Introducing New Freshwater Fish to an Established Tank
Introducing New Freshwater Fish to an Established Tank
Aquarium owners wait for the day their tanks complete the nitrogen cycle so that they can finally add colorful fish to their aquariums. Although most people are in a hurry to add their newly acquired fish to their established tank but there are a few things that have to be kept in mind before putting your new fish in your tank. This article will elaborate on some things to keep in mind while introducing new fish to an established tank.
Quarantining New Fish
Fish purchased from the local fish shop should be first quarantined for a week before adding them to your established tank since many store bought fish are stressed out. A quarantine tank will allow your new fish to get used to your water parameters and this step will also ensure that parasites don’t enter your established tank. The quarantine tank should preferable be an established tank with a sponge filter and a few plastic plants. While putting the new fish in the quarantine tank you should first acclimatize your fish slowly to your water conditions so that they do not get more stressed.
Acclimatizing New Fish
The best way to acclimatize your new fish is to float the bag full of fish in the quarantine tank for 15 minutes so that the temperature of the water in the bag matches your aquarium’s temperature. You should then open the bag and add a cup full of water from your quarantine aquarium into the bag. You will need to add a cup full of water every 15 minutes to the bag full with fish so that the PH of the water in the bag matches the PH of your aquarium. After adding 3 – 4 cups of water you will need to net out the fish carefully and add them to your tank. It is advised not to empty the bag of fish directly into your established tank since store water usually contains pathogens and parasites. Aquarium salt can be used to de-stress your fish while they are in the quarantine tank. Aquarium salt also prevents the onset of various fish illnesses. The right dosage is 1 teaspoon aquarium salt per 10 gallons of water. It is always advised to mix the salt in a bucket of water and then pour the water into the tank.
Things to Remember
While introducing new fish to an established tank you should remember that quarantining your fish prevents them from getting stressed and this step also prevents your other fish from getting illnesses. After quarantining your fish for 1 week to 10 days you should net them out carefully and add them to your main aquarium. Many aquarium owners prefer to use a cup to scoop out fish rather than netting them since scooping out fish with a cup is less stressful. Fish that are hard to catch can be caught using the net and cup technique. This technique involves using a net to chase the fish into a cup. Fish nets should not be used for species that have barbs on their mouth.
James MacParland is a freshwater aquarium expert. For more great information on aquarium freshwater fish, visit http://www.easyfreshwateraquariumcare.com to learn more about setting up and maintaining a freshwater aquarium.
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Tags: aquarium setup, fish tank, Freshwater Aquarium Guide, Tropical Fish Care
