduce nitrate, and replace trace elements.
 Adding
More Fish to Your Tank
After the biological cycle has taken place, your aquarium is established
and ready for you to add more fish. Begin with two or three fish from the
hardy varieties, such as guppies, platys, or mollies-remember, this is still
a new aquarium and you don't want to overload the environment. Every few
weeks, you can add new fish, but be sure you don't overcrowd the tank. A
good rule of thumb for figuring the number of fish your tank can sustain
in a healthy environment is one inch of fish for each gallon of water. When
using this as your guide, be sure to account for the water gallon displacement
from having gravel, rocks and/or other decorations in your tank. When adding
fish, be sure to use Jungle Start Right or Water Safe PLUS Tank Buddies
to minimize stress to fish. Carefully net the fish out of the bag and place
them into their new home. Discard the water from the bag, as it is very
low in oxygen and high in pollutants.
 Maintaining
a Healthy Aquarium and Good Water Quality
When you setup an aquarium or pond, you are actually creating an environment
for living organisms, such as fish and plants, to coexist. This is called
an ecosystem. In nature, aquatic ecosystems can be found everywhere in the
form of streams, rivers, lakes, the ocean and natural ponds. In each of
these, both plants and animals thrive in an environment of water that is
naturally clean, clear and healthy. However, if there is an imbalance in
this water, living creatures can suffer and even die.
You've cycled your tank and establish a healthy environment for your fish.
But how will you maintain that healthy environment? To maintain a healthy
environment it is important to maintain good water quality. You will find
that water quality has a direct affect on fish and plant health.
It's This Simple!
Poor Water Quality = Poor Fish and Plant Health
Good Water Quality = Good Fish and Plant Health
Monitoring water quality by testing the water is the best way to assure
consistent water quality. It will help you identify deficiencies as well
as help you know when you need to treat the water. There are some basic
levels of water quality to test for in aquarium water every time you set
up and aquariu or make water changes. They are pH, ammonia, alkalinity/hardness,
and nitrate/nitrite. Use Jungle Quick Dip Aquarium Test Strips to test your
water-they're fast, accurate and easy to use.
pH is the measurement of acidity or alkalinity. It is measured on a scale
of 0-14, with neutral pH at 7. If the pH is less than 7, the water is acid;
above 7 it is alkaline. Therefore, the lower the pH, the more acid. The
higher, the more alkaline. Most freshwater aquarium fish are comfortable
around a neutral range between 6 and 8. A good range for a community tank
with several varieties of fish would be 6.8 to 7.2. However, as with water
temperature, the pH should remain somewhat constant. The correct pH helps
your aquarium fish stay healthy, encourages breeding and allows plants to
grow properly. You may want to check pH levels once a week with Jungle pH
level Quick Dip Aquarium Test Strips as many factors can cause ph changes
which can cause stress to fish. Keep in mind that, the higher the pH, the
more toxic the ammonia will be. To adjust pH as needed use Jungle pH Decreaser,
pH Increaser, pH Stabilizer 7.0 or Correct pH. Always alter pH slowly.
Ammonia is a waste product continually excreted through the fish's skin
and gills. It is also caused by the buildup of fish waste and decayed food.
Harmful to fish, it can cause stress, damage gills and skin, lower resistance
to disease and result in fish loss. Ammonia levels should be kept at 0 ppm
to ensure proper water quality and fish health. Test for ammonia once a
week with Jungle Ammonia Quick Dip Aquarium Test Strips. To remove ammonia,
make a partial water change and use Jungle ACE or Ammonia Clear.
Hardness refers to the measurement of dissolved minierals, calcium and magnesium.
Most fish prefer a hardness level of 50-150 ppm. Below 50 ppm can affect
pH; above 150 ppm can result in the formation of white minieral deposits
on aquariums and equipment. The hardness (softness) of water can also affect
the potency and/or toxicity of some medicaitons. Alkalinity, or buffering
cajpacity, determines the ability to maintain a constant pH in the aquarium.
If it is too low, the pH will drop to dangerous levels; too high and the
pH will also be high and difficult to lower. The ideal level for freshwater
tanks is 120-300 ppm. Use Jungle Hardness/Alkalinity Quick Dip Aquarium
Test Strips to test for hardness/alkalintiy, especially when you are trying
to establish preferred water conditions for fish and plants. To adjust alkalinity,
use Jungle pH Decreaser, pH Increaser, pH Stabilizer 7.0 or Correct pH.
Nitrate is the byproduct of nitrifying bacteria in the biological cycle
that breaks down ammonia and nitrite. It is used by plants and algae as
a food source, and, while relatively harmless to the aquarium, high levels
can lead to excessive algae growth and damage aquatic plants. Nitrate levels
should be kept below 40 ppm. Nitrite is a waste product produced by bacteria
in the biological cycle as it breaks down ammonia. Nitrite is extremely
harmful to fish and can result in severe fish loss. Nitrite levels should
be kept below .5 ppm. Nitrate and nitrite levels should be tested once a
week with Jungle Nitrate/Nitrite Quick Dip Aquarium Test Strips. If nitrite
is detected, ammonia is also present and should be tested. To reduce nitrate/nitrite
levels, make a partial water change and add Jungle Start Zyme. To counter
the effects of nitrite, add Jungle Aquarium Salt. If ammonia is detected,
also use Jungle ACE or Ammonia Clear.
Along with testing aquarium water, treating water and/or fish as needed
and making regular water changes will help you maintain a healthy aquarium.
Make routine water changes using Jungle Start Right or Water Safe PLUS Tank
Buddies. Be sure to use a siphon to aid in taking out some of the debris
that has settled to the bottom of your tank. Water changes will help keep
water quality good, contributing to the overall health of your aquarium.
Even with the best care and attention, sometimes fish illness can occur.
Jungle can help you diagnose these types of situations with helpful fish
care charts and the information provided to you in this website. You can
also contact the Jungle Customer Resource Centerby the e-mail address
or 800 number provided on this site. These resources, along with our color-coded
packaging will provide you with easy diagnosis as well as recommendations
on treatments, and fish care tips..
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