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OSI – A Beginners Guide to Fish Keeping
OSI has helped hobbyists feed their fish for many years. During this time we have learned many things about fish keeping and would like to pass this information along to you. This article wont turn you into an expert, but it will help you avoid many common mistakes made by the soon to be fish enthusiast.
The creation and maintenance of a successful aquarium is not as difficult as it seems. Four main topics must be considered to keep your fish healthy and happy.
Choose the right equipment, establish & maintain a healthy environment, pick compatible fish & feed a good diet.
Choose The Right Equipment
Before you buy your first fish, you should familiarize yourself with the equipment necessary to ensure that your fish are happy.
Tank & Stand
When choosing a tank, consider both the size and shape. For the serious beginner, we recommend at least a 15 gallon tank.(Approx 60 litres). In terms of shape, it is better to get one that is wider than is tall. When buying a used tank, make sure to check for cracks in the glass and open seams. Make sure the stand will support the entire tank bottom and hold the weight of the tank. Remember each gallon of water weighs 8.3lb. A 20-gallon tank will contain about 166lb of water alone.
Heating
Ask your local pet professional what size heater you need to heat the tank. A general rule is 4-10 watts per gallon. We recommend submersible and calibrated heaters so that they can be placed anywhere and read accurately. Remember to only plug in the heater after it is submerged in the water.
Lighting
For the beginning hobbyist, fluorescent lights are best. They are bright, inexpensive, and will not overheat your tank, if you plan to use live plants, use two bulbs that span the length of the tank. Specialized light bulbs are available and recommended for heavily planted tanks and marine reef tanks.
Filtration
There are three types of filtration: particulate, biological and chemical. All three can be accomplished with most commercial filters on the market. The simplest choices are an undergravel filter powered by two or more airlift tubes, or a box filter submerged in the tank or placed outside of the tank. Ask your local pet professional which would be more appropriate for you tank.
Establish & Maintain a Healthy Environment
One Important aspect that is commonly overlooked when keeping fish is the environment. Fish are very sensitive to their surroundings. To ensure a happy home, you should pay special attention to the world around the tank.
Location
Where you place the fish tank can make the difference between watching fish and replacing them. The best location is one that is quiet, has a stable temperature and has stable lighting. This means you should not place your tank near doorways, windows, furnace vents, televisions, radios or other pets. Be sure the location can support the weight of the tank.
Temperature & Lighting
Be sure to research the appropriate temperature of the fish you wish to keep. Most fish books contain this information. Monitor your thermometer and heating equipment periodically to ensure that they are working properly. Turn on/off the lights of the tank at approximately the same time each day to establish a normal lighting cycle.
Water Quality
One of the most important things you must do when keeping fish is maintain the water quality. Make sure your water does not have chlorine in it. Also it is recommended that you exchange 10-20% of the water in your tank every two weeks. Consult with your professional pet retailer to make sure the filter will be sufficiently large for the number and size of the fish you want to keep. Allow at least a week to pass before adding fish to a freshwater tank and at least a month to pass before adding fish to a marine tank. This will give sufficient time for the bacteria in the biological filter to become established.
Pick Compatible Fish
Before you choose your first fish, you must determine how many fish your tank can hold. Normally the number of inches of freshwater fish that a tank can support is equal to half of its number of gallons. So a twenty gallon tank can hold 10 one inch fish or 5 two inch fish. In a marine tank, divide the number of gallons in your tank by six. This is because salt water holds less oxygen than freshwater and therefore cannot sustain as many fish. A 20 gallon marine tank can hold 3 one inch fish or 1 three inch fish.
Hen choosing fish you should keep in mind several factors. What water conditions and temperature does it need? Are these the same for all species in the tank? How does it behave with other species and with fish of different sizes? Choosing compatible species will take some research, but in the long run this will save you time and money.
Feed a Good Diet
The best fish food is one that provides superior nutrition, is easy to digest, has natural colour enhancers, and is well liked by fish. It is important that your feed not pollute or cloud the water.
OSI provides an assortment of flake and pelleted foods for each of the main types of tank systems kept by hobbyists. We also produce advanced flakes and pellets that can be used to supplement and customise the basic diets to meet more specific requirements of the same species.
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