about six years.
Setting Up the Aquarium:
Step#1:
For a decent aquarium, you will need the the following items:
1. A Ten gallon aquarium with cover and lights.
2. A power filter.
3. An Aquarium stand.
4. Some amount of aquarium gravel.
5. Chemicals to treat tap water to remove dissolved chlorine.
6. Underwater plants.
7. Fish Food.
8. Fishes.
9. Sponge to clean aquarium glasses.
It is required to set up the aquarium and treat the water first.
Please buy the fishes the following day.
Step#2:
1. Wash the aquarium thoroughly.
2. Wash the gravel thoroghly to remove dust particles.
3. Put the aquarium stand in a place not exposed to direct sunlight.
4. Put the aquarium on the stand.
5. Place the gravel in the aquarium.
6. Place the plants in the aquarium(push the roots deep into the gravel).
7. Fill the aquarium with water.
8. Fix the power filter.
9. Mix the chemicals (to reomove chlorine) with water and
start the filter.
10.Let the water get treated for at least 24 hours.
Step#3:
Now, we need to buy fishes. First precaution to take is not to mix tropical
fishes with cold water fishes. I have found Platy and black molly to be two very
strong species of tropical fishes.
So, you can buy one pair of Platy and one pair of black molly for your aquarium.
Please donot throw the water where fishes were brought from the store.
After releasing the fishes in the aquarium, watch them for sometime. If
they show abnormal behavior, put them back in the store water and treat your
aquarium water for some more time.
As you gain experience, you can start adding more fishes.
Feeding:
1.Buy food from the store recommended for the fishes you have.
2.Feed only once a day or even alternate day.
3.Dont give too much food. If you are using flake food, please break the
bigger flakes into smaller pieces.
4.While feeding, please keep the aquarium lights on.
5.To prevent Algae from growing, switch on the light only for a few hours
every day.
Maintenance:
1.Change the filter cartridge every week. You can buy two cartridges
and use them alternately after washing them thoroughly after each use.
2.Clean the inside glass surfaces with the sponge once every week.
3.If the gravel surface becomes too dirty, you can siphon off the debris and
using an one inch wide plastic tube.
4.Never change all the water of the aquarium as change of total environment
might harm the fishes.
Good Luck!
More information is on the way......!
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